Thoughts on Justice
The things that bother Hugh Douglas about Winston Justice are cause for serious concern. But do any of us want to be defined by our worst moment?
Thoughts on Justice
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
In today's Daily News, I lay out the popular criticism of offensive tackle Winston Justice, as voiced by former Eagle Hugh Douglas. There's no doubt that Justice's performance, the one time the Eagles really needed him to step up in a meaningful game, was horrifying. There's certainly room for a lot of concern about Justice's competitive makeup. When I asked him yesterday if anyone, other than Douglas, had ever questioned his heart, Justice said: "He's the first one that did it out loud."
That wasn't too reassuring.
But here's where Hugh and I differ. Yeah, he knows more than I do about what makes a football player, and maybe he really can say, for sure, that Justice doesn't have it. But I always try to put myself in the shoes of the person I'm interviewing. An ability to do that is one of the requirements for this job (along with an ability to scarf down prodigious amounts of free food). When I stand across from Winston Justice, I can't help but think that I would not want to be judged by my worst professional moment. Would you?
I've been a sports writer for 30 years now. A few times, the worst of them very early in my career, I made really dumb, careless mistakes. Not dishonest or malicious mistakes, but brain-cramp screwups that could cause a reasonable person to wonder if I was cut out for this business. I survived them, maybe partly because I didn't have a journalistic Hugh Douglas figure peering over my shoulder, announcing to the world that I would never have what it takes.
Yeah, journalism isn't pro sports. And every sport is different. A rookie pitcher can come competely apart in his first start, throw every pitch to the backstop, get lifted in the first inning, and the consensus will be that he just needs seasoning. But if you're a young offensive tackle and you fall apart on the field, you're forever a hopeless wuss?
Maybe so. Again, Hugh Douglas is a former Pro Bowl player, I'm an old guy who stands on the sideline. Maybe the guys who practice with Justice every day see the same things Hugh sees, and they tell him that.
But if I were in charge of the Eagles, I'd have to put Winston Justice back out there, in a meaningful situation, against good competition, at least once or twice more before I came to any sweeping, permanent conclusions
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Les, Justice was the best tackle in the Pac 10 for years at USC. That night against the Giants he was left on an island, and Coach Reid should have helped him out with a fullback. This guy is young and will make everyone forget that one game when he gets in the rotation. I followed his career in High School and USC, he is real tough and the Eagles got a good one. Jason-Los Angeles— JASON RINGLER
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- Does he have a Sunni-type beard?— Lunchboy
- I liked Hugh Douglas as a player, but now he's just another big mouth know nothing , like the rest of those morons at WIP. Eagles need to work with Justice and see if he can do the job, or otherwise it's another wasted pick by Andy Reid and company. They really need this guy to pick it up because Thomas and Runyun aren't getting any younger.— BobbyD
- Blame Andy Reid for that Giants game. Passing and passing with a hurt QB and a rookie LT. Horrendous....— Domenic
- Les this guy Hugh Douglas as the Eagles ambassador is ridiculous. This is how an ambassador/diplomat of the Eagles embraces a young up and coming Eagle that needs support and not negative criticism. Douglas created a locker room controversy not long ago when he was vocal with TO and wanted to get physical with TO, and now here he goes again starting controversy where there is no controversy. Douglas left the Eagles and I said at the time good riddance. His best years were not with the Eagles and I don't consider him that great of a former Bird. Justice on the other hand is going to be a good tackle. He may be an Eagle for a lot longer than Douglas wore the green of Philly. I remember the Giants game well and aside from the defense playing well the offense was horrible and Justice was only one of the [problem areas that night. I think the Giants game may have been a blessing in disguise for Justice, and it sounds as though his work effort was certainly effected by the poor performance into a positive initiative to be better. As for Hugh, please become the ambassador of some other team because your schtick is getting old in Philly, and this Philly fan thinks you, your comments and your lousy radio show are played out and just a veiled attempt at sensationalism.— rockinrob
- andy def should've helped justice out that game with some one. or pulled him sooner. having him in there alone against a pro bowl end puts the mcnabb at a total risk. i love mcnabb but he is perfectly able of hurting himself just running to the sidelines. we dont need osi to run right over justice six times in a row....— turnbuckle316smd
- Les I was critical of Hugh Douglas for opening his mouth again. I did not see the post. Wsa it something I said or are you his boy?— rockinrob
- Great blog post by Les. 1000 times better than Will Bunch and his silly comments about sunni beards, songs by the Lemonheads, and other inconsequential musings. Les is a true journalist and really knows how to cover the beat. Les realizes that journalism is not pro sports. Bunch needs a refresher course. KUDOS TO LES— shoeshineboy
- I don't think that Hugh is still the Ambassador. He's just a former pro-bowler who you guys can think has no qualifications to make assessments. Could it be that maybe the Eagles regularly give Justice chances in practice and it turns out he's not that good?— battman21
- Hugh Douglas' best years were NOT with the Eagles? Have you even watched Eagles games from 1998 to current? Hugh was perfect on the right side of the defensive line, our problem was trying to find a left defensive end! From 98- current, he's been one of the best DE's we've had (other than Trent Cole). Remember, he only played with the Jets for 3 seasons, with an average of 7 sacks, a little less than 2 forced fumbles and an average of about 36 tackles during his 3 years with the Jets. With the Eagles? How about these stats from '98-'02 (averaged through the 5 years of course), a little more than 10 sacks, 1.6 forced fumbles and close to 40 tackles on average. And this is with him only playing in 4 games due to injury in 1999. Please tell me where Hugh's best years were if you're stating it was not with the Eagles? Know what you're talking about first before you begin flapping your gums. As far as Justice? I think Hugh's comments is more than enough to light a fire under him. He'll use that as motivation to get himself together. He will be alright. I've watched him play at USC and the Winston Justice I saw during that Giants game was not the same person. I believe he'll make the necessary adjustments to his game.— quiet78storm
- Quiet78Scum I stand corrected, Hugh did have three (3) double digit sack seasons for the Eagles. It is what legends are made of right there. I think my e-mail was more disparaging Douglas for his again putting himself in the Eagles spotlight by being negative. But you go on worshipping Hugh Douglas while hopefully the rest of us go an and watch Justice become the player the Eagles hoped him to be.— rockinrob
- Quiet78Scum I stand corrected, Hugh did have three (3) double digit sack seasons for the Eagles. It is what legends are made of right there. I think my e-mail was more disparaging Douglas for his again putting himself in the Eagles spotlight by being negative. But you go on worshipping Hugh Douglas while hopefully the rest of us go an and watch Justice become the player the Eagles hoped him to be.— rockinrob
- Good job with the name calling, so juvenile. And for the record, no one mentioned "worshipping" Hugh. I just put my note on here to correct you. Look, people are going to say what they are going to say. But you made it seem like Hugh was another Mike Mamula, which is crazy. So let him say what he wants. Let him question Justice's integrity and passion. Let Justice have that chip on his shoulder. Just like you, Hugh has a right to express his feelings as well. Honestly, I think he deserves to, given all that he has done for the Eagles. I think one reason why people don't like about him is because he keeps it real, he'll tell you what's on his mind and how he feels. He doesn't believe in being politically correct. And quite frankly, neither do I.— quiet78storm
- **CORRECTION** ...I think one reason why people don't like him is because he keeps it real, he'll tell you what's on his mind and how he feels. He doesn't believe in being politically correct. And quite frankly, neither do I.— quiet78storm
- I agree with BobbyD...Hugh has turned into your typical 610 personality...nothing but negative all the time! give justice a few more opportunities before labeling him a bust— njeagles
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- "Wasn't too reassuring" ....if you've been a sports writer for 30 years and you can't rightfully assess a football player and Headline Hungry Hugh's ridiculous comments, accurately... Come on, it doesn't take 30 years experience to understand that Justice has only played in ONE and maybe 1/2 half games so far with the Eagles. No one can judge anyones skills in that amount of time.— livesinphilly
