12/21/24
April 01, 2008
Jason Taylor's moves not moving the NFL: Jason Taylor and his "Dancing With The Stars" partner continued receiving high marks on the show Monday, while his other would-be partner – the NFL’s massive public relations and marketing machine – tripped over its two left feet.
I don't see the NFL dropping the ball here. Silver mentions the NBA as a league that is better at marketing the individual, but I disagree. Maybe there are more NBA stars with commercial deals than NFL stars, but that can be attributed to football players being less recognizable and visable due to helmets and a larger playing field. Besides, leagues don't determine which players get ad deals and off season publicity - corporate America, and in this case a TV show, does.
posted by curlyelk at 07:44 PM on April 01, 2008
I agree with some of that, curlyelk, but I'm mainly wondering if the NFL is hesitant to have anything to do with this dancing thing simply because it doesn't fit their tough-guy image. One thing I can't get out of my mind, just like the story points out, is the Bill Parcells factor. I've always believed the league, in some respects, is intimidated by Parcells. It's almost as if they don't want to recogize Taylor on this show because they think Parcells will scoff at it and, in his own way, make the league look a bit foolish. Like it or not, though, Taylor is bringing attention to football to people who may not give it much thought. I'm doubting some will become huge fans of the game, but seeing they can perform and work diligently at cultured activities like dance lets them know the generalizations they may think are all true, such as the only dance pro football players appreciate involves naked women and a pole, isn't necessarily true. Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith helped this image be put to rest a great deal, but Jason Taylor is still an active All-Pro type performer. And the Dolphins could use all the good publicity they can because, frankly, they suck.
posted by dyams at 08:14 PM on April 01, 2008
I alway knew Jason Taylor was light in his loafers
posted by 4ArmShiver at 05:12 AM on April 02, 2008
I don't think the macho image of football is hurt by dancing athletes. It's not that unusual -- some do it to work on their footwork. Herschel Walker even danced with the Fort Worth Ballet while playing for Dallas back in 1988.
posted by rcade at 06:17 AM on April 02, 2008
Shouldn't this have come up with Emmitt Smith? I reckon he's more of a household name than Taylor and would have been easier for the NFL to promote.
posted by jmd82 at 08:36 AM on April 02, 2008
I thought it was interesting how Emmit and Jerry handled the show. To see a big guy like Taylor tells you how flexible these guys are. They are big athletes that can move. The fact that they are in a violent game doesn't always show how well they can move. I have to agree that maybe Taylor should be getting ready to help a team get back on the winning track may have needed to be at the top of the list, but then again, maybe he thought he wouldn't be around long... Should the NFL cover some of this, yes they should. It would lighten up all the other crap you read about these days about football players. The college ranks are getting to be a discrace to the game with the number of players you read about every day that get in serious trouble, pissing away the scholorships... Thats the future of the NFL if it keeps up... Scarry....
posted by bruce2ww at 08:39 AM on April 02, 2008
Shouldn't this have come up with Emmitt Smith? Smith is obvioulsy a much bigger name in football history, as is Rice, but Taylor is a bigger story with regards to the show because he's still active. I have to agree that maybe Taylor should be getting ready to help a team get back on the winning track Taylor is arguably the top talent on the Dolphins, and has been for several years. He continues to play at a high, high level. Miami can count on him to be ready to play and to dominate. The remainder of the roster, or potential roster, needs to adhere to the same committment Taylor has shown. And one thing that has always struck me on that TV show is how tired and winded the competitors (at least the ones who put in hard work, as Taylor does) get. I totally believe many current NFL players couldn't handle the work necessary to compete on that show. Taylor will probably come out of this experience even more prepared to lead the Dolphins defense.
posted by dyams at 09:02 AM on April 02, 2008
So what is the NFL supposed to do to promote Taylor? Silver's article does a great job of chastising the league for "under-promoting" Taylor, but offers no ideas of his own. How exactly does the NFL cover this? They have something on their website and the NFL network according to the article. I can't see them running ads on network or cable TV, radio, or print. My point is that these things take care of themselves. Taylor, and the NFL, will get more than enough promotion via the show itself and ABC's promotion of the show. I agree with dyams that Taylor will be ready to play in the fall. His training for the show is probably more rigorous than anything Mr. No Name Dolphin Defender is doing this off-season.
posted by curlyelk at 11:48 AM on April 02, 2008
Re: the tough guy image: Joe Namath wore panty hose. 'Nuff said.
posted by drumdance at 05:22 PM on April 02, 2008
lynn swan said he could jump like he could because of ballet. Go call one of the 1970's steelers soft. i dare ya
posted by Debo270 at 12:26 PM on April 03, 2008
He's just practicing in case he scores a touchdown this season.