In an instant, the storyline changed from “How are these guys still here?” to “How will they perform in their new surroundings?” The NFL Draft’s two highest-profile players had the unfortunate experience of waiting through Thursday night’s first round without
In an instant, the storyline changed from “How are these guys still here?” to “How will they perform in their new surroundings?” The NFL Draft’s two highest-profile players had the unfortunate experience of waiting through Thursday night’s first round without hearing their names called, before being quickly plucked with a pair of back-to-back picks. Though they went in rapid succession, their circumstances could not be more different.
First, it was Manti Te‘o, who was finally taken 38th overall by the San Diego Chargers. Te‘o heads to a team trying to regain the success it had consistently enjoyed for much of the last decade. San Diego won five of six AFC West championships from 2004 to 2009, but has gone just 24-24 in the past three seasons. With a new head coach in place, Te‘o can step in and immediately be a defensive leader relied upon to change the team culture — one that has lacked a defensive identity since Shawne Merriman suffered a career-altering knee injury in 2008.
With the very next selection, the New York Jets traded up to take West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith. Smith was rated by many as the top quarterback in the draft, possibly going as early as No. 4 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yet here he was at No. 39, having already seen Florida State QB EJ Manuel go the Buffalo Bills at No. 16. The relief he felt at hearing his name called will likely be short lived, with Smith heading into the circus that has become the New York Jets and their malfunctioning quarterback carousel.
He joins a roster that still includes Mark Sanchez, Tim Tebow, Greg McElroy and newly acquired David Garrard. Smith has potential to be a difference maker, but Jets quarterbacks have shown diminishing returns and fans are growing impatient. If he’s thrown into the fire earlier than necessary, it could stunt his development and derail a promising prospect.
In contrast, Te‘o slides perfectly into a good situation. The immediate response has been to compare him to Junior Seau, one of the great middle linebackers of his era and still the most identifiable San Diego Charger in recent memory. Seau and Te‘o share a number of similarities, which is understandable since the Notre Dame rookie admired the 12-time Pro Bowler as a young fan. What he may have lacked in pure speed, Seau made up for with smarts and football instincts, which everyone agrees are Te‘o’s strongest assets on the field.
When Seau passed away last May, Te‘o tweeted “RIP junior seau! One of the greatest Polynesia players of all time!”
It may seem unfair to Te‘o to have such a lofty comparison, but this could be a great situation for him in the long run. Already lauded as a hard worker, Te‘o will have an extra chip on his shoulder knowing that every team he lines up against passed on him this weekend. With the scandal in his rearview mirror, Te‘o can go back to what he does best: play football.
• ‘My Thoughts Exactly’ appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays in The Garden Island. Email David Simon your comments or questions to dsimon@thegardenisland.com. Follow David on Twitter @SimonTGI
