New Dolphins boss Bill Parcells made clear when he took over the team that he would not be using the No. 1 overall draft pick on a troublemaker."I don't want thugs and hoodlums on the team," Parcells said of the types of players he'll try to acquire. "I really don't. I don't want bad-character guys. I don't want problem children."
As The Big Lead notes, that's a pretty good sign that the Dolphins will not be using the first pick in the 2008 NFL draft on the guy most people consider the top prospect, Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. Although he was not arrested, police handcuffed McFadden early this morning after a fight in an Arkansas bar. McFadden explains his side of it:
"They're talking about I struck a bouncer. I know that's wrong because I didn't strike anyone. I was trying to get out of the place when I saw everyone tussling and things," McFadden says.Even if McFadden did nothing wrong, Parcells is one of an increasing number of NFL executives who not only won't tolerate players who get in bar fights, they don't even want players near bar fights. And McFadden's history -- in the summer of 2006 in a fight outside a Little Rock club, McFadden severely injured his toe -- means he's probably not a good fit for Parcells.
None of this makes McFadden a "thug" or a "hoodlum" -- he may be a fine young man who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time on a couple of occasions. But increasingly, NFL teams aren't willing to give players the benefit of the doubt.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-10-2008 @ 1:11PM
Phil said...
I think NFL executives are finally waking up the fact that being a good athelete is not enough. Building a good team is tough enough without dealing with childish and thugish behaviour. Let's hear it for the dawn finally breaking.
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1-10-2008 @ 2:02PM
Desides said...
MDS, it doesn't matter what McFadden's character is. He won't be a Miami Dolphin. Heck, he's not even the best running back in the draft.
Phil, that or Roger Goodell's crackdown forced executives and GMs to start evaluating character.
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1-10-2008 @ 3:09PM
Roland said...
Bring McFadden to the RAIDERS....He would be an awesome addition to Jemarcus Russell's arsenal, and would be a great everydown back... Justin Fargas cannot physically carry the load full time, but McFadden is a running back who can!!!!
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1-10-2008 @ 3:32PM
Kustie the Klown said...
Duh, obviously Parcells is going to trade the #1 pick in the draft to the Cowboys for the Boys' #1 from Cleveland and a couple of "Parcells" players who just haven't been able to find a fit with the Cowboys (Bobby Carpenter immediately comes to mind).
Parcells needs PLAYERS, and he's going to deal with people he has past relationships with (such as Jerry Jones) and also as a goodwill gesture of thanks for how hospitable Jones has been in allowing Parcells to interview members of the Cowboys coaching staff.
The Cowboys need a player or two. They already have their own first round pick to play with, so it's not like they will be losing much by doing the deal. Plus Jerry likes his trophies--that #1 draft pick could bring the Cowboys a prime time gamer like McFadden.
And it just so happens the Boys will have an opening in their starting backfield next season for just such a player. . . .
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1-10-2008 @ 4:23PM
joe wallace said...
if he's serious about that, and not a blowhard, then he will cut half that team, then, especially coach killer Joey Porter, who has been a loud-mouthed cancer everywhere he has been. If Parcells keeps Porter, who publicly humiliated his coach, then Parcells is a hypocrite. What's it gonna be Tuna?
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1-10-2008 @ 4:54PM
winterrules said...
as much as we dislike the pat's and spygate, you never hear of any patriot getting in trouble. we are always quick to blame the people at the top so i guess it's a reflection of kraft and belecheat as much as it kills me to say it
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1-10-2008 @ 4:57PM
tobrien28 said...
Why get McFadden when you have Ronnie Brown? There are free agent running backs out there. Miami needs an offensive line and a quarterback. Actually they need a team.
P.S. If you think the Dolphins will trade their pick to the Cowboys you must be on crack.
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1-10-2008 @ 5:01PM
buccs19 said...
That would be a wasted pick anyways. The Dolphins obviously have numerous holes to fill. Why draft a RB with the top pick when that's your strongest position assuming Ronnie Brown bounces back from his injury. Plus Chatman did a pretty good job in relief until he went down.
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1-10-2008 @ 5:08PM
B said...
Why would the Dolphins draft a running back? They desperately need a real QB, and they already have Ronnie Brown.
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1-10-2008 @ 6:26PM
PantsB said...
Of course he won't be. No one who knows anything about football thought the Dolphins would take him. And most people don't consider him the top prospect. Top 5 yes, but not the top prospect. That would be Glenn Dorsey, or one of the two unrelated Longs or Matt Ryan if you need a QB like the Dolphins do. Plus, the Dolphins already have Ronnie Brown.
What a pointless post.
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1-10-2008 @ 7:27PM
scottyboy25 said...
Why would we draft McFadden anyways? We already have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
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