Spies on the Sidelines by Kevin Bryant

Author:Kevin Bryant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2022-05-18T00:00:00+00:00

Part Three

THE DRAFT AND FREE AGENCY

11

DRAFT PROSPECTS

It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.1—Archie Griffin

SCOUTING BIG GAME AT THE WATERING HOLE

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were on the clock in the 2012 NFL draft with the fifth overall pick. Although some of the top collegiate players had already been snatched off the board—such as quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III—there were still plenty of jewels for the taking. Wide receiver Justin Blackmon, cornerback Morris Claiborne, safety Mark Barron, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and linebacker Luke Kuechly were just some of the elite prospects who were still within reach of Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik.

Tampa Bay had already spent endless hours scouting these prospects and countless numbers of their peers. Scouts and other members of the staff had visited their campuses, practices, and games; spoken with their friends, professors, and coaches; evaluated them; ranked them; and even compared them to players on the Buccaneers’ roster. The question now was, Who was a good fit for Tampa Bay and ideally a value pick at No. 5?

As the Buccaneers prepared to select their newest team member, the Jacksonville Jaguars called and offered to trade the seventh overall pick and a fourth-rounder for Tampa Bay’s fifth overall selection. Dominik quickly accepted the offer. There was a strong chance Tampa Bay would still be able to draft the prospect it wanted two picks later, and extra draft day capital is always helpful.

Several minutes later, league commissioner Roger Goodell announced the Jaguars had selected wide receiver Justin Blackmon out of Oklahoma State, a standout in college with dazzling potential. Blackmon had racked up an incredible 1,529 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011 and could run a 40-yard dash like he was shot out of a cannon. Additionally, he had the prototypical size and strength of an elite NFL receiver. He was the complete package, at least on the field; off the field, though, was another story.

Wary of investing a high first-round draft pick on Blackmon, Dominik had sent a Buccaneers scout up to Stillwater, Oklahoma, to snoop around. The scout had camped out at Blackmon’s favorite watering hole, sitting there from 3 to 11 p.m. for days on end, noting how many times the young wide receiver went in and out and monitoring how much he had to drink. The reports from the scout had not been favorable for Blackmon, and the Buccaneers had removed Blackmon from their draft board because of the receiver’s propensity to imbibe.

Coming off a 4–12 season in 2011 with 10 straight losses, the Buccaneers needed to restock their roster with players that would be around for the long haul. From what he had learned about Blackmon, Dominik was not so sure the young wide receiver would last long in the league. NFL players work long hours, have stressful jobs, and spend lots of time far from home. For all of these reasons, NFL players and coaches alike frequently turn to the bottle for solace.

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