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I agree that he slides no matter what, but doubt anything he does can stop it. Having a "beard" is one thing if this is the case, but having a fake one that fake dies to gain publicity and draw inspiration from is kinda crazy by itself no matter the guys sexual preference. The whole thing is crazy and shows terrible judgement.'IvanKaramazov said:
15 years ago they also got Randy Moss after his falling stock.
Maybe Baltimore?When Brendon Ayanbadejo isn't running his mouth off about how the Patriots are big meanies for playing hurry up and not waiting for defenses to get set, he enjoys being an advocate for gay rights.
ND Athletic Director:'domvin said:
According to the deadspin article, there's a timeline where the girlfriend died first. There are several other accounts where his grandmother died first, but it makes a bit more sense that the "girlfriend died" part of the hoax rolled out, then Te'o found out his grandmother died soon thereafter for real.I agree that it would be very odd at best, and coldly calculating at worst, to roll out the "girlfriend dies" part of the hoax while you're still mourning your grandmother. Either way, I'm amazed that there are so many discrepancies in the media narrative that no one bothered to nail down.
I think here in America we tend to go with the Andrew Dice Clay definition of gay.
No one's picking on Mante
On a serious note, we're getting to the point where there is going to be an openly gay player. I bet it will be a punter.
Ridiculous. "We don't care, we just want to know." Assinine.
It rhymed.
Of the bigger guys my money is on a center.
The more I use PFT for a source, the more aware I become that PFT seems to err on the side of muck raking over presenting all sides of an issue. Unfortunately they tend to be first get a story out so are still useful to hear what's breaking.I saw the interview and there is more that could have been said about this that PFT didn't. Like they could have mentioned that immediately before the question that PFT is quoting Te'o's answer to, that Rich Eisen asked him whether the combine was exhausting. So that was fresh on his mind as he started to answer Mayock's question about his drills.Sure, Te'o would have been better served PR-wise not mentioning it. Only making the comments he made about a desire to do better at his pro day. The best thing to say for public consumption is not always the truth though, and I think he was just being honest.But I'd be quicker to question the honesty of someone who said they didn't feel stressed or tired than I would criticize a guy who was tired out by a process that was in part designed to tire him out. There's no shortage of players who have told each year how exhausting the Combine process is. They just aren't under the same microscope.
The catch-all to the "out-of-context" argument for defending Te'O for his "exhausting" and "stressed" comments is that the combine is by design meant to stress out and work over athletes to see what they have down deep inside. The combine like you said kicks everyone's ###, but the interview process is not the time for candor. The NFL scouts and GM's are looking for especially at the MIKE LB spot someone who is mean and tough and kind of an ####. No room for nice guys. They want the next Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher. They want a mean streak with an edge. To say he's under some microscope doesn't give him any immunity from the criticism, nor should it. His hype will only ensure that no matter how he performs at his pro day or the backlash of the combine, he will probably still be overdrafted. Probably still making more money than other MIKE LB's who are more deserving.
He's one of the more fascinating scouting prospects in years.It seems like most talking heads will say, "it's all about the tape." Well, the tape showed Te'o as the clear leader AND playmaker on a top collegiate defense. It showed a guy who not only was a fundamentally sound tackling machine, but someone that could cover, and even generate an unusually high number of turnovers (7 interceptions). Yet, since the Combine I've heard at least a dozen of these same talking heads saying things like:"Those interceptions went right into his hands""He's not a three-down player""He's not athletic enough to cover NFL tight ends"
I have zero way of ever proving this, but if this whole Catfish thing never happened, I believe the vast majority of those pundits would be talking about what a playmaker he is and how you draft the film, not the measurables.
Catfish or no Catfish, his 40 time is disappointing. He seems like a 3rd or later talent to me. If the Ravens got him at the end of the 2nd I think that would be a reasonable pick.I put him on par with Bradie James - someone who can carve out a nice NFL career but isn't Pro Bowl caliber.He's one of the more fascinating scouting prospects in years.It seems like most talking heads will say, "it's all about the tape." Well, the tape showed Te'o as the clear leader AND playmaker on a top collegiate defense. It showed a guy who not only was a fundamentally sound tackling machine, but someone that could cover, and even generate an unusually high number of turnovers (7 interceptions). Yet, since the Combine I've heard at least a dozen of these same talking heads saying things like:"Those interceptions went right into his hands""He's not a three-down player""He's not athletic enough to cover NFL tight ends"
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-netwo...0158450/Game-Changers-Manti-Te-o-on-the-field
Possibly, but it's not like he's a no-brainer first round player either just from a pure talent and value perspective. There was only one inside linebacker drafted in the first, Alec Ogletree, 30th overall.
I think front offices lost faith in his ability to be a leader in the lockor room and/or are worried about the respect his teammates would give him if he was put in that position. While he wasn't the most spectacular LB in college football last year I'm pretty confident he would have been the 1st drafted if this whole issue hadn't arisen, which I also believe affected his play in the BCS Title game.
