Stop Inflating Character Issues

By: Sef Gold

Apparently the ignorantly assumed profession of a draftee’s parents is now at the top of the need-to-know list for NFL teams. In an on-the-clock situation where the time spent with a potential draft pick is limited, questions such as those asked of Dez Bryant seem more out of place than Andrew Bogut’s elbow.

Forget professionalism and what questions ‘shouldn’t’ be allowed. The simple fact is that there is no way to judge how a young man will react to the newfound fame and fortune that comes with being in the NFL. Randy Moss had a troubled past and his NFL career has been nothing short of sensational. It should also be noted that Moss has never been suspended in the NFL.

Compare Moss’ pre-NFL days with those of Charles Rogers. Rogers did not have any known legal troubles in high school, nor did he ever encounter trouble while at Michigan State. In terms of background, Rogers fit the clean as a whistle bill. Moss’ past, on the other hand, was anything but spotless, including a brief jail sentence.

The point here is that teams over-value character. It is not known what Dez Bryant’s future entails, but 23 teams passed on the player who is arguably one of the most talented prospects in the 2010 Draft. The bottom line is that skills and athleticism appear to have taken a back seat to the appearance of a questionable personality. Sure, a draftee with legal troubles does raise a cause for concern; but for the record, Bryant has never had any run-ins with the law. For now, the only blue Dez figures to be dealing with is the star in the end zone as he runs by teams who may have dropped the ball for their first pick in this year’s draft.

E-mail Sef: sef@afcnorthtalk.com