WTF Moments in the 2017 NFL Draft
As we wind down from the high that is the draft weekend, and reflect on the great draft picks, the not so great draft picks and then the seriously ridiculous draft picks, we thought this would be a good time to do a special presentation of our WTF weekly in-season column for the NFL Draft.
It was a fun weekend. Seeing all of the college prospects get excited to hear their name called is a sight to behold. Their families get excited, fans get excited, everyone gets excited.
But someone got a little too excited!
The most “colorful” response to hearing his name getting called had to be Takkarist McKinley. “Takk” as he’s known walked onto the stage in Philadelphia, noticeably full of emotion. After hugging Commissioner Roger Goodell, Takk was interviewed by NFL Network’s Deion Sanders and used some extreme profanity to make his point.
Some may have been offended by it, but the moment, for him, was big.
Very big.
We were all like WTF people! But he’s fine. Let him feel what he needs to feel.
His story, publicized later was that of being raised by his grandmother who died of a stroke in 2011, and where he was homeless at that point in his life. To get drafted at #26 overall in the first round by the Falcons DID, in fact, mean the F-ing world to him. (He later took to Twitter to apologize and won’t be fined by the league.)
Next might be a tie when it comes to things that made me roll my eyes during the draft.
First, and I have not been quiet about this: I really wanted pass-rusher Derek Rivers to get drafted by the Steelers. By all accounts, the Steelers were very interested in the FCS prospect. Their upper personnel attended his pro day, interviewed him at the Scouting Combine, and brought him in for a pre-draft visit. It was meant to happen.
Welp, the Patriots, AKA our “older brother” (Ben’s words not mine), took Rivers with their first pick, which didn’t occur until nearly the middle of the third round. Meaning: we passed on Rivers twice AND New England drafted him instead.
But we got T.J. Watt instead.
Now I am cautiously optimistic with Watt, and hoping the medical staff did their due diligence with his injuries, but he has only been playing the defensive position for two seasons. (WTF?)
The Steelers also got a super cool long snapper too!
Yes, you heard me: a LONG SNAPPER!
No he was not signed to bring to camp as a UDFA. He was actually drafted in the sixth-round.
WTF?
Who does that? Especially after signing our existing long snapper, Greg Warren, to another one-year extension?
In a surprising move, the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders took CB Gareon Conley as their first round pick. Some felt he would fall out of the first round, but the Raiders called his name at pick 24. He is a first rounder as a player, but he is also under investigation for a sexual assault that came out a few days before the draft.
The media “experts” at ESPN and NFL Network added to the ridiculousness of the pick by trying to sweep it under the rug saying, “I know the Raiders have done extensive research and homework and I think they trust this kid…”
WTF?
Just because “sources” may think something, sexual assault is NOT a national conversation for a sports analyst. Talk about irresponsible reporting. Can you now say “tainted” opinions?
Let’s hope someone has the back of the potential victim in all of this. The comments were just embarrassing. They should have only, and I mean only, discussed Conley’s football acumen!
(Did I also mention that the Raiders announced their day three picks from the “Welcome to Las Vegas sign”? What a low blow to the fans in Oakland!)
Speaking of more background player craziness… How about those Browns drafting DT Caleb Brantley in the 6th round?! He is also under investigation for assaulting a female.
Now the Browns have said he still may be cut if their investigation proves this was more than they thought, but with the perpetually losing-est team in the last few years, why waste a draft pick on this player if you might cut him? You need your draft picks like no other team! Say it with me people: WTF?!
Sorry to keep with the same WTF topic of assault, but when the Cincinnati Bengals drafted RB Joe Mixon early in the second round, I’m like “WTF is that going to do the existing lack of character in the Bengals locker room?” With Vontaze Burfict and “Pac-Man” Jones as his new buddies, this seems like a match made in heaven. Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis has no control over his players. So to draft a player that was charged and convicted (no possible here), of punching a woman and fracturing four bones in her face, makes absolutely no sense unless you want to continue the culture of players that shouldn’t even be given the privilege to play in the NFL.
Unbelievable.
Now to finish with a BIG WTF… and it happened during the draft week so I am including it here. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that former Chicago QB Jay Cutler has been calling the Houston Texans to discuss his option as their QB.
They aren’t returning his or his agent’s calls.
WTF?
Who is the current quarterback for the Texans? Someone named Tom Savage and first round pick Deshaun Watson.
Clearly, the Texans have been awful at evaluating talent at the position, with Brock Osweiler and Brian Hoyer, et all. Savage might not be the opening game starter, and Watson might not be NFL-ready for awhile.
So why not at least have a conversation with a veteran QB?
Double WTF?
Until next time!
