It’s shocking.
Whether you love, hate or don’t know Cris Carter, the video recording of him telling rookies to “get a fall guy” who can take the blame for any nefarious behavior is appalling. The Hall of Fame receiver was addressing a room full of rookie football players as part of the NFL’s Rookie Symposium in July of 2014, when he gives what has to be some of the most misguided — or just flat-out stupid — advice ever offered to anyone.
There are a number of reasons this video is disturbing.
First, the premise of his advice is that these young athletes will be unable to lead lives free from legal trouble.
“Because all you guys aren’t going to do the right stuff,” he said. “I need to teach to you how to get around all of this stuff too.”
Second, he tells them that having a group of hangers-on — crew, posse, entourage, whatever — is an inevitable fact and that they will be financing the escapades of this group. Rather than advising or reminding them to be careful of people who would use them for their money and fame, he tells them this is an acceptable reality.
Third, he tells them to find a “fall guy” willing to take the blame for the laws they will inevitably break.
“If you have a crew, one of them fools need to know that they’re going to jail,” he said.
In fact, he advises even those who don’t engage in risky or illegal behavior to find that disposable friend.
“I know a lot of you guys aren’t going to drink,” Carter said. “I know a lot of you aren’t going to use drugs, but still, get yourself a fall guy.”
Carter apologized Sunday night in two tweets.
"Seeing that video has made me realize how wrong I was," Carter said on Twitter. "I was brought there to educate young people and instead I gave them very bad advice. Every person should take responsibility for his own actions. I’m sorry and I truly regret what I said that day."
But I wonder if it really was seeing the video — or seeing the reaction to the video — that caused Carter to realize the disgraceful advice.
The NFL issued a statement saying their staff heard the comment and recognized how awful it was.
“This was an unfortunate and inappropriate comment made by Cris Carter during the 2014 NFC rookie symposium,” the NFL statement said. “The comment was not representative of the message of the symposium or any other league program. The league’s player engagement staff immediately expressed concern about the comment to Cris.”
No word on whether any of those who pulled Carter aside to point out the idiocy of his advice took the time to share those concerns with the young athletes packed into that room.
That bit of advice was apparently edited out when Carter addressed rookies in a session with AFC rookies, according to the NFL. But apparently the comments weren’t disturbing enough to warrant finding a different mentor for the young players.
Carter's advice indicates a perception that players are special, that they need to be insulated and protected, even from their own criminal behavior.
Also baffling is that the NFL posted the video of that speech on its website and no one noticed for a year. And maybe most mind-boggling is that at least one reporter sat through that speech and made absolutely no mention of the advice.
The fact that the league did nothing more than tell Carter to drop that from his speech is evidence that the problems with which the sport struggles — crime, violence, cheating, drugs — cannot be solved by the league without outside help.
The MMQB (Monday Morning Quarterback) ran a two-part series on the symposium, and it appears those speaking or leading discussions were associated with the league or teams either currently or in the past, including a lot of former players.
And maybe that’s part of the problem.
Some of the mentors who take the stage and offer advice should have little or nothing to do with football. They could be people who learned life lessons from sports, but then opted to make their livings outside the game.
I know the purpose is helping these rookies survive in the unique universe that is professional football, but mentors from outside the sport could offer perspective and insight that might help them find critical balance between the game that could make them rich and famous and the people with whom they will build lives.
Yes, there are people who play football who are great role models. But sometimes the best perspective on what the game could or should be comes from those who don’t play the game for a living.
I’ve had a number of mentors who’ve been critical in helping me navigate a difficult job with almost endless moral and ethical dilemmas. But some of the best advice I’ve received came from people outside my profession. They have a different perspective on what my job is, how the power of the press should be used and what it means to represent the public. They’ve made me aware of biases I was blind to, and they’ve helped me realize how to remain fair, despite personal feelings and convictions, and be more inclusive in my coverage.
If any professional organization needs perspective it’s the NFL. For the last couple of years, they’ve proven they lack critical self-awareness necessary to make substantial changes.
Players spend their life listening to coaches. They will undoubtedly receive advice from other players or people who make their livings in symbiotic professions. So why not broaden their perspective by bringing in people capable of showing them how much bigger — and better — they can be in the game and in life?
Outside influence could also be a reality check to an organization that clearly has issues with recognizing problems and solving them on its own.
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Carter apologized Sunday night in two tweets. "Seeing that video has made me realize how wrong I was," Carter said on Twitter. "I was brought there to educate young people and instead I gave them very bad advice. Every person should take responsibility for his own actions. I’m sorry and I truly regret what I said that day." But I wonder if it really was seeing the video - or seeing the reaction to the video - that caused Carter to realize the disgraceful advice.
Twitter: adonsports EMAIL: adonaldson@deseretnews.com