Sometimes you just don't get it right no matter how hard you try. This week's award goes to the United States Army. Now most of us are truly appreciative of the hard work and dedication of our servicemen and women but even Uncle Sam can blow it at times (no pun intended). Caleb Campbell was a 7th round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2008 NFL draft. Army policy "at the time" would have allowed Campbell to to serve as a recruiter if he made the team. We'll that's all changed as of this week as Army officials informed Lions personnel that Campbell had to "give up football for full time traditional military duties" until 2010 that is. Is this a bad call by the Army? Or does the military have the right to change their mind?
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5 comments:
The way I understood it when I was trying to get into the Corps was that contracts are "life contracts". In a sense once you sign your name you are signing over your life. The fact that this kid is good at something is regardless.
Also I wonder if the Army is doing this so that they won't look bad infront of the Navy. Didn't someone from the Navy get drafted like in the 1st or 2nd round for the MLB, but the Navy wouldn't allow the kid to go until he finished his contract. The media was asking why not, because "the Army would have allowed him to go, as that have with other players." Thus Army looks likes a bunch of wusses infront of their rivals the Navy.
That's all well & good Chilly Willy, but the problem with your argument is that at the time Campbell was drafted, the Armed Forces & everyone else in 'the know' led him and all of us to believe that if he made the team Campbell would be allowed to serve as a recruiter. Now suddenly three months later it's as if we've had the rug pulled out from under us. If Cambell had never been led to believe that this was a legit possibility than there wouldn't be any controversy...
Shorty, don't get me wrong this situation is F.U.B.A.R.. However, like I was trying to say the once you sign that contract the military reserves the right to do whatever they please with you. It sucks, but it's not like this guy is the first to get screwed over.
A buddy of mine was led to believe that he was going to serve as a cook for three years and serve his final year as a recruiter. Well, by the middle of his third year they were getting him ready for a gunner position on a humvee.
it doesn't matter what we think, either way. campbell is a great human being that went to west point to be a servicemen to our country. he was quoted as saying this is a "win, win situation for me". which means to me that he knew that this might happen and will still go forth with his journey in the armed forces. and if he has a chance in the future at the nfl when his duties to our nation are done, then he will do it then.
the one loser in all of this is the detroit lions. campbell was on pace to be a starter on special teams and not only now do they lose him today, but they won't have the rights to him when he is available to come back. so they wasted a draft pick when at the time the rules said that it was ok.
It interesting that the Army would have gone this route with a very unpopular war.
Vanessa G
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