Josh Sweat has lofty goals, one of which is to make a significant impact. He believes he has not yet received the recognition he deserves. He is on track to meet his goal after signing with the Cardinals.
Athletes sometimes don’t receive the attention they desire, and Sweat is a prime example. Yahoo notes,
“Josh Sweat experienced a lot of team success over seven years with the Eagles, but the spotlight was rarely on him over the course of that run.”
It’s indeed unfortunate and something that requires a deeper look. To begin, it is necessary to look at the entirety of his career.
Sweat was selected in round four of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. From reports and observations throughout his career, he has established his level of talent. According to NBC Sports Philadelphia,
“He has earned 43 sacks over 7 seasons, placing 8th in franchise history.”
This is an impressive accomplishment that deserves to be highlighted.
Sweat’s value is clear from his highlights. He has statistically earned his place among the top rushers. His Super Bowl performance validates his worth. USA Today reports,
“Sweat leads the way as the top edge rusher on the market. He’ll be 28 next season and led the Super Bowl champion Eagles with eight sacks. His size at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds makes him an asset against the run and when rushing the passer.
The truth is that players with tremendous talent who are inconsistent still have a lot to prove. At times, no matter how much experience an athlete has accumulated throughout their career, the odds are not always stacked in their favor. Not to mention that many people disagree on Sweat’s perceived value. His track record, on the other hand, outshines skeptics’ assumptions.
Sweat’s perceived lack of recognition is most likely due to inconsistency. It is noted that he would have bursts of brilliance, followed by periods of decline before rebounding. That cannot be ignored. His contribution to the Super Bowl, on the other hand, is difficult to explain away. Sweat showed up and came out, helping the Eagles win the Super Bowl. To reiterate, a statement made in the NBC Sports Philadelphia article,
“His 2 ½ sacks against the Chiefs are tied for 7th-most in Super Bowl history and the most by an Eagle in any postseason game.”
It is, however, far from over. He now has a chance to shine with the Cardinals, as he recently signed a four-year deal. For those wondering why Sweat would choose the Cardinals out of all teams? There is more than one rationale, but both are intermeshed. One of the reasons is the Cardinal’s defensive coordinator. As Yahoo points out,
“With the Cardinals, he is reunited with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, giving the edge rusher a chance to be the top dog for the first time in his career.”
This leads to the second reason, which is reinforced by the first. When someone is a top talent on a team, they naturally receive more attention.
Sweat is excited about what lies ahead, and understandably so. According to reports, the athlete expressed his enthusiasm as well as his goals. Yahoo quotes him as saying :
“I want to be recognized as the person who can make a difference. I haven’t really had the chance, or at least I won’t say the opportunity was lacking, but we’ve had a lot of talent over in Philly. Here, I can definitely demonstrate, with an improving team, how I’m contributing. I’m excited, man.”
Sweat’s claims are understandable, given that situations like those he has encountered are a byproduct of football’s intense competition. It is not that he lacked talent. Talent alone is insufficient to command the spotlight. Consistency is important because it indicates that moments of greatness are not attributed to other external factors. If on-field performance is too dependent on various factors, the risks are bigger. The asset could at any time turn into a liability. In a metaphorical sense, no one attempts to hold the spotlight on anything that flickers; it is simply too transient.
Sweat has the right mindset, which, when combined with his talent, is a good thing. He now needs to establish and maintain momentum. With a new path and renewed hope, fans anticipate greater performances from Sweat in the forthcoming season. This is largely because Sweat is right where he wants to be, meaning a morale boost. Ultimately the Cardinals need him. ESPN reports,
“The Cardinals, founded in 1920, are the oldest franchise without a Super Bowl victory.”
Maybe Sweat can help bring some magic. This concludes my rant on Josh Sweat.
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