Football 101: With Dave Wyman
Oct 2, 2009, 11:48 AM | Updated: Apr 4, 2011, 7:55 pm
by Dave Wyman
Rashard Mendenhall is one of the many reasons I always talk about personality and character. If you missed the story, I’ll sum it up for you: he doesn’t know the playbook. Check it out here if you don’t believe me.
This is why these scouts and personnel people interview players’ kindergarten teachers and high school janitors. I wrote in an earlier blog about the ridiculous personality test I was administered before I was drafted:
I get so frustrated that I feel like crying:
A) Often
B) Sometimes
C) Never
Do you think any linebacker in his right mind would answer A or B? I remember circling C so hard that I tore the paper! Today, that reaction would probably be evaluated as insecurity on my part because of my obvious over-compensation!
But hey, maybe it wasn’t so ridiculous. Perhaps the Steelers will administer the following question on their character profile from now on:
If I were to become injured during the season, I would:
A) Work hard to rehabilitate my injury
B) Seek out the best doctors in the country for advice
C) Both A & B
D) Take a tour of Pittsburgh’s finest museums
And how did he get hurt? Well, Ray Lewis and the Baltimore defense took offense to a text that he sent to a Raven player saying that he expected to have a field day against the Baltimore defense. Ray Lewis knocked the %$# out of him, injuring Mendenhall’s shoulder. Again….this could have been vetted out with a simple questionnaire:
If I were a rookie and preparing to play against the most fearsome defense the NFL has seen this decade, I would:
A) Have reverence for them and all that they’ve accomplished over the last 10-years
B) Study my playbook more than I ever have
C) Keep my mouth shut
D) A, B & C!!
E) Taunt them with text messages
Hey Rashard Mendenhall, Ryan Leaf is looking for someone to hang out with. Give him a call…I think he’s in Canada.
