Bucs Ask Rolle Bizarre Question

[peplaw06]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/02/26/bucs-employee-asked-bizarre-question-of-myron-rolle/

Bucs employee asked bizarre question of Myron Rolle

Posted by Mike Florio on February 26, 2010 3:04 PM ET
We've heard stories over the years about efforts by NFL scouts and/or coaches to rile up incoming players, in order to see how they'll react to stressful situations. Last year, linebacker Aaron Curry told us about a Saints assistant who was barking at the players as if they were in boot camp.

Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports (via ***FAKE-NEWS-SOURCE***.com) reports that the Bucs tried to get under the skin of former Florida State safety Myron Rolle at the Senior Bowl by asking him "what it felt like to desert his team this season."

Rolle spent 2009 studying at Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship, in lieu of exhausting his eligibility at Florida State.

"I hadn't heard that one before," Rollle told Cole. "My initial reaction was a bit of confusion. It never was anger, but I was more bothered by the question because if anyone knew my involvement with my teammates, how much they care about me and how much I care about them."

The idiocy of the question comes from the fact that it can be asked of every player who leaves college with any remaining eligibility. Of course, there's a chance that the Bucs really don't believe Rolle "deserted" his teammates, but that they simply wanted to try to throw him off.

The deeper concern is that Rolle's unconventional streak could make it even harder for an NFL coach to properly control a room full of grown men, several of whom make more money than the NFL coach. Then there's the fact that Rolle might be not only smarter than his teammates, but also smarter than his coaches.

It's the kind of thing that makes control-obsessed football coaches very uneasy. If, after all, a player possesses the smarts to out think some or all of his coaches, the player could end up with far more power than any coach ever wants any player to have.

Then there's the possibility that the guy who asked the question is just an *******.

Heard them talk about this on PTI yesterday. Wilbon was heated. I agree that's a ridiculous question.

 

[TheCount]

I think QB's are the only ones that anyone wants to refer to as being not just football smart, but book smart. I really do think Myron's real world intelligence will intimidate some people while it will raise the interest of others.

That being said, I think what they were trying to do is test his passion and get some fire out of him. You want to know that the guy isn't just getting into football for the money to fund like a run for president or something.

 

[casmith07]

If I were Myron Rolle, count on me saying I'm not playing for the Bucs.

Unprofessional question - that's the kind of question you'd expect Mike Florio to ask him.

 

[DFWJC]

They were trying to see his dark side, but failed.

As far as smart players in the NFL, although it's not the norm to have guys with off the charts IQs, there have been many of them in the past that succeeded. Take Merlin Olsen for instance...and there are dozen of other Oxford level guys.

 

[burmafrd]

If I were him I would have gotten up and walked out of the interview- saying I want nothing to do with an unprofessional team.

 

[DFWJC]

If I were him I would have gotten up and walked out of the interview- saying I want nothing to do with an unprofessional team.

No offense, but you would have failed that particular test according to all of the rest of the NFL teams too. The intent is to get under a player's skin, shake him up some, and see how he handles not having his butt kissed. Sure it was a dumb question (sort of) but it's not like they called him a child molester or axe murderer or something.

He handled it well. Like he said said, he did not get mad, it was just a bit confusing (and probably amusing to someone of his intellect).

 

[burmafrd]

Nope. I would have looked them in the eye and said when you act like professionals I will treat you as such.

Remember this is not a kid that has a rep as a troublemaker or having a temper. This is a Rhodes Scholar. I would say I will get respect from you or you will get none from me. Turn the blowtorch around and make THEM uncomfortable. Put them off balance. If you don't want a smart player then you don't want me. I will not waste my time on you.

 

[DFWJC]

Nope. I would have looked them in the eye and said when you act like professionals I will treat you as such.

Remember this is not a kid that has a rep as a troublemaker or having a temper. This is a Rhodes Scholar. I would say I will get respect from you or you will get none from me. Turn the blowtorch around and make THEM uncomfortable. Put them off balance. If you don't want a smart player then you don't want me. I will not waste my time on you.

:laugh2:
That does not come across as very coachable...it comes off as someone who has an issue with self importance. It was simple (albeit dumb) question, but it can be handled with maturity.

I say calmly answer the question and move on--whcih is exactly what Rolle did. I bet they were impressed.
But you say otherwise--to come acroso as if you are offended and above that sort of questioning--and that is 100% your right to do so. I think that you would have fallen for the trap they paid out, but I could be worng.

 

[burmafrd]

I think you need to be honest with them. If this is the way you are, do not try and hide it. If you are a person who will not accept disrespect and being treated like a child, you need to be straight up about it. Frankly if you try and be what you are not you will come off worse.

 

[Hostile]

Bill Parcells asked Marcellus "Dat Dude" Wiley if he was on drugs.

There are times when the question is meant to gauge your reaction, not insult you. If you choose to be insulted, then you wanted to be. He had to know it was going to be asked. Maybe not in exactly that way, but it was going to come up.

 

[DFWJC]

I think you need to be honest with them. If this is the way you are, do not try and hide it. If you are a person who will not accept disrespect and being treated like a child, you need to be straight up about it. Frankly if you try and be what you are not you will come off worse.

I hear you. I just think he was being who he is...a mature young man who can handle a tiny, tiny bit of adversity. it served him well. if he's a made a scene over someting so trivial, then he would have come across as an immature prima donna.....imho.

Coaches (and there are many different types on each team) don't always handle palyers with kid gloves. They challenge them sometimes and are even unfair at times. I guy like Dave Campo probably cusses at every defensive player on the roster at least once a week. If the player can't handle it, then he is not the ideal guy to have around. See TO as an example of someone who overreacted somewtimes to perceived slights.

 

[DFWJC]

Bill Parcells asked Marcellus "Dat Dude" Wiley if he was on drugs.

There are times when the question is meant to gauge your reaction, not insult you. If you choose to be insulted, then you wanted to be. He had to know it was going to be asked. Maybe not in exactly that way, but it was going to come up.

Thank you

 

[burmafrd]

Wrong. An insult is an insult if it was meant that way. Lets be honest here- some of these guys are asking questions that show that they have more problems then the kids they are talking to. Its not as bad as it was 15-20 years ago as just about all teams have gotten a lot more professional about who they hire to do these things, but the day when you can say what you want and not expect to take heat about it are just about gone. Professional interviewers can get the reactions just as well without being crude or stupid.

 

[Hoofbite]

Bill Parcells asked Marcellus "Dat Dude" Wiley if he was on drugs.

There are times when the question is meant to gauge your reaction, not insult you. If you choose to be insulted, then you wanted to be. He had to know it was going to be asked. Maybe not in exactly that way, but it was going to come up.

I agree.

I see nothing wrong the question because that's the name of the game. If the Bucs were the only team out there asking reaction-gauging questions, you might be able to piss and moan about it.

As is, the guy is getting ready to sign a big contract. Whoever pays the money should know what they are getting.

For all anyone knows, he could just call it a career at the first sign of trouble and make a ton of money doing whatever else he wants after medical school.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Rolle is going to receive alot of flak from coaches and veterans about how smart he is. I hope he's going to be prepared for the onslaught.

 

[Hoofbite]

Rolle is going to receive alot of flak from coaches and veterans about how smart he is. I hope he's going to be prepared for the onslaught.

Luckily for you, that's never been your problem.

 

[DFWJC]

I agree.

I see nothing wrong the question because that's the name of the game. If the Bucs were the only team out there asking reaction-gauging questions, you might be able to piss and moan about it.

As is, the guy is getting ready to sign a big contract. Whoever pays the money should know what they are getting.

For all anyone knows, he could just call it a career at the first sign of trouble and make a ton of money doing whatever else he wants after medical school.

Exactly. And getting all bent out of shape over a silly question or even going so far as walking out of a meeting would be saying that he is very capable of doing just that when things aren't going just as planned.

Luckily for him, he handled it like a champ.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Luckily for you, that's never been your problem.

The downside of being an underachiever I guess.

 

[Hostile]

Exactly. And getting all bent out of shape over a silly question or even going so far as walking out of a meeting would be say that he is very capable of doing just that when things aren't going just as planned.

Luckily for him, he handled it like a champ.

I agree with you and the Hoofer. It was a question to see how he handled himself. Throwing a fit would have sent a bad vibe not just to the Bucs, but to every team.

 

[dogberry]

What did he get on his MCAT?