bubba9497
March-3rd-2005, 10:49 AM
Draft Dish: Weighing risk vs. reward
http://warroom.sportingnews.com/voices/war_room/20050303.html
Each year, there are a handful of prospects who come with a lot of baggage. The 2005 class has more than its share of the baggage carriers. Most teams don't want to deal with a difficult personality in the locker room, and certainly no team wants to get stuck with another Ryan Leaf mess. That's why psychological testing, interviews and background checks have become more prevalent in the NFL draft process than ever before. At the end of the day, the question each NFL team must ask itself is: Is the potential reward with this prospect worth the risk?
Every investment has risk, but some carry extra:
Mike Williams, WR, USC. Williams was the most dynamic wide receiver in the country with 176 catches for 2,570 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons at USC (2002-03). After trying and failing to get into the 2004 draft, he hasn't played in more than a year. There also are concerns about Williams' maturity and weight. He got down to 6-5, 230 for his pro day in April 2004, but it took a lot of work to get him to that point. At the time, there were reports coming from his training group that he end up as a tight end role if he didn't show more self-discipline with food consumption. Williams is an early first-round prospect -- but buyer beware.
Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan. Jackson has first-round tools but will slip on draft day because of questions regarding his character, durability and position fit in the NFL. Jackson was suspended for the first game of the 2003 season after he was charged with assault. Jackson moved from cornerback to free safety as a junior in 2003 because of team needs, then missed three games with a leg injury. He was moved back to cornerback in 2004 but never regained the confidence, instincts and playmaking skills that he flashed earlier in his career.
Odell Thurman, ILB, Georgia. Thurman has the most natural ability of all the inside linebacker prospects in this year's class, but character issues and academic troubles likely will keep him out of the first round. Thurman was a partial qualifier in 2001 and decided to attend Georgia Military Academy in 2002 after Georgia penalized him for violating team rules. In 2003, Thurman was allowed to return to Georgia, where he immediately took over as a starter and was named first-team All-SEC with 121 total tackles. Instead of building on the momentum, Thurman got into off-field trouble and wound up serving a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2004 season.
Chris Canty, DE, Virginia. Injuries limited Canty's potential in college. He missed time early in his career because of shoulder problems, and he blew out his knee four games into his senior season. When Canty was healthy, he was one of the most impressive end prospects in this class, but lack of durability could cause teams to shy away.
Chris Henry, WR, West Virginia. Henry didn't play as a freshman so he could concentrate on academics. He exploded onto the national scene as Big East Rookie of the Year in 2003, putting up 1,006 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Henry's junior year, however, was much more of an adventure. He was suspended twice -- for an unspecified team rules violation and for getting two unsportsmanlike penalties in one game. In a lot of ways, he reminds us of Randy Moss. But Henry isn't Moss' class as a physical specimen -- and, believe it or not, Henry might be an even bigger prima donna.
Adrian McPherson, QB, Florida State. McPherson became the first athlete to win "Mr. Football" and "Mr. Basketball" as a high school athlete in Florida. He became a starter at Florida State as a sophomore in 2002, but things fell apart. McPherson was sentenced to 30 months of probation in after he pleaded no contest to gambling and theft charges. He was kicked off the team and ended up playing for the Indiana Firebirds in the Arena Football League. McPherson quickly developed into one of the most effective and dynamic quarterbacks in the AFL. McPherson is raw, but he has good size (6-3, 214), an extremely strong arm and terrific overall athleticism. He is considered one of the most talented quarterbacks in this year's class. The question is: How high of a pick is a team willing to risk on him?
Maurice Clarett, RB, Ohio State. Where do we begin? First, he was suspended for receiving improper benefits at Ohio State. Next came the lawsuit against the NFL. Then, he showed up at the Combine out of shape and more reports surfaced regarding illegal academic and financial benefits. On top of that, Clarett decided not to participate in the 2005 East-West Shrine game. Add to all that the fact he has durability issues and hasn't played football in more than two full years, and there's good reason to believe Clarett will free-fall to the draft's final few rounds
http://warroom.sportingnews.com/voices/war_room/20050303.html
Each year, there are a handful of prospects who come with a lot of baggage. The 2005 class has more than its share of the baggage carriers. Most teams don't want to deal with a difficult personality in the locker room, and certainly no team wants to get stuck with another Ryan Leaf mess. That's why psychological testing, interviews and background checks have become more prevalent in the NFL draft process than ever before. At the end of the day, the question each NFL team must ask itself is: Is the potential reward with this prospect worth the risk?
Every investment has risk, but some carry extra:
Mike Williams, WR, USC. Williams was the most dynamic wide receiver in the country with 176 catches for 2,570 yards and 30 touchdowns in two seasons at USC (2002-03). After trying and failing to get into the 2004 draft, he hasn't played in more than a year. There also are concerns about Williams' maturity and weight. He got down to 6-5, 230 for his pro day in April 2004, but it took a lot of work to get him to that point. At the time, there were reports coming from his training group that he end up as a tight end role if he didn't show more self-discipline with food consumption. Williams is an early first-round prospect -- but buyer beware.
Marlin Jackson, CB, Michigan. Jackson has first-round tools but will slip on draft day because of questions regarding his character, durability and position fit in the NFL. Jackson was suspended for the first game of the 2003 season after he was charged with assault. Jackson moved from cornerback to free safety as a junior in 2003 because of team needs, then missed three games with a leg injury. He was moved back to cornerback in 2004 but never regained the confidence, instincts and playmaking skills that he flashed earlier in his career.
Odell Thurman, ILB, Georgia. Thurman has the most natural ability of all the inside linebacker prospects in this year's class, but character issues and academic troubles likely will keep him out of the first round. Thurman was a partial qualifier in 2001 and decided to attend Georgia Military Academy in 2002 after Georgia penalized him for violating team rules. In 2003, Thurman was allowed to return to Georgia, where he immediately took over as a starter and was named first-team All-SEC with 121 total tackles. Instead of building on the momentum, Thurman got into off-field trouble and wound up serving a three-game suspension at the beginning of the 2004 season.
Chris Canty, DE, Virginia. Injuries limited Canty's potential in college. He missed time early in his career because of shoulder problems, and he blew out his knee four games into his senior season. When Canty was healthy, he was one of the most impressive end prospects in this class, but lack of durability could cause teams to shy away.
Chris Henry, WR, West Virginia. Henry didn't play as a freshman so he could concentrate on academics. He exploded onto the national scene as Big East Rookie of the Year in 2003, putting up 1,006 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Henry's junior year, however, was much more of an adventure. He was suspended twice -- for an unspecified team rules violation and for getting two unsportsmanlike penalties in one game. In a lot of ways, he reminds us of Randy Moss. But Henry isn't Moss' class as a physical specimen -- and, believe it or not, Henry might be an even bigger prima donna.
Adrian McPherson, QB, Florida State. McPherson became the first athlete to win "Mr. Football" and "Mr. Basketball" as a high school athlete in Florida. He became a starter at Florida State as a sophomore in 2002, but things fell apart. McPherson was sentenced to 30 months of probation in after he pleaded no contest to gambling and theft charges. He was kicked off the team and ended up playing for the Indiana Firebirds in the Arena Football League. McPherson quickly developed into one of the most effective and dynamic quarterbacks in the AFL. McPherson is raw, but he has good size (6-3, 214), an extremely strong arm and terrific overall athleticism. He is considered one of the most talented quarterbacks in this year's class. The question is: How high of a pick is a team willing to risk on him?
Maurice Clarett, RB, Ohio State. Where do we begin? First, he was suspended for receiving improper benefits at Ohio State. Next came the lawsuit against the NFL. Then, he showed up at the Combine out of shape and more reports surfaced regarding illegal academic and financial benefits. On top of that, Clarett decided not to participate in the 2005 East-West Shrine game. Add to all that the fact he has durability issues and hasn't played football in more than two full years, and there's good reason to believe Clarett will free-fall to the draft's final few rounds