Caleb Williams sobbing in his mother’s arms following the loss to Washington is polarizing. Some say it’s soft. Some say it shows how much he cares. Here are the pros and cons.
Watching Caleb Williams sobbing with his family after losing the game will BREAK YOUR HEART. This young man pours his heart out for his team EVERY TIME he plays. Any NFL team would be lucky to have him as their QB and this emotion shows how much this game means to him. @CALEBcsw pic.twitter.com/BLBBE9IvG9
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 5, 2023
Pros
Caleb loves football
— This is what the Caleb fans will say. His passion for winning is so strong that he leaves it all out on the field and emotionally crumbles when he loses. This isn’t the first or last time he’s cried, but it’s because he’s so passionate. This is actually a good selling point for those who think this isn’t a bad look.
He’s a leader by showing emotion
— Fans of Williams and his crying will say no one wants to follow a robot into battle, and this shows he’s a leader by making it okay for everyone else to show feelings and emote. This is something many feel strongly about. As an old-school football guy, I disagree.
He’ll grow from this scrutiny
— We won’t see the NFL version of Caleb Williams doing this, as college is a way for him to show his emotions and just be a kid. And the harshness that comes from it will allow him to grow and toughen up. I say to this — we shall see.
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Cons
He’s soft
— The prevailing notion here is that Williams is soft. He can’t handle defeat and crumbles at adversity. Being “soft” is still frowned upon in this day and age, and this will impact how he’s viewed from a professional standpoint. Football is a tough sport, and no one wants soft, and he’s showing he’s just not tough enough.
NFL teams don’t want polarizing at No. 1 overall
— Williams says he’s a lion who doesn’t worry about what sheep think, but lions don’t cry in their mom’s laps. So, which is he? Is he the tough guy who paints “f**k Utah” on his fingernails, or is he the soft dude who paints his fingernails in the first place and cries when he loses? This has to be a question for NFL teams.
Teammates would lose respect
— NFL players are professional men being paid to play a physical and tough sport. I can’t imagine they will respond kindly to a QB who cries publicly after a loss, regardless of his age. How will he fit in a locker room? Can he be respected as a leader? This could be a real issue.
My take
— You can’t do this. We’ve all had moments of emotion, and all of us have hidden those emotions in public. It happens to everyone. And hiding those emotions is key and crucial in certain settings. Don’t cry at work is one of the staples of life, and it doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in. This simply can’t happen, and as talented as he is, it would give me pause as a scout of NFL GM or owner.
