Jalen Reeves-Maben
Appearances
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
We're always measured. We're always graded. They can use letter grades, number grades. Like, you play 60 plays and they're like, all right, you did your job on 80% of the plays.
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
We're judged at every step. And I don't think there's ever really been a time where accountability has gone to the teams or the ownership of, like... Hey, are you being excellent here? Like, where's your grade in this area?
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
And what does Detroit get in return for that salary? It's the combination of the mental aspect where every week I have to learn a new opponent. I have to learn what they're trying to do to attack me. But I also have this physical aspect of I'm playing a violent game. If I'm not violent, I'm probably going to get hurt. But I can't be scared.
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
I can't be scared to get hurt because then that's going to show your performance. So you kind of got to have a recklessness in a sense or just a willingness to, you know, take that pain. That combined with the physical, the conditioning, the stamina that... energy, the persistence you have to have. It's a lot.
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
So I think it's extremely hard, but I know that in all walks of life, people are working extremely hard. I have to add to just the media scrutiny and the fact that you're basically on public display all the time. I don't think the average person knows how heavy that feels on your shoulders. You can basically determine a mood for a whole city or a whole state based off
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
what you did on Sunday in a three-hour period. So, you know, there's a lot that comes with it.
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
Well, there was reports of teams having like a rat infestation in a locker room. There's guys who don't get fed after practices, like the team was charging them for food. I know sometimes these things might seem like You got enough money to pay for it, but we are operating at the highest level possible.
Freakonomics Radio
When Is a Superstar Just Another Employee? (Update)
They demand excellence from us, and I think that we should be demanding excellence from the teams. J.C.