Commitment to Diversity

On the last play of the wildcard game in this year’s NFL playoffs between the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott ran a draw play up the middle in an attempt to move the Cowboys into touchdown scoring range. After the play ended, the team lined up to kill the clock so they can run one more play and possibly score the game winning touchdown. The Cowboys never got that chance because the clock expired one second before Prescott spiked the ball, and the Cowboys were upset by the 49ers. One second was the difference between defeat, and a chance at the game-winning touchdown. One second, 1 yard, 1 inch, are the narrow margins that decide most NFL games. That is how competitive it is. That is how hard it is to win a game in the NFL. All four of the divisional round playoff games this year ended with a walk off victory on the final play of the game. Both Conference championship games were decided by a field goal in the last 2 minutes or in overtime. That is how narrow the margin of victory is in the NFL.

Tom Brady, arguably the greatest player ever to play in the NFL, retired this past week. In his retirement announcement on Twitter, he stated that “I have always believed the sport of football is an ‘all-in’ proposition — if a 100% competitive commitment isn’t there, you won’t succeed, and success is what I love so much about our game… I have tried my very best these past 22 years. There are no shortcuts to success on the field or in life.”

After the Cowboys lost to the 49ers, the big question was, will Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy be fired? Simply by asking that question and placing the blame of that loss on the head coach, we are acknowledging that the role of the head coach is vitally important to the success or failure of the team. The head coach is not merely a figurehead, who has very little influence on the outcome of the games. Therefore, getting the best person in place based on merits and qualification is paramount. There’s a reason why head coaches get paid upwards to $12 million per year, and teams have been willing to trade first round draft picks to get the head coach they want.