Articles

When Players Change Teams

Years ago most players began their careers with a certain team and ended their careers with that very same team. It was against the norm when a player left his team to join another team. Now, with free agency in sports, it’s going against the norm to stay with the same team for an entire career.

While players don’t like the instability of having to change teams, they do like the salaries they receive because of free agency. That’s usually why a player decides to change teams. Players want to make as much money as possible and free agency allows them to do just that.

Players who decide to change teams face many changes: new players, new coaches, a new city, and new fans.

With all the team sports – baseball, football, basketball, and hockey – a player never knows exactly how they will interact with other players and how well they’ll be able to play with the other players. There’s always the risk that the player won’t be as good when playing with other players.

Players changing teams also have to deal with playing for a completely different set of coaches, and with the new coaches come a different style of play. Sometimes players will find that they can’t adjust to the new style and other times players will find that they don’t get along well with the new coaches.

Then there are some players who seem unable to get along with the coaches (and most of the players) no matter where they go. Terrell Owens, who’s worn the jersey of the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and now the Dallas Cowboys, has had trouble at every stop of his career. Now, with a new coach, Wade Phillips, being hired in Dallas, there’s one more chance for Owens to get along with a new coach.

Then there is the pressure of playing for a certain city and in front of the city’s fans that sometimes is too much for a player. Probably the toughest city to play in is New York City.

Although Eli Manning, quarterback of the New York Giants, never officially played for San Diego, he was drafted by them and then traded to the Giants on the same day. Now, Eli faces the pressure of playing in front of New Yorkers and being scrutinized by the New York media. So, when he plays poorly, inevitably people wonder if he’d be playing better if he was in a smaller market like San Diego.

Alex Rodriguez is another example. Rodriguez spent many brilliant years playing short stop for the Seattle Mariners and then the Texas Rangers. He was one of the best players in baseball if not the very best. Then he began playing third base for the New York Yankees and the pressure was on.

Although Rodriguez’s numbers are still great during the season, his numbers during the playoffs are far below where they should be. So, the fans boo him and the media writes about how A-Rod is overpaid and the pressure mounts on him. It’s a pressure he wouldn’t be under if he was wearing almost any other Major League Baseball jersey.

There are success stories of players changing teams though.

Jake Delhomme, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers, was a back-up with the New Orleans Saints until he signed with the Panthers and became a top-notch quarterback.

Marshall Faulk was a good player while he wore an Indianapolis Colts jersey, but he became a superstar when he began playing for the St. Louis Rams.

Most players change teams so that they can make more money. However, players also change teams to win a championship or to get a chance to play. Whatever the reason, one thing’s certain: players face many challenges when they decide to play for a different team.