The Scores Report - The National Sports Blog » LenDale White

Lendale White slams Pete Carroll

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:20:40 +0000

Well, it’s nice to see that Lendale White has matured over the years.

A clearly inebriated White made some derogatory comments about his former coach Pete Carroll over the weekend and thanks to TMZ, it was all caught on camera. If you want to watch the video, head over to SPORTSbyBROOKS.com, but the text of what he said is below.

White, who was with former USC teammate Dominique Byrd (off-camera), apparently hasn’t gotten over being cut by his former college coach Pete Carroll when White was briefly with the Seattle Seahawks last season. After a somewhat unintelligible question by the TMZ cameraman, White said:

“If it ain’t Chauncey Billups or Kobe Bryant … f— ‘em. Or if it ain’t the Denver Broncos or Chris Johnson … f— ‘em. Or D-Byrd … or the Trojans … minus Pete Carroll — f— you.” “Except for Pete Carroll, he … minus Pete Carroll I have Trojans love.”

Maybe I should cut White some slack because he was drunk and clearly his inner-filter was down, but this is the exact response I would expect out of someone who clearly doesn’t get it.

Carroll traded for his former player in April of last year and probably fully intended on using him in his running back-by-committee offense. But shortly after acquiring him, word leaked out that White had failed a drug test and would be suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season. Not wanting to put up with any B.S. from a backup running back in his first year with the Seahawks, Carroll released White at the end of May.

This is the second time since he’s been cut that White has sounded off about Carroll, so clearly he hasn’t learned a thing. Many people have wanted to send Carroll a nice F-You, but White was the one who screwed himself. The reason he isn’t in Seattle anymore was because he made a bad decision before arriving to the Seahawks and he put Carroll in a bad spot. Most coaches around the league would have dumped him immediately, too.

White only has himself to blame for the way his career has turned out to this point.

LenDale White sounds off about Pete Carroll

Anthony Stalter — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:10:05 +0000

While appearing on Clay Travis’ radio show on 104-5 The Zone in Nashville, former Titans and Seahawks’ running back LenDale White had some unflattering things to say about Pete Carroll and his former coach’s involvement in the USC scandal surrounding Reggie Bush.

On USC (from Larry Brown Sports):

“I don’t want to bad mouth nobody, but as big as this scale is and as much as they (the NCAA) saying somebody took, for you not to know anything is kind of unbelievable to me. I don’t know. If you’re the athletic director I’m pretty sure you get wind of something, that somebody’s put something in your ear. When I was going to school there, and we were partying too much on campus, coaches could show up at our dorm room and tell us to calm the partying down. But you can’t tell if somebody took a $750,000 home? I don’t know. It’s weird to me.”

On his release from the Seahawks:

“I was shocked. I’m still shocked. I would figure if there was a problem or anything needed to be said or done, that my old coach would grab me to the side and whisper something in my ear and tell me step it up or do something different. I would figure that.”

“Thursday (the day before the release) when I was leaving practice, Pete Carroll hugged me and told me everything was going well. I thought everything was fine. I went to Vegas, just having fun for Memorial Day weekend and then I get a call Friday morning telling me they’re going in another (direction). I never really got an explanation.”

“I actually called Pete and asked Pete what was going on. Pete never knows why anything, right? Pete, he beat around the bush. He just said it wasn’t going to work out. He didn’t really give me an answer. He didn’t give me a clear explanation.”

When he showed up to the NFL scouting combine in 2006, White was so out of shape that one GM was actually quoted as saying that he “needed a bra.”

In his first training camp with the Titans, White was involved in a scuffle that led to him spitting in the face of a teammate.

In March of 2008, he received citations for destruction of property, disobedience to a lawful order/interference and resistance while in Denver, Colorado. (All chargers were later dropped.)

In May of this year, he was suspended four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He recently also admitted to smoking marijuana, although he notes: “that is all I have ever done. That’s all I do, that’s it. I smoke.”

I mention these things because it’s clear that White has maturity issues. He doesn’t seem to grasp what it means to take full responsibility for your actions. At 25, he could still have a productive NFL career, but in order to do so he needs to undergo a complete turnaround.

As of right now, after he made the comments about Carroll and USC, why would any team take a chance on him? Even if what he says is true, those statements didn’t need to be made. His only focus right now should be on playing again and nothing else – not Pete Carroll, USC or how much he believes he was screwed over by the Titans and Seahawks.

Seahawks dump LenDale White, who is facing suspension

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:00:24 +0000

In a rather surprising move, the Seahawks released running back LenDale White on Friday, just one month after acquiring him during April’s NFL draft. According to FOXSports.com’s Alex Marvez, the decision was made because White’s effort “stood out like a sore thumb” compared to other players and due to him facing a four-game suspension.

The source said the release was not related to an NFL Network report that White was facing a four-game suspension for failing a drug test. However, the positive test was confirmed although it remains uncertain whether White failed for a recreational or performance-enhancing substance.

The running back’s uncle Herman White told The Associated Press in a phone interview Friday night that he had been speaking with his nephew throughout the day.

“He wasn’t doing good,” Herman White said.

“I have no idea what happened.”

The uncle said he does not know what’s behind a report about the drug test.

“He was surprised,” Herman White said, adding LenDale told him this week how great his second NFL chance was going. “I’m pretty shocked, based on what he’s been telling me.

It would be one thing if the Hawks dumped White solely because of the suspension. But it was the suspension and his shoddy work ethic that led to his release, which is disappointing considering that area of his game has been questioned before.

It doesn’t bode well for White that his former college coach didn’t think highly enough of him or his work ethic to at least keep him through training camp. Considering he’s only 25, the running back will probably find work elsewhere but he’ll likely have to wait until after he serves his four-game ban before he receives any offers. Either way, he doesn’t find himself in a very good spot these days.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

Blount spurns Niners for Titans after talking with Fisher

Anthony Stalter — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:42:08 +0000

Rookie free agent LeGarrette Blount has agreed to a contract terms with the Titans after initially telling the 49ers that they had won his services. Apparently Blount changed his mind after talking with Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher.

The Titans were in need of a big back to replace LenDale White, whom the team traded to Seattle during the third day of the draft on Saturday. Blount will pair with Chris Johnson to form a solid 1-2 punch in Tennessee’s backfield, although 2009 draft pick Javon Ringer might be in the mix for carries, too.

Blount is coming off a tumultuous final year at Oregon. What I mean by “tumultuous” is that he punched a Boise State player following a loss on the opening night of the season and also tried to go after fans that were heckling him as he walked out of the stadium. He eventually had to be escorted off the field by coaches and security, then was suspended for the better part of the season.

Blount was eventually reinstated late in the year after meeting a number of conditions set by Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. He finished the year with just 82 yards on 22 carries, which is largely why he went undrafted despite his immense talent. (Well that, and the fact that he has proven to be a nut case.)

Either Tennessee or San Francisco would have been good fits for the troubled running back, considering Fisher and Singletary are hard-nosed, no nonsense coaches. But seeing as how Blount spurned Singletary by signing with the Titans, chances are he won’t be welcomed back to San Francisco anytime soon.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

2010 NFL Draft Recap: NFC West

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:14:28 +0000

Here are quick-hit 2010 NFL Draft observations for the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals
Nose tackle Dan Williams is a great fit for the Cards, who were fortunate he slipped to them at No. 26. The team has been trying to fill the nose tackle position for years and they may have found the player to do it in Williams, who is explosive off the line. There’s a great chance he’ll beat out Gabe Watson for the right to start in Week 1. I also really liked Arizona’s second round pick, linebacker Daryl Washington. He’ll play alongside Geno Hayes in the Cards’ 3-4 alignment and might rack up 100 tackles with his sideline-to-sideline style of play. Citadel receiver Andre Roberts is a sleeper and will help out immediately as a punt returner. Third-rounder O’Brien Schofield had a first round grade on him before tearing his ACL in the Senior Bowl. He’s a prototypical 3-4 edge-rusher and has high upside, although he may need more time to fully recover from the injury. I also love the selection of John Skelton in the fifth. He’s athletic, has a cannon for an arm and he was a gamer at Fordham. He could be a great developmental project down the road, especially if Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson don’t pan out. All in all, this was one of my favorite drafts of any team this year.

San Francisco 49ers
I loved what the Niners did with their first three picks, which is where teams usually find starters and players that can make an impact right away. Anthony Davis will compete with Adam Snyder for the starting right tackle job, while Mike Iupati will battle David Bass at the starting left guard position. To nab two potential starters with their first two picks was excellent for San Fran. I also really liked the Taylor Mays selection in the second round because it showed great value, although he has a lot to prove after a sub par senior season at USC. The good thing for the Niners is that he has a chip on his shoulder, is a great athlete and will be working close with Mike Singletary, who is an excellent motivator. I didn’t like the pick of Navorro Bowman in the third round, only because he’s too small to play inside linebacker in a 3-4 and might wind up being a career special teamer if he stays in San Fran. It was a little early to be selecting special teamers in the third round. I did really like what San Fran did in the later rounds, however, nabbing bruising runner Anthony Dixon and burner Kyle Williams in the sixth.

Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll’s first draft in Seattle was a successful one, as he nabbed the best offensive tackle prospect in the draft at No. 6 in Russell Okung and followed up the selection by taking a very productive safety in Earl Thomas at No. 14 (at the expense of ticking off his former USC player, Taylor Mays). Okung will be a starter from day one, but he has the unenviable task of replacing one of the best LTs to have ever played the game in Walter Jones. (No pressure, Russell.) Thomas will also start right away opposite Jordan Babineaux in the Seahawks’ secondary and will hopefully give their defense a much-needed playmaker from the safety position. Golden Tate was a great find in the second round, as he gives Seattle more explosion in both the passing and return game. Cornerback Walter Thurmond III has serious knee issues, but would have been a second round prospect otherwise, while DE E.J. Wilson is a menacing hitter despite lacking ideal burst. Kam Chancellor is a less athletic version of Mays, but he’s a decent in-the-box safety prospect. Anthony McCoy fell do to off-field issues, which include testing positive for marijuana, but Carroll knows what he can do as both a blocker and a pass-catching tight end so he’ll get the opportunity to play. This draft can’t be graded without factoring in the draft day trades of LenDale White and Leon Washington, who should form a solid 1-2 punch in Seattle’s backfield. It’s hard to argue with the decisions Carroll and his staff made over the past couple days. They filled needs, upgraded weaknesses and added at least two starters.

St. Louis Rams
I really like what the Rams did with their selection immediately after taking Sam Bradford with the first overall pick. They could have easily went with a receiver like Arrelious Benn at No. 33, but instead they decided to protect their new investment in Bradford by selecting OT Rodger Saffold, who had a first round grade but fell to the top of the second. Saffold isn’t an elite prospect, but he’s steady and will upgrade the Rams’ shoddy O-line. The team also did well by adding versatile playmaker Mardy Gilyard in the third, a blocking tight end in Michael Hoomanawanui in the fifth and a pass-catching tight end in Fendi Onobun in the sixth. Third rounder Jerome Murphy immediately adds depth to the Rams’ brutal secondary and could push for a starting cornerback job right away. Of course, this draft will inevitably be judged by whether or not Bradford develops. St. Louis had no choice but to take the Oklahoma QB, based on their need at the position. He’ll become the new face of the franchise and usher in hope to an organization that’s currently hemorrhaging.

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Pete Carroll putting imprint on Seahawks, trades for LenDale White & Leon Washington

Anthony Stalter — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:00:45 +0000

One of the reasons Pete Carroll left USC for the Seattle Seahawks in mid January of this year was because he would have the authority to determine how the franchise played football. In other words, Carroll could wipe the slate clean and bring in the type of players and staff that he wanted for his team.

On Saturday, the Seahawks acquired running backs LenDale White (Titans) and Leon Washington (Jets) in two separate draft day trades. In the acquisition of White, Seattle swapped fourth and sixth round picks with Tennessee and also acquired defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson. In the acquisition of Washington, the Hawks sent the No. 138 pick to New York and also received a seventh-round selection in the process.

White has been chopping at the bit to get out of Tennessee and now reunites with the head coach that best found ways to utilize him on the field. While at USC, Carroll used White as his physical, early-down masher and he’s expected to use the running back in a similar role in Seattle.

Many draft pundits thought that the Seahawks would draft C.J. Spiller with one of their two picks in the first round. But after acquiring Washington from the Jets (which was a steal), they got a cheaper player with a similar skill set to that of Spiller. Plus, by not drafting Spiller, the Hawks were able to nab the top rated offensive tackle in the draft in Russell Okung and the second best safety in Earl Thomas. Washington and White should work very well together in Seattle, albeit at the likely expense of Julius Jones.

It still remains to be seen whether or not Carroll can succeed in the NFL like he did at SC, but one thing is clear: he’s going to construct his team the way he wants.

Photo from fOTOGLIF

NFL Week 12 MVP Power Rankings

Mike Farley — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:00:59 +0000

Well, we can’t ignore what Drew Brees did to the Patriots on Monday night, can we? It doesn’t even really matter what Mr. Manning and Mr. Favre did. Oh, those guys are all bunched up here, but consider that in their biggest game of the season so far, the Saints’ Brees threw for 371 yards, 5 TDs to five different receivers, and zero picks in leading them to a 38-17 dismantling of New England in the Superdome. Yikes.

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints—See above. Brees now leads the NFL in both QB rating (112.6) and touchdown passes (27). He’s even rushed for 2 scores for good measure. And oh yeah, the Saints are 11-0 and starting to think about Miami in February.

2. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings—Funny how Favre is not getting the love he should from sportswriters in the MVP conversation. Well that’s ridiculous, and you can count this writer among those who think he is extremely deserving. Against Chicago last Sunday, Favre threw for 392 more yards, with 3 TDs and no picks. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s 24 TDs to 3 interceptions on the season, and his team sitting at 10-1 and in line for a first round bye.

3. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts—Our apologies for dropping Peyton from #1 to #3 here, but he keeps flirting with disaster each week before bringing his team back. Sure, they are 11-0 just like the Saints, but we don’t feel particularly happy about those 11 interceptions so far.

4. Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans—800 yards in the month of November. 800 yards. Are you freaking kidding me? Apparently LenDale White was not in uniform against Arizona last Sunday because of being late to a meeting. I think it was more like Jeff Fisher didn’t want to make the mistake of putting White in the game for any reason, so he kept the guy in street clothes. And how about this sick run by the Titans?

5. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers—His numbers are damn near close to the guy he replaced in Green Bay, Mr. Favre…a.k.a. #2. 3136 yards, 22 TDs, and just 5 interceptions. Imagine if Rodgers (44 sacks) wasn’t running for his life most of the time.

Honorable Mention—Philip Rivers, Chargers; Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars, Reggie Wayne, Colts; Cedric Benson, Bengals; Jared Allen, Vikings; Tom Brady, Patriots; Randy Moss, Patriots; Miles Austin, Cowboys; Vince Young, Titans; Andre Johnson, Texans; Elvis Dumervil, Broncos; Darren Sharper, Saints