The perception of Seahawks’ Metcalf should be reevaluated
DK Metcalf can shake just about any defensive back in the NFL.
Doing the same with his reputation is a far more difficult task.
The Seahawks wide receiver seems to be in the Dennis Rodman/Draymond Green sphere, where it’s assumed (“Hamilton” reference coming) that he’s a powder keg about to explode.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed as much to the San Francisco Chronicle when he revealed that he told his players in a team meeting that, “We will get ’14’ (Metcalf ) to lose his mind … Christmas present for whoever gets him.”
Well, in the minds of many, 14 did just that Sunday in Seattle’s 28-16 loss to San Francisco. The lasting image of the afternoon was DK grabbing 49ers linebacker Fred Warner by the facemask and shoving his head away in anger before being ejected.
So is this column a condemnation of the man on pace to lead NFL receivers in penalties — most of which are of the 15-yard variety — for the third consecutive season? Not so much. It’s actually a piece defending Metcalf.
Well, at least the Metcalf of the past two months.
First, though, let’s flash back to Oct. 18, when Metcalf gave what seemed to be the most defiant news conference of his career. After getting his fifth flag of the season three days earlier — this one for unnecessary roughness vs. Cincinnati — he was asked a series of questions about his penalty pattern. His response seemed to indicate that the problem wasn’t going to improve.
“I’m not going to change the way I play. I mean, if you look at the penalties, there’s a taunting, an unnecessary roughness, facemask, holding, and I think one more in there,” Metcalf said. “So I’m doing pretty good if I look at it and judge myself.”
I predicted at the time that DK would inspire a yellow-flag downpour in the following weeks due to his (perceived) stubbornness. What actually happened? Besides a declined offensive holding in Dallas — no flags for seven consecutive games.
Until Sunday, of course.
Yes, that was when, late in the fourth quarter, Metcalf essentially body-slammed Warner to the ground after he intercepted Seattle quarterback Drew Lock’s pass. DK clearly thought Warner — who had pitched the ball to a teammate after Metcalf wrapped him up — still had possession of the pigskin. Warner, however, thought Metcalf had taken a cheap shot, so he retaliated by diving into the back of Metcalf ’s neck. That’s when Metcalf sought payback and grabbed Warner’s facemask, thus cementing his rep as a hothead.
Warner said later that DK needs to “learn to keep his composure.”
On Monday, former NFL general manager Randy Mueller said on KJR-FM that “unless [DK] finds a way to control his emotions, he’s really of no value.”
To Warner, I would say — I think he has learned. For the moment, at least.
And to Mueller, I’d say — oh, come on.
As much ink as Metcalf gets for his personal fouls, he hasn’t actually cost the Seahawks anything. That doesn’t mean that he couldn’t have hurt them — or that he can’t hurt them in the future — but at this point, those flags have not given or taken away points (look it up).
As noted earlier, DK had controlled his emotions throughout the previous several weeks. On Sunday he let them out only after he (understandably) felt he had been wronged and, more important, when it was clear the Niners had the win in hand.
As for his value? The man is averaging 72.0 yards per game (the second-most of his career) and 16.9 yards per catch (the highest of his career). Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has struggled for much of the season, but without Metcalf, Smith and his teammates may very well have been eliminated from the playoffs by now.
This isn’t to say DK is having an All-Pro-worthy season. Or that his national image isn’t justified. In fact, the reaction to Sunday’s events is a lesson as to why you don’t give people reasons to make judgments.
Due to his previous actions, the benefit of the doubt was never on the table for him. It won’t be going forward. But that doesn’t mean Metcalf isn’t being treated unfairly in this particular moment.
Let’s be real — DK is never going to be a candidate for the Art Rooney Award for sportsmanship. He isn’t, however, a walking 15-yard penalty incessantly on the brink of sinking his team.
Metcalf ’s past couple of years have prompted people to draw certain conclusions. Might seem silly after Sunday, but I think the past couple months should prompt those same people to reevaluate them.
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Current Patriots coach Joe Stellato has often complimented Gilbert throughout his 24 years in charge of the program and when asked about point totals, certain facts or milestones, his favorite response has been “Go ask Karl, he’ll know the answer.”
Even Jim Barker, a longtime area official who played at Liberty, marveled at Gilbert’s ability to remember the starting lineup and scoring averages for his teams.
“That guy’s amazing,” said Barker during a timeout in the Parkland-Freedom game.
Gilbert is proud of his achievements in golf and his vast history documenting Patriots basketball, but he is far more proud of his children, John and and Victoria.
John is Freedom’s JV coach after graduating from Moravian in 2007 and earning a masters degree in history from Villanova with a 4.0 GPA.
Victoria was an NCAA Division I all-star in track at Bucknell and is now a general surgeon in New Jersey.
Gilbert and his wife are married for 42 years and have grandchildren.
How long will he keep going? “I take it year-by-year now,” he said. “I hope I know when it’s time to leave. I am pleased to see the younger group of dedicated scorekeepers that has come along in recent years. Also, the involvement of women as scorekeepers for several local high school basketball programs is a good trend.”
But until he closes his scorebook a final time, he will treasure each game.
“What I enjoy the most about this job is the relationships with the people,” he said. “I’m an introvert by nature, so this gives me the chance to get out and about, see people I enjoy and stay involved. There are so many coaches and referees and players that I will run into away from the game and we will start talking and relive so many memories. You see somebody and just go back in time and start talking about things and then you realize you have these longstanding relationships.”