Who is advising Andre Smith?

[Goldenrichards83]

Who is advising Andre Smith?

Alabama OT Smith skips combine workout (http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/21/alabama-ot-smith-skips-combine-workout/) Posted: Combine (http://blogs.nfl.com/category/combine/) | NFL.com Staff | Tags: Andre Smith (http://blogs.nfl.com/tag/andre-smith/)
Offensive tackle prospect Andre Smith said earlier this week he wasn’t sure whether he would work out for scouts at this week’s combine. Saturday, his decision became obvious, but in confusing fashion.
Not only did Smith skip Saturday’s workouts for offensive linemen, according to an announcement inside Lucas Oil Stadium for the benefit of scouts in attendance, there even was some question as to his actual whereabouts and conflicting stories about why he was missing on Saturday morning.
NFL.com and NFL Network are covering the workouts live from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday through Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates.


At the weightlifting portion of the combine if you decide not to do it you have to get up and say why in front of everyone and Andre Smith got up and said "I haven't been working out so I don't think I am ready". Then he no shows at the combine today. ***? This kid needs an agent.

[Hostile]

I was just about to post this.

Moron is going to blow it.

[LeonDixson]

He also needs a little self-motivation. If you don't prepare yourself for the best opportunity you have in life to audition for the NFL, you have to be pretty lazy as well as stupid.

[Randy White]

who, but you know what ? He better be in the best shape ever during his pro day or else he might just slip out of the first round altogether.

Right now, he's not a top 20 pick, just based on his attitude.

[Skinsmaniac]

If I were a GM, this wouldn't worry me nearly as much as his stubby arms.

[WoodysGirl]

Alabama's Andre Smith plummeting
By Jason Cole

INDIANAPOLIS - Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith continued to tumble in the eyes of NFL coaches and executives when he couldn't be located Saturday morning to participate in the workouts for linemen.

That follows the bad reviews Smith got from coaches from Alabama and the perception that he did a poor job of interviewing with the media and teams. Smith turned off several coaches when he told them he wasn't participating in the workout because he started training late.

"The kid is killing himself," a source close to Smith said. "He basically told the NFL people he's lazy. This is incredible. ... It doesn't matter if you're ready or not. You at least show up at the workouts and watch."

Some draft analysts had projected Smith, a junior, as a possible No. 1 overall pick in April. Concerns about his character started to surface in a serious way when Alabama head coach Nick Saban kicked him off the team before the Sugar Bowl.

Smith was rumored to be involved with the representative of an agent before the game, a violation of NCAA and NFL Players Association rules. When Alabama turned the issue over to a lawyer who is on retainer with the school to investigate possible violations, Smith initially turned over his bank records but then refused to turn over his phone records, according to two sources.

Saban deemed that a violation of team rules and dismissed Smith, who then turned pro after the bowl game. NFL coaches have been in contact with Alabama officials since then and have not heard good reports on Smith's character, a source said.

Despite so much time off, Smith has gotten out of shape in the view of NFL types.

As one scout put it Friday: "Just another guy who doesn't get it."

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/around_the_nfl/post/Alabama-s-Andre-Smith-plummeting?urn=nfl,143110

[Thick 'N Hearty]

knucklehead

[Hostile]

At one time, this kid was projected to be the #1 overall pick by several draft services.

Andre Smith >>> :shoot5:

[28 Joker]

Wow. I don't get it at all. He's losing money.

When you combine this with the fact that he couldn't until after the Sugar Bowl to get an agent. He let his team down. His QB was destroyed.

[miamicowboy21]

Please, another overreaction to a kid who knows going to the combine won't help his overall stock. Everyone knows what the guy can do. When it comes down to it performance will outweight him not working out at the combine. Vince Young didn't work out and he really lost millions, right.

[LeonDixson]

Please, another overreaction to a kid who knows going to the combine won't help his overall stock. Everyone knows what the guy can do. When it comes down to it performance will outweight him not working out at the combine. Vince Young didn't work out and he really lost millions, right.

Vince Young didn't have his college coaches questioning his character either, did he? Just slipping from #1, 2, or 3 pick to out of the top 5 will cost him millions. Nobody is saying he won't get drafted or that he will not still make a lot of money. But he will definitely lose millions if he slides even a few draft spots.

[Avery]

He can kiss going #2 overall goodbye. Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe are loving it as he's making them millions more.

Don't be surprised if he slips out of the top ten. No GM wants to be the one who drafts a guy, pays him millions of dollars when he can't even show common sense over the course of a few days. The guy hasn't even been working out - what's that all about?

[miamicowboy21]

Vince Young didn't have his college coaches questioning his character either, did he? Just slipping from #1, 2, or 3 pick to out of the top 5 will cost him millions. Nobody is saying he won't get drafted or that he will not still make a lot of money. But he will definitely lose millions if he slides even a few draft spots.

What college coaches are questioning smith's character? If it's saban i'll fall out laughing. This from the same guy who said he wouldn't coach alabama while he was coaching the dolphins. I sure didn't hear anything about smith's character when the team was 11-0. It's early in the draft process and GM's get frustrated when the top guys don't perform. I'll believe it when i see it if he drops. LT is a premium position and short of killing someone he'll be taken in the top #5.

[tyke1doe]

Wow. I don't get it at all. He's losing money.

When you combine this with the fact that he couldn't until after the Sugar Bowl to get an agent. He let his team down. His QB was destroyed.

From what I hear, he doesn't have an agent. Also, I think a member of his family had contact with an agent, which resulted in his suspension from Alabama prior to the Sugar Bowl.

[tyke1doe]

If I were a GM, this wouldn't worry me nearly as much as his stubby arms.

I hear he has incredibly long arms for a 6'4 332 lb right tackle. I think he has a 38 inch wing span.

[Double Trouble]

If I were a GM, this wouldn't worry me nearly as much as his stubby arms.Mel Kiper said his arms were among the longest of any OL in the draft.

[BraveHeartFan]

The kid isn't real bright with this decision making. I saw someone said he needed an agent and that's one of the saddest parts is that he actually has an agent and apparently his agent sucks.

[WoodysGirl]

ANDRE SMITH: “I DIDN’T MEAN TO RUFFLE ANY FEATHERS”
Posted by Aaron Wilson on February 21, 2009, 7:51 p.m.

Hours after Andre Smith skipped out on the NFL scouting combine without informing officials of his plans Saturday morning, the Alabama offensive tackle has apologized and offered an explanation of his actions in what amounts to an obvious attempt at damage control.

Smith, who acknowledged that he didn’t work out for NFL teams because he wasn’t in optimum condition, told Adam Schefter of NFL Network that he was wrong not to inform combine organizers that he had flown back to Atlanta earlier than previously scheduled. Smith has drawn criticism for how he handled the situation.

Per Smith, he changed his original 4 p.m. flight to 6 a.m. to work out with his personal trainer in advance of a March 11 Pro Day on the Alabama campus.

“If I had the chance to do it all over, I wouldn’t have handled it the way I did,” said Smith, who was suspended for Alabama’s bowl game for violating team rules. “I should have told my group leader that I was leaving, and I didn’t. I didn’t mean to ruffle any feathers or step on any toes. I didn’t mean to grandstand anyone at the combine.

“That was not my intention at all, and I apologize for my mistake. I got done in Indianapolis what I thought I should have, but I realize there was more to it now. It was important for me to get back to my trainer and that’s what I did. All I was thinking about was what it would take to get to the next level.”

Added Alvin Keels, Smith’s agent: “It was an obvious miscommunication. Even I can shoulder some of the blame for the mishap. But Andre is focused on getting ready for his Pro Day and showing teams what a good pro he will be.”

Two points come to mind here:

1. No matter how many excuses Smith offers, the scouting combine was officially a disaster for him and he needs to turn in a great workout next month to bolster his draft stock.

2. With as much ability as he displayed for the Crimson Tide, Smith will still probably be picked very high in the first round. Even if the combine and bowl game episodes raise scrutiny, he still has the potential to become a cornerstone tackle in the NFL.

[Skinsmaniac]

Mel Kiper said his arms were among the longest of any OL in the draft.
I hear he has incredibly long arms for a 6'4 332 lb right tackle. I think he has a 38 inch wing span.
I must be getting my tackles confused then. Anyone know if any of the top 4 lineman have little arms? If he doesn't have that problem, I wouldn't mind seeing the Redskins get him.

Edit: nevermind. It was Andre Smith I was thinking of, but apparently this site isn't very accurate.
http://draftguys.com/index.php/articles/1/separating_the_elite_ot_prospects_of_the_2009_nfl_ draft/

[burmafrd]

Charactor in today's NFL counts a lot. Even more is your work ethic and being self motivated. That is what is looked for in a first rd pick. Smith is failing in all areas and looks stupid too.

[Rack Bauer]

I was just about to post this.

Moron is going to blow it.

You know that sound it makes in a cartoon when a bomb is dropping?


I can hear it now. Only it's this guy's draft status, not a bomb.

[WoodysGirl]

SMITH’S STOCK TAKING A HIT FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO WORKOUT

Posted by Mike Florio on February 21, 2009, 9:25 p.m.

As if the bizarre departure of Alabama tackle Andre Smith from Indianapolis didn’t raise enough questions about his pro prospects, some of the things Smith did and said in Indy might have done even more damage.

According to Tony Pauline of SI.com, Smith had a bad round of interviews on Friday.

“Smith’s interviews with teams have been going horribly,” Pauline reports. “He’s been inappropriately dressed and has been giving a number of conflicting statements as to why he was choosing not to workout at the combine. Several offensive line coaches have already suggested Smith be removed from their team’s draft board and there’s no doubt his draft stock is falling.”

Though high-end tackles create a lower percentage of busts than positions like quarterback and receiver, few tackles have had such a bad experience at the Scouting Combine. As a result, anyone who recommends that the team use a high first-round pick on Smith need to have a high degree of job security — or needs to be right.

[Rudy]

Looks like he could be available late in the 2nd round!

[DaBoys4Life]

Looks like he could be available late in the 2nd round!

that's a stretch don't you think ?

[burmafrd]

Don't we have enough Boneheads on the team now? Enough types that require motivation?

[dmoore]

No matter how bad his combine was, I imagine scouts will love what they see on film. He might not be the first tackle taken, but there was a good chance he wouldn't be before. Monroe and Jason Smith are both equally excellent prospects. Andre should still go very high, and I think he'll be a very solid LT. If you skip filling a hole at LT because you didn't like the way a player came off in an interview, you're probably going to be looking for a new job in a couple years.

[Big Dakota]

The guy bailed on his team before the 2008 Sugar Bowl by violating team rules and getting himself suspended. Now he bails on himself by being too lazy to get in shape for the biggest job interview of his life, so he just walks without telling anyone? Dude is 22 years old and he can't drag his sorry butt to the gym and get in shape? NO THANKS!

[dmoore]

Last I heard, training camp isn't next week. He still has time to get in shape by his pro day. I got the impression that he didn't want to workout because he wasn't in his best shape, not because he was out of shape. If he feels like he can put on a better show at his pro day, why bother working out at the combine? I'm sure if he would've worked out, he probably would've been better than most of the lineman who did workout. He's got talent, and that's not something everyone is born with.

[Rack Bauer]

Last I heard, training camp isn't next week. He still has time to get in shape by his pro day.

That's irrelevant. The point is this guy wasn't prepared for what amounts to the most important job interview of his life. Not only that, but he left the interview before it was officially over.

His physical condition at this time isn't the point. His attitude is what the problem is.

And if he's not in shape now (for the biggest job interview of his life. An interview that is literally worth MILLIONS of dollars) what makes you think he'll be in shape AFTER he gets his money?

[CowboyFan74]

5th round gem???:D

[dmoore]

That's irrelevant. The point is this guy wasn't prepared for what amounts to the most important job interview of his life. Not only that, but he left the interview before it was officially over.

His physical condition at this time isn't the point. His attitude is what the problem is.

And if he's not in shape now (for the biggest job interview of his life. An interview that is literally worth MILLIONS of dollars) what makes you think he'll be in shape AFTER he gets his money?

The whole process is the job interview. Top prospects often wait until their pro day. When you have a highlight reel that compares with Andre's, I'm sure it will weigh more on scouts opinion of him than how he looks in shorts and a t-shirt. The only mistake I can see that he made was by not knowing the proper way to make it known he wasn't participating. The process has shown some maturity issues, but I think that was expected. I'd still take him on my team in a heartbeat, though I'd rather have Jason Smith.