Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude.  That is what I feel right now when I think about the current situations that Terrell Owens and, to a lesser extent, Chad Ochocinco find themselves in.

I can't help it.  I know it is not a positive personality trait and in fact is really rather unbecoming.  But it is honest.  That's how I feel.

Schadenfreude is a German word that means "pleasure derived from the misfortune of others".

Owens and Ochocinco have both reached the part of their careers when their projected on-field production is no longer worth their on and off field antics.  It was inevitable that this time would come at some point.  For the two that once teamed up for a TV show as members of the Bengals in 2010, that time is now.

The Bengals put up with Ochocinco's often erratic behavior for years because he brought a lot of attention to an otherwise non-descript team and his unique quickness in and out of his breaks allowed him to put up big-time numbers for a long time.  They saw that quickness starting to decline and wisely traded him to the Patriots, who got almost nothing for the $6M signing bonus investment they made in him.  The Pats cut him last week and he was recently signed by the Miami Dolphins.  Truth is, the Dolphins signed him at this point likely more for the attention and notoriety that he would bring to a franchise set to be featured on HBO's Hard Knocks series this summer than for what he will do on the field, assuming he even makes the team.  Looks like he has reached the sideshow stage of his career.

Several teams, including the Niners, Eagles, and Cowboys most notably put up with TO's self-centered attitude and selfish behavior because of his consistently high production yet all of them at some point got rid of him in spite of the fact that he was still one of the elite receivers in the league at that point.  Isn't that telling?  What other star player gets jettisoned by three different organizations during his prime like Owens did?  He was most recently seen in the Indoor Football League playing for the Allen Wranglers before they too decided he wasn't worth the trouble.  He's actually already past the sideshow stage of his football career.  Next stop for him has got to be a never ending run of reality shows featuring quasi-celebrities living together in a house somewhere, right?

So why am I taking some pleasure in the fact that it is coming to an uncomfortable end for Owens and Ochocinco?  They represent everything that I dislike about professional sports.  Their actions consistently fly in the face of all of the values that I wrote about in last week's column and hold so dear about the sport of football.

More importantly, they are a horrendous example for the millions of young people that live and die by the NFL each week.  They see the temper tantrums on the sideline and think that is acceptable behavior.  They see the celebration penalties and think it is cool even though it hurts the team.  Yes, it can be a teaching moment for coaches and parents to let their youngsters know that is not the right way to behave but, the truth is, that only goes so far when kids see the attention that that type of behavior garners.  Selfish sells.

In fairness to both of them, wide receiver is the one position more than any other where I can understand why they get so frustrated.  There is no marquee position in any sport that is more dependent upon teammates than a wide-out.  They can dominate their defender and get wide open time after time yet have nothing to show for it if the offensive line or quarterback are having a rough day.  That can't be easy.

That said, Larry Fitzgerald has handled those situations well for years.  As have both Johnsons, Andre and Calvin.  And though it is early, even young stars like A.J. Green and Julio Jones seem to have their heads on straight in that regard.  Point is, that frustration can be handled the right way.  Ochocinco and Owens never elected to take that tact.

The other thing that should be noted for both players, Ochocinco in particular, is that they could be considered marketing geniuses.  Think about how well known they are.  Ochocinco has had national endorsement deals with Go Daddy.com, Reebok, Degree, and more.  For a guy that was drafted by the Bengals when they were both terrible on the field and never a topic of conversation off it, that is utterly amazing.  It is probably the main reason why he is a Dolphin right now.

But he could have done all of those things by being an entertainer and creative without so often being a disruption to his team.  Most of the touchdown celebrations were fine and within the rules but the ones that drew penalties obviously were not.  Once big offensive linemen like Andrew Whitworth had to grab him and tell him to get lined up instead of yelling at Carson Palmer, you knew there was a big problem. 

So yeah, it kind of makes me happy that those guys are either struggling to find a job (Owens)or hardly assured of keeping one (Ochocinco).  NFL roster spots are precious and I like when they go to guys that respect and appreciate them.  Owens and Ochocinco simply never have and their disrespectful attitude towards the game as well as other players and coaches is the reason why they are in their current situations. 

They have nobody to blame but themselves.  The irony is, of course, that they would never actually do that.  In their world, it is always somebody else's fault.

MAILBAG QUESTIONS: Send your questions either via email to ross@sportsusamedia.com or via Twitter to both @rosstuckernfl and @sports_usa

Hey Ross,

I have a question regarding how much of an advantage a team would have if they were to obtain a rival's playbook. Like, when you were released by the Redskins and picked up the next day by the Cowboys - did you bring the playbook (or a copy of it) with you?

Thanks and have a good day,

From David via email

The plays themselves would not be that valuable.  The other teams already know all of them based on their scouting.  It is the audibles and verbal communication on the field that could make a big difference.  So, if the rival knows that their playbook has been compromised and can change those verbal cues, not much.  If they have no clue?  Quite a bit.

@RossTuckerNFL @Sports_USA Do you think Ochocinco would work in Jax? Maybe bring some excitement? Can't be worse than Blackmon, right?

From Paul Moerman @phmoerman via twitter

Very timely tweet Paul given the subject matter in today's column.  If Jacksonville was trying to get some attention for their team, Ochocinco might have been their man, like he evidently is in Miami.  Isn't that just a short term solution to a long-term problem though?  For both franchises?  The only way you get consistent excitement is by having a consistent winner and the Jags have better receivers already in Justin Blackmon and Laurent Robinson.

@RossTuckerNFL @Sports_USA
I know Packers pass attack is potent, but they know something we don't? Seem too comfy with mediocre backfield.

From Justin Cooke @cheddarhead3 via twitter

Well who do you propose they get?  Fact is, they are a passing team with the MVP at quarterback and you can't have or pay elite players at every position.  They proved they could win a Super Bowl with guys like James Starks and John Kuhn and it didn't hamper them offensively very much last year either.