There’s nothing I hate more in the NFL than a diva wide receiver.
There are so many wide outs in this league who cease to care about the team when they don’t believe they’re getting enough targets. Specific names that come to mind are DK Metcalf, Stefon Diggs, and AJ Brown. Guys who care about personal accolades more than winning, and aren’t ashamed to make it known. Now, we can add 49ers’ Deebo Samuel to that list.
Two weeks ago, Samuel took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote that he’s in fact not struggling this year, he’s just not getting the ball enough.
Sure, he is touching the ball less than he has in the past. His targets are down about 0.5 per game as opposed to last season, which was already down from 2022. However, he has five drops this year including a huge one on third down last Thursday night, which likely would’ve gone for a touchdown and changed the game.
This isn’t the first time Samuel has made headlines this year. Earlier this season, he was seen on the sideline berating kicker Jake Moody after three missed field goals, and shoving long snapper Taybor Pepper when he stepped in. A few weeks later, Deebo is coming off hypocritical; publicly showing up his teammates for their failures, and excusing his own.
Look at a player like Justin Jefferson: there’s no doubt he is a top three receiver in this league, but in 2024 he hasn’t been utilized like he has in the past in the Vikings’ offense. Yet, you don’t hear a peep out of him. He is mature enough to recognize that he’s still helping the team win with fewer targets, drawing double teams and opening up the rest of the offense.
Selfishness has no place on the gridiron. It leads to quarterbacks forcing the ball to specific players and hampering the offense.
One of the biggest issues I have with the Deebo Samuel situation is that he wants more targets as a downfield receiver, which is not the way he’s ever played. What makes him great is his slipperiness. Give him the ball on a jet sweep and he can evade tackle after tackle. However, that’s not what makes money, and that’s what matters the most in today’s game, right? Who gets the biggest bag.
I’m hoping last week’s big drop was the end of this for Samuel. If the 49ers are going to make a push for a wildcard spot, they’re going to need everyone all in as a team.
Tough Money Sports 