“Randle’s work ethic has been questioned a bit with the Giants. They’re hoping that he grows up as he goes along and starts becoming a bit more of a pro.” This statement was made regarding Rueben Randle‘s work ethic by Chris Collinsworth on a Sunday Night Football game against the the Philadelphia Eagles, during his rookie season. Who could have known that work ethic was something that would affect the career of the former New York Giants second round pick. It was an issue that would follow him over the next four years all the way to Philadelphia, where he would eventually be cut, as of today, in a position of need for the Eagles.
Rueben Randle Fails in Redemption Attempt
The first wave of roster cuts came from the Eagles earlier today, which surprisingly included the former Giants wide receiver Randle. This being his second opportunity to hold down a starting position on an NFL team, in which he failed to provide the work ethic and intangibles necessary to keep him around. It’s also interesting that he didn’t even make it through the first wave of roster cuts. Most of the time, the first cuts are the easy ones, where undrafted free agents are swept up to further polish the final 53-man roster.
An Empire State of Disappointment
Randle originally began his career with the New York Giants. He was drafted 63rd overall in the 2012 draft with hopes of becoming a solid starter. At that time, there was no Odell Beckham Jr. to hold down the job. It was a position they struggled with at the time. There was a lot resting on Randle to provide some stability to the depth chart.
The disappointment began in Randle’s rookie season with the Giants. Although he started all 16 games, he only gained 298 yards and caught just three touchdowns the entire season. His “best” season with the Giants was in 2014. In that season, he caught three touchdowns and gained 938 yards, only catching 56% of his targets. Not very characteristic of a receiver worth a second round pick, with numbers that didn’t improve substantially over a four year stretch.
The Giants were fed up with him at the end of his four-year rookie contract, choosing not to re-sign him. It left Randle available for the Eagles to scoop him up…only to dump him back into the market before the summer even ends.
Importance of Work Ethic in the NFL
Work ethic is such an important factor in the NFL that players actually have control over. There are many things in the NFL that players have zero control over like injuries and opportunities. One thing for sure is that nothing is given in the NFL. Many of football’s legends are known primarily for their un-matchable work ethic and passion for the game. A great example of this is Hall of Fame wide receiver, Jerry Rice.
Jerry Rice was underrated to say the least when he entered the league. Before he was even drafted, he ran a 4.71 40-yard-dash time! To put that into perspective, the average 40 time among wide receivers is 4.55 seconds. Sixteen seconds slower than his competition, still never slowed down Jerry Rice.
It’s amazing that just a simple sixteen second difference could spark a fire in the heart of a player, who is today recognized as the greatest wide receiver to ever step on the field. The power of work ethic is truly incredible.
Where Does This Leave Rueben Randle?
Randle is nearing the end of his opportunities in the NFL. Since he doesn’t have the work ethic to create more, he will constantly fight a losing battle when compared to other free agent receivers. No team in their right mind will a keep a player who does not work to continue improve his talent. This is especially true as there are young players out there eager to come into an organization and apply themselves.
Main Photo:
