Category: NFL Draft (Page 29 of 101)

      From inappropriate to plain stupid, NFL pre-draft questions getting absurd

      May 10, 2010 /

      A few weeks ago, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland made headlines when it was revealed that he asked Cowboys’ first round pick Dez Bryant during a pre-draft interview if his mother was ever a prostitute. It was an insulting and unnecessary question, but it’s obvious that Ireland isn’t the only one asking prospects stupid inquiries around draft time.

      From the Buffalo News:

      Bills rookie linebacker Arthur Moats recalled an unexpected query at the NFL Scouting Combine.

      “It was a guy from the Redskins,” Moats said. “He asked me, “Should we draft you and you’re sitting around in a room and Brian Orakpo comes to you and says, “You’re in my seat.’ Are you going to get up and move or are you going to fight him for the chair?’

      “I’m like, “It’s a chair. I’m just going to slide over,’ and he said, “So you’re a punk.’ I’m thinking, “What? I’m going to fight over a chair? And if I move I’m a punk?’ The guy was serious, too.”

      Added Moats: “I answered, “How is [Orakpo] addressing me? Is he yelling or something?’ I guess it depends on how he asked. That was crazy. I didn’t know they asked questions like that.”

      If teams only have 15 minutes to get to know a prospect at the scouting combine, how is this question going to help them figure out whether or not they should draft a player? One would think that a team of NFL scouts, general managers and coaches would have more probing questions than these.

      Too bad Moats didn’t answer back with, “I’m not sure what I’d do, but ask another dumb question and I’m going to take my chair and stick it directly up your ass.”


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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Dolphins’ GM apologizes to Bryant for asking whether or not mother was a prostitute

      April 28, 2010 /

      Dolphins’ GM Jeff Ireland recently apologized for asking then-NFL prospect Dez Bryant in a pre-draft interview about whether or not his mother was ever a prostitute.

      From Yahoo! Sports.com:

      “My job is to find out as much information as possible about a player that I’m consider drafting. Sometimes that leads to asking in-depth questions.

      “Having said that, I talked to Dez Bryant and told him I used poor judgment in one of the questions I asked him. I certainly meant no disrespect and apologized to him.

      “I appreciate his acceptance of that apology and I told him I wished him well as he embarks on his NFL career.”

      Some blogs are questioning why this is even a story, but it is a story and it’s a situation that is problematic. It appears as though some NFL front office types (that includes coaches) feel as though they’re entitled to ask whatever they want when it comes to interviewing prospects. They feel as though since players are paid millions of dollars that nothing is out of bounds or off limits, which is an issue. (Especially when it comes to asking a prospect whether or not his mother had ever slept around for money.)

      Ireland’s question was degrading, insulting and completely unnecessary. What was he hoping to accomplish? What if Bryant said yes? Then what? The Dolphins take him off their big board? What does Bryant’s mother have to do with whether or not he can catch passes?

      I realize that teams have to do their due diligence when it comes to finding out what kind of character these young men have. And the only way for them to do that is for them to question them about their past.

      But at some point, there has to be a line drawn in the sand and I think Ireland crossed it with Bryant.


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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Hurney’s decision to draft Clausen will pay off for Panthers, Moore

      April 26, 2010 /

      After the Panthers selected Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday, many pundits started to wonder whether or not the team had confidence in Matt Moore as a starter. Then when GM Marty Hurney selected Tony Pike in the sixth round, some experts’ heads were ready to explode as they feverishly talked about how Moore may not be wanted in Carolina.

      But let’s take a step back for a moment and look at the situation as a whole. Entering the draft, the Panthers had Moore and Hunter Cantwell on the depth chart at quarterback. Even if the team has confidence in Moore (which it still sounds like they do), they had to take a quarterback as insurance in case he turned out to be a disaster or suffered an injury. Say again, they had to draft a quarterback.

      Reports have surfaced that Hurney was attempting to trade up in the second round to take Clausen, which does indicate that the team isn’t completely sold on Moore as their franchise quarterback. But considering Clausen was a top 15 pick who fell into the second round, Hurney would have probably kicked himself if he didn’t at least try to trade up for him. He knew he needed a quarterback and considering Clausen represented so much value in the second round, it made sense for him to try and trade up to get him. Then when Clausen fell to him anyway, it was a perfect situation.

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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      Blount spurns Niners for Titans after talking with Fisher

      April 26, 2010 /

      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.


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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

      2010 NFL Draft Recap: NFC West

      April 24, 2010 /

      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.

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      External Sports, NFL, NFL Draft

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