The speed part is the only part I might disagree with. I do think that Bama's OL is the best in college football, but I think their speed is what exposed Manti a little. I think he might have some trouble going sideline to sideline in the NFL and covering TEs. The Saints (and a lot of other teams) have had difficulty covering TEs lately, and his speed might make him an easy target in the passing game. Several top-rated LBs have had that problem in recent years, but I guess the scouts will figure that out about Te'o at the combine.Originally Posted by dawg80
Depending on the outcome of this whole thing, his character could be a huge question mark. If he has been living a huge lie, then teams will be leery of him. But, if it turns out that he was a stupid kid who got caught up in something and was too embarrassed to admit it, then maybe he will be okay. Either way, he has told several lies and will have to come clean. The longer he waits, the more credibility he loses. I'm sure his agent (Condon?) is feeding him answers and rehearsing with him prior to the interview.
NFL locker rooms are pretty fragile, and you have to worry about how this will play out if you draft him. Obviously, he is going to deal with some rookie hazing, and he's an easy target. Some have suggested that maybe he is gay and this was a way to cover that up. If he admits that, then he will be the first openly gay NFL athlete, and you have to wonder how his teammates would respond to that.
I don't disagree that he has the size and talent to play in the NFL, and from everything I have heard he also has a good work ethic. Speed is a question, but character is a bigger issue right now. If you draft a guy who has lived a big lie and was so easily able to lie to the cameras, then you don't really know what you are getting.
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