But it's a chicken or the egg kind of thing. Was he not getting playing time and then acted like an *** because he saw the writing on the wall or was he not getting playing time because he was acting like an *** from the beginning? From his own account, he said he was promised playing time back in training camp which is what made him even want to come back this year. From what I gather, after the first few games of that proving to be false, that is when he started acting out. I agree, you shouldn't reward a guy for acting out from that point so the Steelers were in a tough place once he started doing that and probably should've just let him go the moment he started becoming an issue. But does it even get to that point if he would've gotten in on a decent amount of snaps from the get go like he was promised? I'm willing to bet no.
And further, why promise him snaps if he clearly wasn't in the plans from the beginning? I could understand if guys ahead of him were performing but that wasn't the case. After James sealed the KC win with a sack you thought that he might be rewarded with more PT but the opposite happened. My point is, I can see why he would be pissed the way it seems like he was told one thing but the coaches didn't follow through. That still doesn't excuse him from acting like an angry teenager but it doesn't bother me. It's no worse to me than a team cutting a guy mid-contract. Just an overall odd situation from both sides.
He shouldn't have been shocked at that point in his career to know it was a possibility for it to shakeout that he received less snaps. I think Watt developing quick, kept him on the field longer. And then perhaps in pass coverage they saw slippage in James' game. And said oh **** he is a liability now.
You think one way and then your opinion changes so you bench him.
**** happens. Then you suck it up and STFU.
And it wasn't just one time or even two. Reports are he was habitually doing things to cause conflict.
Perhaps Steelers at first didn't want to be void of depth.
As it became tiresome they cut the cord.
I offer no sympathy for players who are told something, the then situation changes.Then they have a meltdown.
It is a coach's job to identify which players give you the best chance to win. So they were developing Watt and using Chickillo in coverage.
When you are under contract at any given time you can play less or more.
What what happened if you gave in to every jagoff that didn't get their way and had a school yard temper tantrum?
You would open the door for even more problems.
James made his bed, now I am throwing it out to the curb.
Good riddance.
