Difference b/t Newton, Pryor? Accountability...

[SnarkAttack]

Pretty good writeup by a well-informed journalist. Also details what a complete skeezeball Drew Rosenhaus is, but we all knew that anyway....

So why is it that Pryor's prospective employer will likely spend nothing more than a fifth-round pick on him when the Supplemental Draft eventually takes place, and will be hesitant to even make an investment of that modest standard?

In short, it simply comes down to accountability.

Now that's an ironic idea, mind you, especially when Newton had to endure a two-month barrage of questions pertaining to his own myriad of character and maturity concerns (including a few from this writer) before the Carolina Panthers became comfortable with making him the face of the sagging franchise. It's hard to recollect an incoming rookie that faced the intense amount of scrutiny Newton did prior to the draft, and to his credit, the charismatic youngster has shown a willingness to take all the criticism head on during both the draft process and his brief time as a locked-out and unsigned player.

Pryor, on the other hand, has repeatedly attempted to dodge all the issues that led up to his NCAA suspension and eventual exodus from Ohio State in much the same fashion as he did to opposing defenders, only without the same results. His behavior during and after the Ohio State scandal has done nothing but reinforce scouts' initial perception of a me-first player who was routinely coddled and protected by Jim Tressel and his staff. And when his No. 1 enabler was let go in the aftermath of the Buckeyes' firestorm, Pryor bailed out even faster than when trying to elude an oncoming rusher.

Read more: http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/06/15/2060989/pryor-vs-newton-theres-no-comparison.html#ixzz1PRfJSkmA

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/06/15/2060989/pryor-vs-newton-theres-no-comparison.html

[teeray]

Could it be that there is a QB with more hate on him coming to the NFL than Cam had???

Look, I don't like Pryor much as an NFL QB either, but it seems once again the me media is falling over itself to see who can belittle a QB prospect the most. It would be stupid for Pryor to go the the UFL or CFL and he made the right decision saying he wasn't interested. But for the media it is just another example of his me first, diva attitude.

I'm not going to defend Pryor as passionately as I did Cam because I don't think he is on the same level as Cam either personally or as a prospect, but sometimes the media should step back, take a deep breath, and relax on some of the bashing of these kids.

[SnarkAttack]

Agreed. There aren't bad kids, I don't think. I'm not going to lie - if someone offered me thousands of dollars in cash, etc etc. when I was in college, I'd be hard-pressed not to take it. Then again, we you bring the attn. to yourself, ala Ryan Leaf, well, I have no sympathy for you. These guys do have some control over how the media portrays them and the best possible way to quell the hate is to do exactly what Cam is doing - keep your mouth shut for the most part, show up, and say all the right things when you must talk to reporters....

[teeray]

Yeah, I don't like Pryor very much but the media just goes bananas sometimes. I don't want him anywhere near the Panthers but I can see why a team might be interested in him. And I think his success on the field in college has earned him at least a chance to play QB in the NFL.

The thing that really bothers me is that 90% of the time these media people have never spent any time with these players yet feels like they know them well enough to portray them as degenerates. I'm not saying in should be all rainbows and lollipops but keep things in perspective and nuanced.

[panthers55]

Agreed. There aren't bad kids, I don't think. I'm not going to lie - if someone offered me thousands of dollars in cash, etc etc. when I was in college, I'd be hard-pressed not to take it. Then again, we you bring the attn. to yourself, ala Ryan Leaf, well, I have no sympathy for you. These guys do have some control over how the media portrays them and the best possible way to quell the hate is to do exactly what Cam is doing - keep your mouth shut for the most part, show up, and say all the right things when you must talk to reporters....

I don't know that teams want a player whose moral compass is pointing to doing whatever he can as long as he doesn't get caught. Sure kids do it in college but it surely doesn't justify it, and the best reason not to do it is knowing if you keep your nose clean and put in the work, you will be rewarded with millions and an opportunity to play in the NFL. Seems to me those hundred or thousands of dollars are costing him millions now.

The problem with much of this is players like him have been so coddled they really believe the rules don't apply to them and they can do whatever they want with no consequences. That is a dangerous lesson to learn which some guys never figure out like Russell and young for example.

I wish him the best and someone will take a chance on him. I hope he gets good mentoring and figures it out down the road. It would be a shame to waste all his god given ability that most kids would die to have.

[CRA]

also the fact Cam is a MUCH better passer. Pryor has a lot more to work on in that department....

[Stroupe-a-loop]

I don't care if the guy traded jerseys for tats or signed stuff for money. I don't really care if he chooses to address it or not. I don't think he can play quarterback right now, and I don't want my team to spend time trying to teach him how to play when we have plenty of that to do with Cam and Clausen.

[teeray]

The problem with much of this is players like him have been so coddled they really believe the rules don't apply to them and they can do whatever they want with no consequences. That is a dangerous lesson to learn which some guys never figure out like Russell and young for example.

There is a lot of truth in that. I went to a small Division II school and was a basketball player. I was also a big partier on our campus and everyone knew it. I can honestly say that I should have had 3 DUIs and at least 10 alcohol violations (it was a dry campus) and I walked away unscathed from all of them. I had a great relationship with the local police (school was in a tiny town in NC), the school president, the Dean, and the Residence Director so when something like this came up it just got taken care of.

The funny thing was that the only person who I didn't get along with was the coach of my team (he was aware of only one of these transgressions).

Now imagine you are the starting QB for Ohio State. Basically multiply my protection by about 1,000,000.

You really can start to feel like you can get away with just about anything (within reason).

[Jangler]

ugh

[SnarkAttack]

I don't know that teams want a player whose moral compass is pointing to doing whatever he can as long as he doesn't get caught. Sure kids do it in college but it surely doesn't justify it, and the best reason not to do it is knowing if you keep your nose clean and put in the work, you will be rewarded with millions and an opportunity to play in the NFL. Seems to me those hundred or thousands of dollars are costing him millions now.

The problem with much of this is players like him have been so coddled they really believe the rules don't apply to them and they can do whatever they want with no consequences. That is a dangerous lesson to learn which some guys never figure out like Russell and young for example.

I wish him the best and someone will take a chance on him. I hope he gets good mentoring and figures it out down the road. It would be a shame to waste all his god given ability that most kids would die to have.

I didn't say a player with no moral compass - there's a distinction there. We all made mistakes in college, right? I consider myself lucky to be alive after some of my more adventurous exploits up at ASU, but the difference b/t us and someone like Cam is the fact that your entire past is picked through with a fine-toothed comb b/c people get paid to find blemishes in your character/past. That has to be tough to deal with for these guys....

[teeray]

I didn't say a player with no moral compass - there's a distinction there. We all made mistakes in college, right? I consider myself lucky to be alive after some of my more adventurous exploits up at ASU, but the difference b/t us and someone like Cam is the fact that your entire past is picked through with a fine-toothed comb b/c people get paid to find blemishes in your character/past. That has to be tough to deal with for these guys....

The only problem I have is that people in the media have never met a guy or spent any time with them but feel like they are in a position to speak to his character.

This bothered me a lot in regards to how Cam was portrayed.

[SnarkAttack]

case in point, Nolan Nawrocki (sp?)...

[Panthro]

There is a lot of truth in that. I went to a small Division II school and was a basketball player. I was also a big partier on our campus and everyone knew it. I can honestly say that I should have had 3 DUIs and at least 10 alcohol violations (it was a dry campus) and I walked away unscathed from all of them. I had a great relationship with the local police (school was in a tiny town in NC), the school president, the Dean, and the Residence Director so when something like this came up it just got taken care of.

The funny thing was that the only person who I didn't get along with was the coach of my team (he was aware of only one of these transgressions).

Now imagine you are the starting QB for Ohio State. Basically multiply my protection by about 1,000,000.

You really can start to feel like you can get away with just about anything (within reason).

hmmm perhaps you are worthy competition.

[teeray]

hmmm perhaps you are worthy competition.

If you are talking in terms of partying then I was worthy competition. Nowadays I hardly ever get out. All my drinking buddies have moved away and I just don't have time or desire to get out as often anymore. The only problem is when I do go out I go overboard and just blow it out.