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By Jean-Jacques Taylor
Published 18 February 2011 02:42 PM
SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answers a reader's questions about a topic of the day.
Question: Why do coaches say the best players will play when contracts and draft positions have more influence?
Clarence Cornelius
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Great question. Honest answer: it depends on the coach and his power within the organization. Bill Parcells could not care less where players were drafted. Once you were on the team, it was your job to earn playing time, which is why Bobby Carpenter was inactive for the first game of his career. When the coach runs the team, he doesn't usually feel compelled to play a guy just because the GM signed him to a huge free-agent deal or took him with the first pick in the draft. We all know Roy Williams started at the beginning of last season because Jerry had so much money invested in him. We'll see what kind of coach Garrett will be by seeing who's in the starting lineup. On the best teams, the best players play regardless of pedigree and salary. That approach creates a healthy competition throughout the team that contributes to success.
Published 18 February 2011 02:42 PM
SportsDay columnist Jean-Jacques Taylor answers a reader's questions about a topic of the day.
Question: Why do coaches say the best players will play when contracts and draft positions have more influence?
Clarence Cornelius
Jean-Jacques Taylor: Great question. Honest answer: it depends on the coach and his power within the organization. Bill Parcells could not care less where players were drafted. Once you were on the team, it was your job to earn playing time, which is why Bobby Carpenter was inactive for the first game of his career. When the coach runs the team, he doesn't usually feel compelled to play a guy just because the GM signed him to a huge free-agent deal or took him with the first pick in the draft. We all know Roy Williams started at the beginning of last season because Jerry had so much money invested in him. We'll see what kind of coach Garrett will be by seeing who's in the starting lineup. On the best teams, the best players play regardless of pedigree and salary. That approach creates a healthy competition throughout the team that contributes to success.