Manninghan and Talib - Character Concerns
by DaveTroll on Apr 8, 2008 6:39 PM CDT
27 comments
Two potential first-round, early-entry juniors — Kansas CB Aqib Talib and Michigan WR Mario Manningham — have been removed from the draft boards of multiple NFL teams because of character concerns.
Specifically, Talib admitted at the Combine to testing positive for marijuana three times while at the University of Kansas, according to several league sources. While teams appreciated Talib’s honesty, it bothered one team that Talib dismissed the first positive test because he said he had told Kansas head coach Mark Mangino that he was going to test positive.
Manningham, unlike Talib, denied testing positive at any time throughout college when the question was posed at the Combine about his past marijuana use. He also worked out poorly at the Combine after having waited to sign an agent and showing up unprepared to the annual event.
Anyone have any concerns about these two?
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
0 recs |
27 comments
Email
Print
Comments
I never liked either guy from the get go
both have major character concerns in addition to their drug habits not to mention their talent is very overrated.
I'm hoping the Cowboys are one of the teams that take both off their board.
by Terry on Apr 8, 2008 6:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
2nd that thought.
by BoyzRback07 on Apr 8, 2008 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is my biggest fear
With Jerry now back running everything, my biggest fear is that he will overlook character issues. Getting one guy with issues is not a big deal. But if we get Pacman Jones and one of these guys, then they start hanging out and things go bad.
Sure, everyone can find one or two guys that overcame it, but lets see if we can think of a Cowboys player where this became a problem. Oh yeah...QUINCY CARTER!
by rhbgsherb on Apr 9, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Overrated and Character are different animals
And issues with character can also be a very different thing than issues with marijuana. A college kid that smokes pot? I would say the majority qualify...
Like alcohol, the question is one of moderation vs abuse. And only here does character become the issue.
Before we select guys like this, we should increase the due diligence. But eliminating someone based on "character issues" because they smoked pot in college is completely ridiculous. Warren Sapp, Moss, Parish (boston celtics)... there are many occasional pot-smokers that perform at a high level. And if the NFL drug-tested for pot today, the league would lose more than a team or two worth of players!
Now, if they are overrated based solely on their talent on the field, that is an entirely different story. When it comes to Talib, I have not personally seen enough, but trust the Cowboys' scouts to answer this REAL question.
by DalaiLuke on Apr 10, 2008 1:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
3rd that thought.
I saw Talib play and I wasn't that impressed. He's ok, but nothing special. No way were they taking ANY WR in the 1st, so Manningham had no shot anyhow. Showing up out of shape for your job interview (the combine) was a red flag to me, Doesn't want it bad enough. Either that or he's just plain stupid.
John Boy
by John Boy on Apr 8, 2008 8:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I think it is ridiculous
that marijuana is considered the same as a character issue. it should be no more of a character issue than having an occasional beer.
An athlete serious about his career has to know the ramifications and stay away from it, but not because the drug itself is a character issue, imho.
by scottmaui on Apr 8, 2008 10:25 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
scott, you got to be kidding dude
marijuana is an illegal drug while alcohol isn't, thats the difference. You're committing a crime by smoking pot which leads to suspensions in the NFL.
Drinking beer is an legal act unless you're driving at the same time.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not kidding at all. my point...
is that the only thing wrong with pot is that it is illegal. That's what it is ridiculous.
Smoking pot does not make you a bad character and more than drinking a beer does.
(And occasionally smoking pot also doesn't affect one's athletic ability any more than drinking a beer does--the key to both of course is moderation.)
Of course players know that it is illegal and so they should stay away from it, but the problem is that it is illegal, not that it is inherently a character issue. That's what I'm trying to say.
Obviously in the larger issue, I don't think it should be illegal.
by scottmaui on Apr 9, 2008 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speeding is illegal. . .
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dang. With all da tickets I'm amassed...
... over the years, does that make ME a bad character guy :{ ?
by kcbrett5 on Apr 9, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speeding...
is actually an interesting comparison. If a player is considered to be a speedfreak, does that decrease his value? Do teams take into account that his love of speeding increases his chances of getting into a wreck and not being available to play?
by goodjobtimmyheresabluestar on Apr 9, 2008 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
now you're getting ridiculous
traffic citations can't be compared to misdemenors and felonies.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Better be rediculous than judgemental
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not being judgmental, I'm being realistic
as past behavior is certainly a great indication of future behavior.
Whatever a player is doing in college, he'll usually end up doing it in the NFL, probably 95% of the time.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and 90% of all statistics can say whatever. . .
you want them to say. . .well, at least 50% of the time.
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
well, we have a different definition of character
my definition of character is not committing acts which will get you suspended from the league, and committing crimes is having bad character whether you feel they are harmless or not because Goodell lay the hammer down regardless.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Character issues and overrated?
by Baked Potato Soup on Apr 8, 2008 10:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Bite your tongue!
by goodjobtimmyheresabluestar on Apr 9, 2008 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Randy Moss and Warren Sapp
Both dropped in their respective drafts to late in the first round because of so-called character concerns. The two have had rather productive careers (with Sapp just retiring recently) and Moss being one of the top WRs in this current era.
This tandem had similar marijuana use issues leading up to the draft, which caused their stock to plummet a little.
Personally, I think this is overblown.
Manningham learned from his weak combine and made up for it at Michigan's Pro Day. He's a playmaking WR who had a stellar college career in one of the toughest conferences.
Talib is attempting to come clean now a la Luis Castillo, who admitted to 'roid use right before his draft. He's made up for it by becoming one of San Diego's top D-linemen thus far in his young NFL career and he's been relatively trouble free.
This is not a Pacman Jones issue where the rap sheet is longer than Manute Bol's wingspan.
by kcbrett5 on Apr 8, 2008 11:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Very disappointing
Talib has all the talent, but apparently none of the maturity. I've been supporting him as the best pick if he were to fall to us at #22, even though I kept hearing his alleged character issues. Believe me, I don't want a trouble maker (a Pacman Jr) so I searched every source I could find on the internet and never came across anything other than he had character flaws (that could be anything), it was very mysterious and never pointed out any details to support that claim.
I'm disappointed to hear about this story. If he had failed one drug test and then passed subsequent tests, I'd say OK, but to fail 3 drug tests just shows he doesn't have any respect for his coaches or teammates. It says to me, he'll do what he wants, when he wants. This is a huge red flag.
Finally, after all the months of allegations of character flaws, the facts come out. Isn't it strange how it happens right before the draft. At any rate, I still feel he has tremendous upside, but I can't justify spending a 1st round pick on a guy who sounds like he's headed down the path of self destruction.
I'm officially off the Talib bandwagon in light of these new facts. I am jumping on the Cason bandwagon as of today.
by APerfectStar on Apr 8, 2008 11:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Stepnoski smoked all through his career. . .
Never heard anyone say they were disappointed in him accept for when he left the team for a payday before returning after 3 seasons. . .
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
difference is that Stepnoski was extremely smart
and never got caught, obviously Talib and Manningham don't have his intelligence.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
HAHAHAHAHA. . .
Terry, you are a trip, dude.
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Marino had "character issues" too
by Baked Potato Soup on Apr 9, 2008 1:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Marino was a coke head in college
I know people who actually saw him do lines at Pitt, however, he obviously cleaned up his act in the NFL.
The problem, however, you don't really know which kids are going to mature and clean up their act after turning pros and which ones will continue to abuse drugs.
I guess it all comes down to how big of a risk taker you are, I know personally I'm not.
by Terry on Apr 9, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dude. . .
You just said a mouthful. You not a risk taker? I would have never guessed!!!!
by JerrodWheeler on Apr 9, 2008 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
