According to a report by the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the 2009 Browns rookie class is upset with head coach Eric Mangini after he set up a 10-hour bus trip to Hartford, Connecticut last Friday to work his charity football camp.
“It’s a sophisticated form of hazing,” said one league source. “I’ve never heard of anything like it.”
Mangini’s eighth annual football camp, for under-resourced children in grades 8-12, is voluntary for the rookies — but all felt compelled to attend, a source said. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.
“It’s voluntary, but it’s not really voluntary,” said one source. “These players are fighting for starting jobs and playing time. What are they supposed to do, say ‘No, I’m not going?’ ”
“This was not mandatory. Eric had reservations about doing it at first, and then people told him they thought it would be a good opportunity for them to be exposed to this type of event, and having the chance to work with the kids.
“Since the rookies have been back, we have a lot of programs that are set up for them which are designed to improve them professionally, build team unity and also help serve the community. In fact, since they have been back in mid-May, they have visited a Veterans hospital and are scheduled to visit a school next week.
“Also, if anyone is ‘dismayed,’ nobody has expressed that to anyone in the organization.”
One source said the rookies aren’t opposed to charity work, “but put them on the plane. The camp comes right in the middle of voluntary minicamp and next week’s organized team activities. They’re expected to show up Monday and perform at a very high level after being on a bus for more than 20 hours over the weekend.”
This might not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things considering it’s not too much to ask players to hop on a bus for 10 hours and give back to the community. But this is at least the second or third time Mangini has ruffled some feathers since coming to Cleveland and it remains to be seen whether or not the players are responding to his no-frills attitude.
And really, it doesn’t make much sense to put these players on a bus for 20 hours (round trip) to work a camp, only to have them return to practice and compete at a high level a few days later. Player bonding is all well and good, but you have to be reasonable. Whether these are professional athletes or not, everyone gets worn out from long trips. Mangini should have thought this one through a little more.
