Hey Kyle Pitts -- Meet Charlie Hustle

While watching a pro football game last week, Pete Rose came to mind. Rose, whose baseball nickname was Charlie Hustle, died on September 30 at the age of 83. His last year playing baseball was 1986.

Among the numerous stories shown about baseball's all- time hit leader that week were several about how he earned his nickname. The stories don't all match, but they do have have in common that his nickname was given by opposing players out of derision, not admiration, for Rose's relentlessly aggressive style of play. Which he enjoyed all the more.

Most fans of baseball history are familiar with Rose's iconic hard- nosed hustle play in the 1970 All- Star game. On that occasion, Rose scored the winning run for the National League in the 12th inning when he sprinted in from second base on a single . He ran into and then bowled over catcher Ray Fosse, forcing the ball loose and scoring the run. Fosse spilled backward and sustained an injury in the process. Rose caught some criticism for the play. He was unapologetic.

" That's the only way I know how to play. I play to win, the way my father taught me to play. I play hurt, I play tired, I play hard as hell", Rose told reporters post-game.

Though his opponents did not always admire his style of play, the fans loved it– certainly in part because any fan believes that he or she would also demonstrate relentless hustle if ever given the chance to play competitive sports at the highest level. And though that feeling may well be inaccurate, it made the football play I saw last week that much more difficult to swallow.

In the Atlanta Falcons' win over Tampa Bay last weekend, Falcons' tight end Kyle Pitts caught two touchdown passes. The second of those catches came with some controversy because Pitts was hit just as he crossed the goal line, dropping the ball in the process. He was hit from behind, with the ball in his left hand on the backswing of his stride. The touchdown call was made, and following a lengthy review, the referee ruled that the on- field call would stand– meaning that the available view angles failed to definitively prove or disprove the initial call.

Forget for a moment that the mighty NFL– money machine that it is--somehow does not have pylon cameras to give a down- the-line view of a play like this. That fact is inexplicable, but it avoids the larger point. The only reason this call became a point of contention at all is because Kyle Pitts was SLOWING DOWN over the final five yards of his path to the endzone.

Sad to say, you can see a similar play once or twice every football season. But it's more jarring when seen at the highest level of the sport– which is where Pitts plays.

He was the Falcons' 1st round draft pick 4 years ago. He was chosen as the 4th overall pick. That was the highest pick ever used to pick a tight end in the NFL draft . Ever. The first such draft was in 1936. 85 years earlier. That means, to put it lightly, that the Falcons thought highly of Pitts.

Why? Because Kyle Pitts is a very distinctively capable athlete. He is 6'6 and weighs 245 pounds. He has run a 40 yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

There are plenty of players who have Pitts' size in the NFL. And there are a few players who run a 4.4 forty. But there are few if any who can do BOTH, like Pitts can. He is what they call a unicorn. On top of his uncommon combination of size and speed, he can catch. And he can contort his body to make the catch.

All of which brings this question. How can a player like Kyle Pitts, who can routinely do so many things that so few other people can ever do...how can he FAIL to do the one thing that anybody can do? How can he fail to run hard, to play hard, until the play is officially over and done?

Yes, it's beyond comprehension how poorly the Falcons have used their wunderkind tight end following his stellar rookie season. ( Pro Bowl 2022) And it's hard to understand how this high- performance machine can go week after week over the past two -plus years and barely have an effect the game. But none of that explains or excuses a lack of effort.

Here's another quote from a sports legend regarding said effort.

The late distance runner Steve Prefontaine said " To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

For opposing defenses, seeing Kyle Pitts streaking down the field, seeing him elevate to pull in a pass and then lower his shoulder to take on a tackler– all of that is an imposing sight to see. If he jogs on a route, drops the ball or lopes out of bounds, the defense feels as though it won a favor.

On the other hand, when we see a fantastic athlete practicing his or her craft with supreme effort at the highest level of competition , it can create an awe- inspiring moment. Pete Rose certainly had his flaws. But no one doubted that he gained maximal results from his physical gifts.

Mr. Pitts, meet Charlie Hustle.

Patrick Conarro

RamblinSports.com