TheOak

I grew up in the 70s... We talked sh1t. Ali was talking sh1t on national television before I was born. This is not a 'modern' or 'internet' thing.

NFL players have been talking sh1t to each other across the line as long as there has been a line. Know what.. catchers do it to batters in baseball also.

I dont have any issue with what athletes do off the field on their own time.

As far as the implications of the word 'professional'.. Professional just indicates what someones primary occupation is. Prostitutes are professionals and there doesn't seem to be any expectation of conduct.

Many of us are professionals on the clock, and we still talk sh1t in these very public forums on our time off. Lets not be hypocrites.