Looks Like Cris Carter Could be Disrespected Again

by KJSegall on Mar 12, 2011 3:06 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings

Hey guys- Mr. Sunshine here.

I got up today and thought, "you know what? I’m going to write a Vikings story today that has nothing to do with the CBA." I knew it would be a difficult undertaking, especially since I meant a serious story, not one where Lindsay Lohan becomes our new kicker. But I thought somewhere, somehow, there had to be something that I could take and craft into a story, to give us all a break from this whole… situation we’re in.

Well, I found something, and found it relatively easily. Unfortunately- it still is depressing.

You’ve been warned. Continue on with why Cris Carter, star and former legendary WR of the Minnesota Vikings… might be facing some serious disrespect again.

Ah, memories.

So while scanning as many sources as I could for something, I happened upon this at ProFootballTalk.com. In short, after being kept out of the Hall of Fame repeatedly despite, well, absolutely deserving a spot there, Mr. Carter might be looking for a job soon.

As it turns out, his contract with ESPN has expired, and there's no guarantee that he'll be back. And if he is, it could be in a lesser position than the one he's enjoyed for the past few years. Again, despite, well, absolutely doing a great job at it.

Compare him to Dan Marino. Yes, Marino's gotten better recently, but the fact that there's just not a ton going on upstairs still seeps out from time to time. Carter is eloquent, he's concise, he's knowledgeable. He speaks in a manner that educates fans in a way that's easy to understand. Oh, and he knows the difference between a division and a conference. And furthermore, you can't find a more unbiased guy in my book. When people started comparing Sydney Rice to Randy Moss in '09, he shot that notion down- he spoke the truth of the matter (that Moss tore the field up ASAP, whereas Rice came into the league unprepared for the pro level), giving no credence to the fact that Rice was with his old team or that he had attended his clinic. And when Moss was messing up (to put it lightly) in '10, Carter came right out and said that he was disappointed in him. And that wasn't just an old teammate he was talking about- Carter calls Moss a friend. But it didn't matter; he spoke the truth, pure and clear.

One of the reasons why Carter may not be returning, again as reported by ProFootballTalk.com, is that there is potentially a perceived lack of ‘star power'. The worst quote by far was this: "...Carter, who has been out of the game long enough for some in the younger demographic to not realize that he even played." WHAT? Did they just call me old?! His last season was 2002. But here's what's worse. This means that the fact that Carter has been disrespected out of the Hall of Fame up until now may, in fact, be correlated to the fact that Carter may be soon disrespected out of a job. Age notwithstanding, most good football fans (and you can be a great football fan at age 10, don't tell me otherwise) will often at least know of a Hall of Famer, particularly a recent inductee who's last season was less than ten years ago (although, we really don't count that last season). Look, I'm not a Steelers fan and I was born after his last season, but I still know very well who Terry Bradshaw is, and who he was.

I don't understand this at all. I would if Carter was doing a bad job. Let's face it, some of our most beloved athletes simply don't belong behind a commentator's desk. But I definitely would say Carter did, and still does. And it's not like that's the only thing he's up to lately, either. He talks to troubled youth (having a shady background when he first started with the Eagles himself), and he also runs a renowned clinic for WRs. Oh, and he was a speaker at both the '08 and '09 NFL Rookie Symposium. The man is still very active as far as the league goes- there's no way one can make the argument that he's ‘out of touch' or anything of the sorts.

Well, there you have it. Once again, Cris Carter is about to be disrespected for absolutely no valid reason whatsoever.

Sigh... Skol Vikings.

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Comments

This is messed up

Another fine job by those people over at BSPN. Maybe the NFLN can find a spot for him.

Slightly off tangent, I started following football at the age of 10 myself, and definitely by the age of 12 (if not 11) I had a very good grasp on the history of the NFL (as well as that of MLB and the NBA).

Roger Ebert: "I could get a million followers like Charlie Sheen did, but my wife would leave me and I'd be a poor lonely sap like he is."

Charlie Sheen: "Yeah, you really don't know lonely til you've gone to town on 5 chicks at once. #still #winning #planbetter"

by Td1984 on Mar 12, 2011 3:14 PM CST reply actions

Yeah.

Exactly. The whole ’he’s too old to be known’ line is BS. I was raised as a football fan. I knew who the legends were, those long before my time. And Carter is a legend. IMO, if at this point and time you don’t at least have a grasp of who Carter was, you’re pushing it in terms of being called a “football fan”.

Hail the Minnesota Vikings, ye mortals.
All other NFL fans are heretics.
www.dailynorseman.com- THE place for true Viking fanatics.

by KJSegall on Mar 12, 2011 3:17 PM CST up reply actions

this is how the NFL and their affiliates treats the player

and not just a player, a legend. I remember when Chris was speaking at the rookie symposium and he talked about this very thing, respect. Respect for the player and respect for the person.

by muffin man on Mar 12, 2011 3:35 PM CST reply actions

When I think of Chris Carter (the player)

Three things come to mind. His ability to catch a pass with his finger tips while straddling the sideline. His indication of “FIRST DOWN” after making a, um, first down. And this after a TD (sorry about the size – haven’t mastered that one yet)

by abba7 on Mar 12, 2011 3:42 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

It never gets old for me

Seeing this picture. He’s a HoF in all Vikings fans hearts.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!! Go Spurs Go!!!! Go Cubbies!!! Hook Em' Horns!!!!

by Mr.Cub22 on Mar 12, 2011 5:09 PM CST up reply actions

The man's record

should speak far beyond the Vikings fanbase as well. Like my earlier comparrisons to Dan Marino and Terry Bradshaw, or to extend it, Deion Sanders, John Elway, Jerry Rice, etc. etc. etc.

Ah, the failed attempt at returning Moss home. It was like '98 and '09 were about to make sweet, sweet love and give us a glorious '10 child.
www.dailynorseman.com- THE place for true Viking fanatics.

by KJSegall on Mar 12, 2011 3:47 PM CST reply actions

As far as the people in the "booths"

It’s the ex-PLAYERS that are the ones that I want to see/hear for pre-game shows. The only one that comes to mind that I REALLy can’t stand is Emmitt. BTW, did they ever do like an audition or a practice run? How could you still put him on the air after that?? Anyways, thinking of CC, Keyshawn, Steve Young, Long, Bradshaw, Deion, Tom Jackson(my favorite), Sharpe, Collinsworth, Dilfer, Simms: THESE are the people i want to hear talk football. If you want to run anyone off the TV, start with Chris BERMAN. The guy is terrible. Pregames and postgames and even sideline interviews will always be best when worked by an ex-player. They know what the players are going through. They provide incredible insight. Carter was VERY good at that. As a player, he always left his heart out on the field. When on ESPN, he would have conversations with the other analysts in front of the camera. He wasn’t trying to put on a performance or say things that people want to hear or even overly try to be clever or anything. He had conversations while on camera. I have a feeling that the CC we saw on Countdown is EXACTLY what he’s like off the camera. No smoke. No screens. No strings. Just him.

Skol!

by DM_Purp on Mar 14, 2011 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Absurd!

Chris Carter should have been a first ballot Hall of Fame selection hands down! The “sports writers” who did not vote him in either did not watch him play or could not read the statistics he compiled. The NFL is becoming a bigger joke every day.

by TexasViking on Mar 12, 2011 9:38 PM CST reply actions

So Cris Carter doesn't have enough "star power"

But Merril Hoge, Tim Hasselbeck, Trent Dilfer, Marcellus Wiley, Matt Millen, and Mark Schlereth do? I’m sure there are others I’m forgetting.

"Three-pointer from the parking lot...YES! The Golden Griff!"

by Dr. Dunkenstein on Mar 13, 2011 11:31 AM CDT reply actions

Probably.

And there’s a reason you’re forgetting them.

by KJSegall on Mar 13, 2011 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Carter must not kissing enough behind

According to Dino Costa of Mad Dog Radio, you don’t work for BSPN long term if you are not kissing ass. Dino would know being that BSPN recently made an attempt to hire him in the last 6 months.

Cris Carter’s a straight shooter and a good football analyts. I expect him to land on his feet after he is not “renewed” by BSPN.

by Ravens One on Mar 13, 2011 7:04 PM CDT reply actions

Yeah, he could go on NFL Network EASILY

Skol!

by DM_Purp on Mar 14, 2011 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I’d like to see Cris over at NFL Network replacing Charles Davis. What a waste! I feel like I lose football brain cells when Davis talks.

by Ravens One on Mar 14, 2011 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions

Cris Carter is an outstanding analyst

Being a Packer fan, I can’t say I liked Cris Carter the Viking since he played for the enemy, but Cris Carter the analyst has always been one of my favorites. He’s always articulate, he knows what he’s talking about, and unlike some other commentators, I never hear any bias in his analysis. It would be a shame if ESPN let him go.

by wibrownguy on Mar 14, 2011 10:33 AM CDT reply actions

Let's be honest

That might be why they let him go.

by Arif Hasan on Mar 14, 2011 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Why, because he’s unbiased?

by wibrownguy on Mar 14, 2011 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

maybe they want him to “dance”

Skol!

by DM_Purp on Mar 14, 2011 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for posting that.

Since your a Packer fan, I know that your viewpoint on it is clear. Sometimes I can’t help but wonder if my thoughts on these matters aren’t colored by homer-ism. Carter was one of my childhood NFL heroes, so naturally I want to see him succesful and honored, and take umbrige when that doesn’t happen.

Ergo, I take your comments as validation.

by KJSegall on Mar 14, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions

The general rule is that 2 players of the same position don't make the HoF in the same year

And Jerry Rice was hands down the better player. Maybe the best NFL player of all time. But for most of the records that Rice holds, Cris is in 2nd. I can understand him not getting in during his first year of eligibility since he was up against Rice, but the second best receiver in history should have gotten in by now.

by tkar99 on Mar 14, 2011 7:52 PM CDT reply actions