Besides the buffet line, there is no place sports writers would rather be than in an athlete’s head.
Some would say usually there’s lots of space. But examining the mental composition of a player such as David Terrell often can be the only way to fully understand his unexpected physical outbursts.
Naturally, Terrell taunting the Lions after a 35-yard catch Sunday by handing the ball to the punter, getting flagged, and then claiming he had his eyes closed has spawned substantial probing into his psyche. Watching him react to referees’ calls like a jilted lover on Jerry Springer has made some arm-chair psychologists on press row wonder if the little boy inside Terrell simply craves attention.
It generates healthy debate, and allows pseudo-intellectual sports journalists to dabble in psycho-babble by using terms such as arrested adolescence and enabler.
If only any of it mattered. Alas, it doesn’t.
The Bears have no options with Terrell. They cannot send him to his room or keep him on the sideline. They cannot sit him or cut him, not with Marty Booker now in Miami and the other Bears receivers incognito. Lovie Smith might even consider wearing velvet gloves if he must slap Terrell’s wrist for misbehaving.
In pro sports, like it or not, production buys petulance and head cases are OK as long as they help the team stay ahead.
The Bears need Terrell on the field more than they need him on the couch. His time for therapy has long since passed.
Amazing how much understanding and tolerance five catches for 126 yards can bring. Once Terrell starts catching TDs, as Sunday indicates he is able, his unique brand of charisma will have carte blanche the way Randy Moss’ does in Minnesota.
Don’t expect Smith to even try to stop Terrell. At least until defenses start to.
