I think intimidation used to work back then. What happened was that more and more players started coming from the inner cities of the US where crime was far disproportionate to other places. Keyshawn Johnson has talked about his life growing up in South Central Los Angeles and some of his experiences there. He said that by the time he got to the NFL he could see right through the "mean, tough, jock attitude."
When you've experienced violent crimes first hand, it makes all of the posturing that goes on in the world pale in comparison. I'm amused in my work at how some corporate executives actually think they are tough because they are in positions of authority.
Keyshawn said that there was one player that disturbed him and that was Alonzo Spellman. Key said that he could tell that something was really off with Spellman and that he just instinctively knew to avoid him.
