Dear Mr. Clausen

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

Good morning young man, I trust you slept well. Well, at the very least, I hope you slept. Because you and I both know that this morning is different for you. This is a morning you've been thinking about for a long time and it's finally here. So before I go any further, congratulations are well in order. Take a moment and enjoy the feeling.

Ok, moments over. A lot of kids grow up dreaming about becoming a starting quarterback in the National Football League. Its just one of those dreams that ranks up there with becoming a movie star or an astronaut. Even in the innocence of youth, most of us know its not going to happen. A few kids actually try to start down that path by joining teams. A few of those go on to play in college. A handful of those who make that far, injury free with the talent needed to do well, make in to the NFL. And then its down to 32. Those are the only spots available for all those dreamers.

A few of those 32 are entrenched as the centerpiece of a franchise. They've proven themselves to be consistant and reliable against the best the league has to offer year in and year out. They've earned the trust and respect of their teams and the support and admiration of the fans of those teams. They're good and everyone knows it. The only way the guys behind them on the bench will see playing time is if one of them gets hurt. If you had been on one of those teams, that's where you'd be sitting on Sunday. You're not one of them.

A few others of those 32 are young guys with a few short years of play under their belts. But in those few short years they've managed to earn the hope of both their franchises and those all important fans. Everyone believes that those guys are the future for their teams and are willing to live through the growing pains that'll come from building a team around one guy. Which means those guys are on the field no matter what come game day, and just like the guys I mentioned before, if you had gone to one of those teams you had about as much chance getting on the field on Sunday's as my local pastor does. You're not one of them either.

A few others are the same age as you, or maybe just a smidge older, who for whatever reason made some team think "this is the guy". They're making a lot of money to do things they haven't done yet, but everyone involved seems to think they will do those things. They came into the league with the support and confidence of an entire organization. Most of those organizations passed you over when they were given a chance. That's why you slapped that number two on your chest, remember? You could have been those guys, but you're not one of them.

Finally, Jimmy, we come to what you are. One lucky son of a bitch, that's what. The team you're on thought it had found its answer at quarterback, at least for the moment. They saw some promise in you and snagged you in the draft at the first chance they could, but you were supposed to sit on the bench and learn slowly. This could have worked against you. That guy ahead of you on the depth chart could have done exceptionally well and raised himself to the level of one of those franchise guys I talked about earlier. He didn't. In fact, he played so bad (and got a little banged up in the process) that the time has come to throw you into the gears of the machine. It wasn't supposed to happen this quickly, and we've established that you aren't any of the other 31 guys who woke up this morning as starting quarterbacks. But you've got your spot and a chance to make good on all those dreams you've had your entire life. There are a lot of people ready to belive in you if you give 'em a reason.

Now get to work.

[Fan4life]

The fire is fuging burning !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChucktownK]

I hope Yimmy does well but I'm not resting all hope on him as dismally as the team and coaches, as a whole, have been performing.

[ladypanther]

Very nice post. As I said in another thread....my dream today is that JC makes 31 other front offices sick.

To Jimmy....please be smart.

[Jackofalltrades]

Too much to read, but everyone else liked it so have some pie.