When you think of football, images of players with their hands on their knees, clasped in prayer, or even sitting on the field’s sidelines come to mind. However, very few people know that the sport isn’t played only on those artificial turf fields and football stadiums with perfectly-paved playing surfaces. In fact, most Americans have never heard of gridiron football. Even fewer people can name a professional football player by his name or nickname alone – let alone one who has thousands of dollars riding on his answer to a question posed by a fan during an autograph session. If you’re looking to get into signing autographs but aren’t sure where to begin, this article is for you. It will give you information about what types of medals players take off before signing autographs, why they do it, and how it affects you as an interested fan.
Why Do Football Players Take Their Medals Off
football players take their medals off when they win a championship. This is because the country or league they are playing for (e.g., American Football) may award different degrees of honors, such as winning championships, MVPs, etc. To ensure that all players who receive these honors are recognized, the trophy’s presentation and/or removal from competition may also occur.
What Are Players Gave Up To Take Their Medals Off?
- Silver – The lowest medal awarded in a championship. This is the first medal that most players give up to take their medals off.
- Gold – The second-lowest award given out by a league or country in a championship. This is the second medal that most players give up to take their medals off.
- Silver Cup – Another name for this award is “The Vince Lombardi Trophy.” It’s named after legendary NFL coach and former Green Bay Packer, Vince Lombardi, who was known for his hard work and dedication to his team’s success (e.g., winning championships). Many NFL players are awarded this trophy, but only after they have won at least one other championship (i.e., Gold).
- Gold Cup – Another name for this award is “The Paul Brown Trophy.” Named after former NFL coach and Cincinnati Bengal, Paul Brown, was known for his hard work and dedication to his team’s success (e.g., winning championships). Many NFL players are awarded this trophy, but only after they have won at least one other championship (i.e., Silver).
- Super Bowl Ring – This trophy is awarded by the league itself or its teams to the player who wins the Super Bowl Championship Game (also called the “Super Bowl”). Players may also be awarded it if they were part of a team that made it to the Super Bowl but did not win it (i.e., lost in overtime/by less than a touchdown).
- The Vince Lombardi Trophy – This trophy is awarded by the league itself or its teams to the player who wins the Super Bowl Championship Game (also called the “Super Bowl”). Players may also be awarded it if they were part of a team that made it to the Super Bowl but did not win it (i.e., lost in overtime/by less than a touchdown).
Why Do Football Players Take Their Medals Off?
- Most players take their medals off because they are not comfortable with the idea of having them on and being viewed as a “champion” or “winner.”
- In many cases, players take their medals off when they feel that they have done enough to be awarded them. For instance, if a player is in the playoffs, he may feel that he has done enough to win the trophy, but does not want to give it up if he does not win it (i.e., it would be considered a waste).
- If a player feels that his performance did not warrant him winning a championship or MVP award, he may choose to keep his medal even though it means giving up his title as champion/MVP. For example, if a player has been in the playoffs for two straight seasons and is no longer one of the best players on his team (i.e., the team is rebuilding), he may decide that keeping his medal is more important than giving it up (i.e., keeping the medal would make him feel like an MVP and bring some pride back into his career).
- Some players keep their medals because they feel like they don’t deserve them and do not want anyone else to have them either (i.e., there’s nothing wrong with keeping your medals).
- Some players keep their medals in case they win another one and want to keep the same ones.
- Some players take their medals off because they are not comfortable with the idea of having them on and being viewed as a “champion” or “winner.”
How Does It Affect You As An Avid Football Fan?
- As a football fan, you will most likely be disappointed if one of your favorite players takes his medals off. For instance, if you are a fan of Tom Brady and he takes his MVP/championship medals off, it will be like the world has turned upside down for you. You will feel like your dream has been shattered and you are no longer a fan of that player or team (i.e., it’s like your dream is dead).
- As a football fan, you won’t want to see your favorite player take his medals off because it will make him look bad in front of the public (i.e., he won’t be viewed as “a champion” anymore).
- As a football fan, you may get disappointed if one of your favorite players takes his medals off and then wins another one later on (i.e., it may make him look bad in front of the public again).
- As a football fan, you may start avoiding that player and team because it seems as if they have lost their “championship” spirit (i.e., they have no faith in themselves anymore).
- As a football fan, it will affect how much respect you give them (i.e., how much pride they deserve) when they win another championship or MVP award later on in their career; this is because they may not have the same amount of pride left to give if they took their first two medals off.
- As a football fan, it will affect how much you respect that player’s opinion of other players (i.e., how much they are willing to give out on others) if they take their medals off because they do not like other players very much (i.e., there is no respect left to give).
Different Types Of Football Players Gave Up Medals
- The first player to take his medals off was New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, who was convicted of first-degree murder (and later acquitted) in the 2013 death of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but he has not been charged with any crimes since his release from jail.
- In 2011, when he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, wide receiver Hines Ward took his Super Bowl XL MVP award home with him after his team won it that year. Ward said he had some sentimental value to him, but also that he wanted to be a role model and not a “symbol.” He said, “I feel like I have too much going on as a person and an athlete to allow myself to get weighed down by something like this.”
- In 2012, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings took his Super Bowl XLV MVP award home with him after his team won it that year. Jennings said he was proud to have won the award, but he was not very happy about it. He said, “I don’t want to be remembered for taking my award home.”
- In 2012, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz took his Super Bowl XLVI MVP award home with him after his team won it that year. Cruz said he did not like the fact that he was being made into a “symbol,” and that sports should be about competition and not “just something you get handed to you.” He also said that he would not take the award back because of how much it means to him. Cruz went on to become a Super Bowl champion again in 2014 with his team.
Bottom line
Gridiron football is a very unique sport with a unique culture. While it may not have as much history as other sports, it’s also easier to pick up and learn. As a result, there are many fans of gridiron football who are looking for a new type of sport to join their growing collection of sports to watch. If you’re one of those fans, or you’re just looking to expand your sports horizons, then I highly recommend checking out gridiron football. It’s a fast-paced, physical game that can be enjoyed by everyone.
