The Steelers traded a late-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for underachieving offensive lineman Levi Brown, while the Baltimore Ravens parted ways with fourth- and fifth-round picks in the 2014 draft in order get left tackle Eugene Monroe from the Jacksonville Jaguars so that they can replace veteran Bryant McKinnie. Evidently, it was a day meant to fortify the ranks up front in the AFC North.
It was also a day that reinforced what football should be about.
Brown and McKinnie represent everything fans loathe about professional athletes. They are both incredibly gifted, yet at no point in their careers have they gotten even close to their potential. I'd call them lazy but that would actually be an insult to some of my friends that can be a little lazy at times.
I've never seen an NFL offensive lineman give less effort between the white lines than Bryant McKinnie. For a guy like me who was an overachiever with below average talent, it is painful to watch.
Brown isn't quite as lethargic. He just hasn’t improved one iota since entering the NFL. Everybody at the NFL level is talented, so what separates the average from the good and the good from the great is technique. Brown's technique is and has always been horrific. He is likewise tough to watch.
Maybe these guys are geniuses and the joke is on me. They've both found a way to make a lot of money in the NFL by giving minimal effort. For a lot of workers around the world, that's kind of the goal I suppose; get paid to do as little as possible. The only solid season Brown ever had was 2011 which, not so coincidentally, was the last year of his rookie contract. McKinnie played at a high level during last year's stretch run for the Ravens knowing full well that he needed a strong performance to get a new contract from somebody in the offseason.
That's why I salute the Cardinals and Ravens.They are sick of watching those guys, counting on those guys, and having them as an important part of their team. The Ravens may have given up two mid-round picks just to rent Monroe for a year and get McKinnie off the field. The Cardinals are 2-2 and in the playoff mix, yet they'd rather pawn Brown off just to get him off the field and out of the locker room. They'll go with some young guys who will play hard and hopefully improve, rather than watching Brown get worked another week.
And Pittsburgh? Maybe they are hoping this trade will serve as a wake-up call for Brown and he'll pick up his play. I sincerely doubt it, but I suppose it will be a good test of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's motivational skills.
If you love football and want to watch guys who play with passion, this was a huge win.
VIDEO: Monroe trade raises questions
