Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
Mike Singletary doesn't just want your body when you play football for him and the 49ers. No, he wants much more. First, he's going to take his pants off, because he's more comfortable that way even if you're not. Then he's gonna want to know about your relationship with your father, your feelings about your mother, and for you to confess your innermost emotional pain. Why? Shhh. Mike's asking the questions here, and you're answering them.
I'm not kidding. The 49ers are officially off the Matt Stafford bandwagon after Stafford refused to discuss his parents' divorce in a session with a psychologist hired by the team to evaluate possible draft picks. Never mind that this has jack diddly poo nothing to do with football or Stafford's ability to throw a deep out. Singletary's having none of a prospect's selfishness with his worst memories, and don't forget it.
"If you're going to look at drafting a guy in the first round, and you're going to pay him millions of dollars, and asking him about a divorce about his parents, if that's going to be an issue, uhhh, then you know what, maybe he doesn't belong here."That's why you didn't hit the checkdown on that play, Matt. Your aim was affected by the unresolved feelings of anger you have toward your father. The missed deep ball on the prior play? Obviously sent long by your repressed rage toward authority figures. If you are drafted by Detroit, Mr. Stafford, take comfort in knowing that while you may have your soul crushed by the experience, at least you get to keep it afterwards. Correction: will have your soul crushed. There, much more accurate now.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
22 comments
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This is absurd. If you want to eliminate him from your board for performance reasons, go right ahead. I loved Mike when he was playing for the Bears but he’s way out of line here.
by ChiAdam on Mar 26, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions
Maybe there’s a direct line here from Singletary’s firsthand experiences with Jim McMahon (and HIS issues with authority) to this story…
The rebellious Jimmy Mac as a teammate? Great.
But when YOU are the authority figure, the head coach? Not so much.
Just one possible (far-fetched) theory. :-)
by Amishbear on Mar 26, 2009 3:45 PM EDT reply actions
This is the most idiotic post I’ve seen here in a while so that’s saying at lot. Stafford never refused anything. Read the original article before coming to wrong conclusions.
From the Sports Illustrated article:
The 49ers interview, conducted by a team psychologist, struck Stafford as odd. His account: When the psychologist asked about his parents, he explained that they were divorced when he was in high school and that he’d adjusted well; told he sounded as if he might have unfinished business concerning the divorce, Stafford said there certainly was not. "I felt like, I wonder how much I’m being charged per hour for this?" he says. "But I understand. They’re going to pay a lot of money in the first round."
by InSouthGA on Mar 26, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions
Read. And it still sounds like Mike Singletary is insane. Thanks.
by shall.tsn on Mar 26, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions
Singletary just sentenced himself to "sensitivity training" in the HR gulag. Merely asking that question makes such a nice, juicy lawsuit.
by bveo12 on Mar 26, 2009 6:22 PM EDT reply actions
I’ll I care about is the elimination of Stafford for the 49ers….Oh baby give me Sanchez!!!! Come on Jax, you know Stafford is better….take Stafford and let Mark fall to us please!!!!!!
by SailorGabe on Mar 26, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions
This is a rediculous BS blog. Singletary is one of he best coaches in the league for the very reasons you hate him. See if you’re still singing your song after the 49’ers win the West.
by Carolinareb632 on Mar 26, 2009 10:34 PM EDT reply actions
You know it may sound crazy but he has a point, if I’m paying a guy millions of dollars I can ask him anything I want. Great article by the way.
by njm1314 on Mar 26, 2009 11:07 PM EDT reply actions
Singletary just wants to know if Mrs. Stafford is, uhm, ready to go.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Mar 26, 2009 11:49 PM EDT reply actions
Can’t play with Him, Can’t coach with Him,Can’t win with him, Can’t cuddle with him, Can’t do it!
by tykendo on Mar 27, 2009 2:33 AM EDT reply actions
The divorce question wasn’t even the most akward part of the interview with Stafford. That came when Singletary said it was time for "hug therapy".
by GeoX on Mar 29, 2009 2:59 AM EDT reply actions
how many concussions has singletary had?
by scurds on Mar 30, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions
If Stafford can’t deal with a question like that then he doesn’t have the mental strength to play in the NFL
by NinersRule! on Mar 30, 2009 10:59 AM EDT reply actions
Frankly speaking, Stafford’s issues with his family are none of the 49ers damn business. Did anybody ask Mike SIngletary about skeletons in HIS family’s closet before he was drafted? I can’t believe he would consider that an issue when comes to drafting the kid. This is easily one of the most absurd and ridiculous things I’ve ever read.
by Flashjeff on Mar 30, 2009 11:47 AM EDT reply actions
If Singletary can’t deal with an intelligent, honest and somewhat humorous assessment of a question, then that’s his prerogative and the 49ers shouldn’t draft the guy.
by CliffClavin on Mar 30, 2009 1:59 PM EDT reply actions
Can somebody please get Singletary a check valve?
by kiji on Mar 30, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions
If family issues are irrelevant, so are issues with the law. It’s all a part of character.
by msd0060 on Mar 31, 2009 2:35 PM EDT reply actions
While your at it Mike why don’t you ask the players in the locker room if they have an ISSUE with a grown man dropping his pants and moons his entire 49’er team to make a point?
by Steel817 on Apr 1, 2009 9:00 PM EDT reply actions
Why do any of you people care anyway? What are the odds that SF will even get an oppurtunity at Stafford?
When any of you are Head Coach of the Forty-Niners then you run YOUR draft any way you want.
by dogman13 on Apr 2, 2009 9:08 AM EDT reply actions
Obviously Singletary is looking for a certain kind of mentality in the people he drafts for SF. Right or wrong.. Who cares?? What is important is the results of his picks and winning. I belive some other owners would take Singletary’s oddness if it brought success too.
by RaiderWolf on Apr 2, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions
by BBBIIIGGG on Apr 3, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
"17. msd0060 |If family issues are irrelevant, so are issues with the law. It’s all a part of character."
Being mad at daddy will not land you in jail. Breaking the law will land you in jail. Unless your lawyer is Johnny Cochran.
by cguid12 on Apr 4, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions
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