Narratives, Nepotism, and the Numbers They Don’t Want to Talk About

Trimaine Clark • April 9, 2025

There’s a meme floating around showing Deion Sanders with his sons, next to Archie Manning with Peyton and Eli. The caption? “Why y’all hate Deion for doing what the Mannings been doing for decades?” It’s been making the rounds, and it struck a nerve—because it’s not just about football. It’s about perception, privilege, and who gets grace when the spotlight hits.


I jumped in with a quote meant to stir some thought: "Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions in ‘98, Eli had 27 in 2013. Jameis Winston threw 30 in 2019—and led the league in passing. But look at the narratives around them at the time."


Someone responded: "Well, Peyton and Eli have Super Bowl rings. That’s why it’s different."


But here’s the thing: they didn’t have those rings at the time they were throwing all those picks.


Let’s look at the numbers:


Peyton Manning (1998 Rookie Season): 3,739 passing yards, 26 TDs, 28 INTs


Eli Manning (2013 Season): 3,818 passing yards, 18 TDs, 27 INTs


Jameis Winston (2019 Season): 5,109 passing yards (1st in NFL), 33 TDs, 30 INTs


The narratives at the time?


Peyton: *"Learning curve for a franchise QB."


Eli: *"Tough season, but he’s earned some leeway."


Jameis: *"He’s reckless, can’t be trusted, a liability."


The disparity is obvious. Jameis Winston’s 2019 was historic in both good and bad ways. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in the same season—and still led the league in passing. That season also included twelve games over 300 passing yards, and four over 400. But how many people remember that?


When asked about that season, Jameis once said:


"I’m balling. I just got to stop throwing the ball to the other team. That’s it."


He was being honest, and maybe even a little tongue-in-cheek, but his tone was dissected more than his talent.


Which brings us back to Deion Sanders.


When Coach Prime proudly advocates for his sons—speaks on their behalf, promotes them, mentors them, and unapologetically moves through spaces that weren’t built for him—it gets labeled as arrogance, overreach, even entitlement. But when Archie Manning advises, maneuvers, and protects the paths for his sons, it’s legacy. It’s pedigree. It’s leadership.


Let’s be clear: Peyton and Eli turned out to be great. That’s not in question. What is in question is why certain quarterbacks and families are granted time, grace, and a presumption of greatness—while others are picked apart before the ink is dry on the stat sheet.


So yeah, the meme has layers. It’s not just about two families. It’s about which kinds of families are allowed to take up space, shape the system, and be applauded for it.


You don’t have to be a Jameis Winston fan to recognize how fast the goalposts move, depending on who’s on the field. And if we’re going to talk rings, legacies, or draft influence—let’s just make sure we’re keeping that same energy all around.


A man with dreadlocks and a beard is sitting on a log in the woods.

Why Eden Gardening is the Most Practical Garden Method Society Needs Right Now

By Trimaine Clark • June 16, 2025
Why on Earth are we tilling the ground and working so hard just for food? What happened? Adam didn't start tilling the ground until after the fall. How do we get back to the way things were? As a farmer and founder of Little L Salsa Garden , my transition from Texas farming to Oregon opened my eyes to the answers to these questions. With the help of my wife, at Sow Reap Gal , I was introduced to a no-till method of farming, known as Eden Gardening. This method has gained tremendous momentum lately, thanks to Paul Gautschi and his Back to Eden Gardening documentary, which reintroduced a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and a less labor intensive approach to living from the land. As millennials and Gen Z come into the rising awareness of healthy living through diet and growing your own food, sustainable practices are also in demand. What is Eden Gardening and Why is it So Important? Have you ever noticed how vegetation thrives in forests and throughout wildlife without our intervention? That's because the natural environment creates its own suitable conditions that our cherished plants use to produce. Take the forest floor for example, it's covered in its own mulch from leaves, twigs, and wood chips. This serves several purposes, a few include: As they decompose, they feed the soil with organic matter Retains moisture by shielding the soil from the sun Suppresses weeds Protects from freezing temperatures Provides food and habitat for beneficial organisms like earthworms, beetles, and microbes Turns unused land and food deserts into productive spaces Builds soil health without the use of chemicals Eden Gardening repeats this process of taking the natural resources, creating our own personal forest floor, and growing through a self-sustaining system. This means it's not only cost-effective, it's also eco-friendly, especially when you consider minimizing food waste through composting. Along with this, because we're limiting the amount of tilling, and only adding to the soil, we help restore the Earth in the process. Whether you're working with 10 feet of space, or 10 acres, Eden Gardening makes fruitful results possible. Leaders Already Living Eden Principles in Real Life
A woman is wearing a welding helmet and goggles.

$70K and No Debt: How High School Grads Are Flipping the Script on Success

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Meet the high school grads skipping debt and earning $70K+ in trades. A new success path is here—hands-on, practical, and financially free.
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The Cost of Enabling: Ja Morant, Allen Iverson, and the Power of Accountability

By Trimaine Clark • April 9, 2025
Ja Morant's recent gun gesture controversy serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability, both on and off the court. This post reflects on the pattern of enabling destructive behavior, drawing parallels to Allen Iverson’s unresolved past and how it impacted his legacy. With insights from mentors like John Thompson and Denzel Washington's portrayal of Coach Boone, the post emphasizes the need to hold ourselves accountable to avoid self-sabotage and build a legacy of resilience and responsibility.
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