LB Dawson: Character concerns are 'hurtful'

[RS12]

Paul Dawson | Linebacker
Team: TCU Horned Frogs
Ht / Wt: 6'2' / 230

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TCU LB Paul Dawson wrote in a USA Today diary entry that it's "hurtful" that people say he has "character concerns."
Dawson's entire essay, available at the link below, is pretty fascinating and deserves a read. In it, he tells his story and attempts to take back control of the narrative that he's a problem child. Dawson writes that he failed one drug test for Adderall at TCU, but never failed another after getting a prescription for it a few months later. He also wrote that he "never got in any trouble, never suspended." He does admit to being "tardy a lot," but downplayed the issue. "I guarantee if you call Coach P right now, the only thing he'd say is I'm a knucklehead," Dawson said. "But he would also say that everybody should coach a guy like Paul Dawson — a dude who has a lot of potential, who has the drive, who has the capability to go far and is very eager." Dawson added that he has a chance to go in Round 1, and said he's been running the forty in the 4.6s. Feb 11 - 8:56 PM
Source: USA Today

 

[reddyuta]

interesting,this clears some of things up.Garrett is not the type of Coach who will tolerate tardiness etc,i hope they bring him in for a interview though because i still like him lot.

 

[Idgit]

That's actually kind of a great response.

 

[dwreck27]

Kid being a kid in college

If he shows maturity going forward I want him on this team

 

[KingintheNorth]

Patterson spoke at the AFCA convention last month in Louisville. He mentioned Dawson several times and I talked to him some about Dawson afterwards. I personally think Dawson would be fine under Garrett and with these guys. I'd like him here even more if Rolando McClain re-signs.

 

[Gaede]

Certain qualities are not important to me in a football player. Professionalism can be taught. If that's all the guy lacks, big deal. I had little at that age as well.

 

[The Realist]

Couple guys accused of rape in this draft. DV cases. Multiple weed arrests. Dismissed from team for arguing with coaches and alleged choking of coach. This guy is a choir boy compared to some of the other dudes in this draft.

 

[xwalker]

Paul Dawson | Linebacker
Team: TCU Horned Frogs
Ht / Wt: 6'2' / 230

LATEST NEWS
RECENT NEWS
TCU LB Paul Dawson wrote in a USA Today diary entry that it's "hurtful" that people say he has "character concerns."
Dawson's entire essay, available at the link below, is pretty fascinating and deserves a read. In it, he tells his story and attempts to take back control of the narrative that he's a problem child. Dawson writes that he failed one drug test for Adderall at TCU, but never failed another after getting a prescription for it a few months later. He also wrote that he "never got in any trouble, never suspended." He does admit to being "tardy a lot," but downplayed the issue. "I guarantee if you call Coach P right now, the only thing he'd say is I'm a knucklehead," Dawson said. "But he would also say that everybody should coach a guy like Paul Dawson — a dude who has a lot of potential, who has the drive, who has the capability to go far and is very eager." Dawson added that he has a chance to go in Round 1, and said he's been running the forty in the 4.6s. Feb 11 - 8:56 PM
Source: USA Today

Josh Gordon also wrote an open letter to explain why nothing was his fault. He's still out of the league for a year.

 

[reddyuta]

Josh Gordon also wrote an open letter to explain why nothing was his fault. He's still out of the league for a year.

Totally different cases IMO,Gordon is an addict and just can't help it,adderadal is OK with prescription and Garrett won't allow him to get away with tardiness.

 

[visionary]

Josh Gordon also wrote an open letter to explain why nothing was his fault. He's still out of the league for a year.

Yeah, suddenly "just being a knucklehead and repeatedly tardy " is ok

@Gaede: professionalism is not at all easy to teach. There are plenty of talented NFL players who never achieved anything because of being unprofessional, tardy, knuckleheads, down playing their problems and blaming others

If the team evaluates him and feel it is not a big deal, then fine because I trust Garrett but these are not minor issues and are reflective of his character

 

[Idgit]

Certain qualities are not important to me in a football player. Professionalism can be taught. If that's all the guy lacks, big deal. I had little at that age as well.

There's well-intentioned knuckle headedness and then there's a disrespect for the process. The former is something you can consider trying to address if football is important to the guy, but that's sort of what we're dealing with with Randle right now. Not a picnic.
The latter is what we had with Ahmad Dixon, I think. That you don't touch, period.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, suddenly "just being a knucklehead and repeatedly tardy " is ok

@Gaede: professionalism is not at all easy to teach. There are plenty of talented NFL players who never achieved anything because of being unprofessional, tardy, knuckleheads, down playing their problems and blaming others

If the team evaluates him and feel it is not a big deal, then fine because I trust Garrett but these are not minor issues and are reflective of his character

Exactly. It was a pathetic response, actually.

Hey, so I'm late a lot....and my feelings are hurt by words.

This is the kind of accountable warrior I want leading my defense.

 

[Gaede]

Yeah, suddenly "just being a knucklehead and repeatedly tardy " is ok

@Gaede: professionalism is not at all easy to teach. There are plenty of talented NFL players who never achieved anything because of being unprofessional, tardy, knuckleheads, down playing their problems and blaming others

If the team evaluates him and feel it is not a big deal, then fine because I trust Garrett but these are not minor issues and are reflective of his character

I agree, for the most part.

Dez, however, is a great example of what you can do with a player that doesn't have these professional intangibles, but has the passion and will to learn them. Put guys like that in the right situation and they can be taught many of those qualities.
I think a lot of us mistakenly expect players to have these professional qualities when a) they're still really, really young and b) many were not taught these skills by their families. Sure, it may be tough to teach a guy that being accountable and responsible is important, but as long as the desire and talent is there, that's a risk you should be willing to take.

 

[RS12]

Dawson has become a 'cult figure' to scouts

TCU LB Paul Dawson "has become a bit of a cult figure in scouting circles because of his extraordinary instincts and playmaking ability," wrote NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein.

"In November, when I first started my draft profiles, I had a scout text me to 'go watch the TCU linebacker, No. 47'," Zierlein wrote. "I did and it was memorable. Forced fumbles, interceptions, fumble recoveries, sacks, tackles for losses, passes defensed -- these all come much more easily to linebackers that are moving in the direction of the play before the ball is snapped, which is Dawson in a nutshell. If he runs in the 4.6 range in the 40 at the combine, he could find himself in the first round, despite character red flags I have noted." Dawson said recently that he's been running the forty in the 4.6s, so that shouldn't be a problem. Rotoworld's Josh Norris, for one, believes Dawson is a top 32 talent in this year's class.