The recent beef between LSU and Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels began because LSU made a promise to Daniels that he ultimately failed to keep, due to a contradictory promise made to cornerback DJ Pickett. That nuance has been lost on social media, where Daniels quickly emerged as the villain for his overreaction to the reissue of the number he wore for two years at LSU. And Daniels has become the butt of plenty of jokes, with MLS teams (more than one), Major League Baseball teams (yes, more than one… and more than two… and more than three… and more than four), minor league baseball teams, CFL teams, college football teams, college football teams, Golf Digest, ticket resellers, and consumer product brands joining in on Daniels’ antics. The Los Angeles Angels joined in the act. plus, with a video that includes one of the worst ceremonial first pitches in baseball history, courtesy of KISS frontman Paul Stanley. The jokes are everywhere. The “5” affair with Daniels was immediately ingrained in the zeitgeist. And it’s not going anywhere. The problem is that even though LSU was wrong to make multiple conflicting promises, Daniels overreacted. And there is no indication that it was Daniels himself who became angry about the situation. It was his camp, his team (and possibly his agent-mother) who chose a five-inch grain of sand to die in. Daniels is a very good quarterback whose sophomore season was marred by injury. Now he’s become a joke, not playing a single play in his third NFL season. The lessons are clear. First of all, it is never good for a former player to publicly complain about having his number reissued. Secondly, each player needs to fully control his personal equipment. It is their decisions that will remain with the player; The player must be aware of and fully agree with any letters that lawyers write or statements that spokespersons issue. Even if Daniels wasn’t involved in any of the efforts to confront LSU, it will all stay with him. And it’s not going to go away, even after the jokes stop being funny.
