Risky business with red-flag players
The NFL draft, which begins Thursday night and lasts until Saturday, is an event full of euphemisms.
You need a glossary to understand some of them: “length,” “leverage,” “fluid hips,” “works well in space,” “measurables.”
Others require no explanation but are far more troubling. “Poor decision maker.” “Off-field issues.” “Pattern of bad choices.” “Red flags.” There are several players in this draft that fall under those concerning labels. Young men like running back Joe Mixon, who was caught on video punching a woman in the face. Or his Oklahoma teammate, wide receiver Dede Westbrook, who has two domestic-violence arrests in his history.
Or Florida State running back Dalvin Cook, with a history of arrests. And Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, who is facing rape accusations and issued a statement Wednesday proclaiming his innocence. There’s Michigan cornerback Joudan Lewis, who recently was accused of domestic violence. Or Florida defensive lineman Caleb Brantley, who was charged with knocking out a woman. Or Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly with a history of physical violence. And plenty of others.
These negative facts are tucked into player draft bios along with information about height and speed, and traits like “grinder” or “workout warrior.” Filed under “Cons,” just like “undersized,” or “poor route running.”
Some of the players may be innocent of the charges. Others probably committed the crimes but have learned their lessons. But others probably have disturbing psychological issues that will follow them into the NFL, where their violent tendencies are glorified.
The decision makers in the NFL have to weigh talent against the disturbing information and hazard a guess whether a player is worth the risk. It’s a trickier business than it used to be, because — largely thanks to social media and courageous victims — such issues are no longer so easily swept away.
The NFL received a stark reminder of the tightrope walk last week, when Aaron Hernandez was found dead from suicide in his jail cell. He was serving a life sentence for murder. One 2010 scouting report noted that the tight end, eventually drafted by the Patriots, lived “on the edge of acceptable behavior” and could become “a problem” for whatever team drafted him.
Or for society.