Former professional football player, Keyshawn Johnson, recently addressed his nephew and ex-Saints’ wide receiver Michael Thomas’ latest social media outburst. Thomas had taken to social media to lambaste Derek Carr following an overthrown pass that led to injury for Chris Olave.
Keyshawn expressed his disappointment on the matter, indicating that Thomas’ rant was unnecessary and counterproductive. He emphasized that while Thomas has the right to voice his frustrations, doing so in such a public manner only serves to exacerbate potential tensions and misunderstandings within the team. Furthermore, he highlighted that as an athlete, injuries are a part of the sport and cannot solely be pinned on a single person’s mistake or poor judgment.
With this in consideration, Keyshawn also discussed the impact of such social media outbursts on a player’s image and reputation. In his view, Thomas’ critique of his teammate on a public platform could be interpreted as a failure to uphold the values of camaraderie, teamwork, and mutual respect that are central to the spirit of the game. He stressed the importance for professional athletes to act as role models to the younger generation and bear in mind the weight of their actions and words.
Keyshawn went a step further by reflecting on his own professional career, during which he maintained a high level of respect for his colleagues despite any personal disagreements or performance-related issues on the field. He suggested that this incident serves as a reminder of the different pressures and expectations that social media introduces to modern athletes. While he acknowledged that voicing one’s opinion is a fundamental right, striking a balance between absolute freedom of speech and maintaining harmony within the team can often be challenging.
Expressing his concern for his nephew’s future career, Keyshawn encouraged Thomas to leverage the incident as a learning experience. He advised him to think twice before airing team-related concerns or frustrations on social media, emphasizing that such matters are better handled privately, within the team. He pointed out that this approach not only demonstrates maturity and professionalism but also reinforces the principles of mutual respect and understanding among teammates.
Finally, Keyshawn underscored the importance of maintaining a united front in challenging times, not only for the sake of the team’s morale but also for the success and longevity of the individual athletes’ careers. He hopes that his nephew, along with other professional athletes, will take this incident to heart, understanding the potential negative repercussions of their actions on social media and learning from them accordingly.
