Chargers Wide Receiver Keenan Allen Was Ready to Quit?

San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen is part of a thick race to earn Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, but as it turns out the dream came pretty close to never happening for the youngster. He almost quit because he didn't like having to sit behind veteran receivers.

From Bleacher Report

This was part of a discussion he had with his mother:

“‘I need help. I’m losing. I’m about to quit,’” Allen recalled to the Union-Tribune San Diego. “(I wasn’t) living up to my expectations of starting. I’ve never been a role player-type guy. Not easy at all. … I’ve never had to do it before. I never had to adjust.”

Mom set him straight, and he has gone on to have a stellar season after the team lost Malcom Floyd and Denario Alexander to season ending injuries early on, but I can't help but wonder if he actually would have walked away. There was a guy for Philadelphia (I think?) that walked away leaving a million dollars on the table all because he didn't feel like playing anymore. So it is possible.

It's good that he has enough confidence in his ability to think he deserves to be starting, but the NFL is the end game for football player for a reason. Only the best of the best make it as far as he did, and even than many of the fail to measure up.

Those that did certainly didn't talk about quitting just because there were more experienced, veteran players ahead of them on the depth chart. No, instead they got to work and earned the right to play. For Allen's sake hopefully he'll learn than by time Floyd and Alexander return next season and cut into his reps.

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