Is the NFL setting players up for green room embarassment?

by Mocking Dan on Apr 19, 2009 5:00 PM EDT in 2009 NFL Draft Comment 11 comments

It was recently announced that 10 players have been invited to New York City to attend the NFL Draft.

Those asked to be in the green room were Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe, Mississippi tackle Michael Oher, Baylor tackle Jason Smith, Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree, Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, Southern California linebacker Brian Cushing and Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo.

Southern California quarterback Mark Sanchez declined the invitation citing time issues.

So that leaves one player: Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman.

The first nine are understandable. All are almost locks as first-round picks. But Freeman? I know that, unlike in the SB Nation writers mock, Freeman should go on the first day of the draft. I'm not, however, sure he's a first-round pick.

That could mean there will be plenty of shots of Freeman sitting with his family and agent in the green room just waiting to be selected. Remember how excruciating it was seeing Aaron Rodgers or Brady Quinn moping in the green room?

It makes you wonder why the NFL would invite the most players it has since the 1996 draft. Or why Freeman, or even Oher and Cushing, would accept the invitation. There's not much a player can get out of actually being in the draft room, other than some exposure on television.

On the plus side, being the last person in the green room means plenty of consolling from Suzie Kolber!

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This year it’s Erin Andrews as the green room reporter.

Now maybe we see why Freeman accepted!

Plus, I think there was some good-will built up towards Brady Quinn, he became a fan favorite (if only for the day) as everyone watched him sit and sit and slip and slip while keeping on a brave face.

Maybe Freeman and his people want to build his image like that? It’s a little different situation, since Quinn was regarded pre-draft as a potential elite pick, while most see Freeman (at best) in the mid-first round.

by Hooks Orpik on Apr 19, 2009 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Awesome. I full support anything where Erin Andrews is in the house.

by Mocking Dan on Apr 20, 2009 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good Point

I wondered about Cushing as well. He may or may not go before 15, and could fall into the latter half of the first round. Freeman may not even go in the first round, like you said. Besides Tampa and New York(jets), no body in the second half of the first is really interested in taking a quarterback that early.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Apr 19, 2009 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It all should lead to some high drama for ESPN. Or whatever.

by Mocking Dan on Apr 20, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did anyone else know this website is made of glass??

how is the drama espn manufactures any different than this post??

by dt3 on Apr 20, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It actually leaves (at least) 7... but who is counting

i love jumping to conclusions as much as the next guy but to just randomly throw out Josh Freeman’s name there really makes no sense and to say “that leaves one player: Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman” is downright ridiculous (and borderline irresponsible). A few days before the draft and the site is so desperate for stories they are resorting to manufacturing them??

Wouldnt it make a lot more sense for that mystery player to be BJ Raji (drug test or not a top 10 pick in 99% of mocks), Jeremy Maclin (a top 17 pick in 99% of mocks, most view freeman’s window opening @ 17), or even Rey Maualuga (worst case scenario 23).

(cases also could be made for some players i am not that high on but make 1000% more sense than freeman: everette brown, malcolm jenkins, andre smith)

by dt3 on Apr 20, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think throwing Freeman’s name out there makes more sense than throwing out names of guys who aren’t invited to the draft. Among those there, I think Freeman will be the last guy left in the green room.

By saying I’m “manufacturing” a story, you make me feel like I’m doing something like falsely accusing someone of testing positive for roids. I’m merely making a guess whoever is the last person left in the NFL Draft green room is going to be subjected to a good bit of embarrassment. Apologies if offended your sensibilities.

by Mocking Dan on Apr 20, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no i think I am the one who owes you an apology. When I read…

So that leaves one player: Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman.

I thought you were trying to predict who the 10th player invited would be. That the NFL had announced 9 of the players but the 10th player invited is still up in the air (where did I get that idea?? who knows).

========

Now that I have pulled my head out of tuckus I agree with you 100%. Either the NFL got inside word that something is happening at 12 or they are setting this kid up for disaster. Again my apologies, this really is a great site you have going.

by dt3 on Apr 21, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I believe the decision to invite Freeman

was made before the Cutler trade. My guess is that there must be some insider information going on. Somebody has to know something…

That being said, I am a K-State alum and think rather highly of Josh. But I have absolutely no idea why he was one of the few selected to go in the draft. He is the 3rd best quarterback in the draft, but I don’t think he’s 1st round caliber. Ex-coach Ron Prince always said he spoke with “people in the know” about Freeman going real hgh in the draft. We all thought he was just blowing smoke up everyone’s ass and doing a little self promoting.

I guess we’ll know by Saturday…..

Introducing the new 2008 Big 12 Football Champions: OU, UT*, TT*, and MU*!

by mystman995 on Apr 21, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you, Freeman definately should not be a 1st round pick

And I would love to see him suffer in the green room, the only thing that would make it better is if he was a cornsucker. I hope he doesn’t even get drafted the first day, that would be classic.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
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by Broncoman on Apr 21, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs