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TEAMS LEERY OF USC PLAYERS?
Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 10:08 p.m.
There’s a growing sense in some league circles that incoming players from the University of Southern California merit extra scrutiny during the endless buildup to the draft.
The concern is that too many of the players who emerge from the Trojan program love the SoCal lifestyle more than they love football.
Though it’s always dangerous to generalize (but what the hell, we’ll do it anyway), there have been a surprising number of busts to emerge from Pete Carroll’s no-pay (by the school) paradise.
In 2003, the Trojans sent a trio of solid players into the league: Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, and Justin Fargas. Since then, however, the only guy who has proven to be a consistent high-end talent is linebacker Lofa Tatupu. The growing parade of busts includes Keary Colbert, Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, Mike Williams, Darnell Bing, Dominique Byrd, Frostee Rucker, Winston Justice, Reggie Bush (relative to his draft status and hype), and Dwayne Jarrett.
UPDATE: Okay, maybe Patterson isn’t a full-blown bust. We were influenced by his pot charge.
As to Matt Leinart and LenDale White, the jury is still out, but might be coming back soon. There already are signs that football isn’t their top priority. Otherwise, White wouldn’t go blowfish in the offseason and Leinart would be exuding the demeanor of a guy who intends to be a starting NFL quarterback for a long time.
Every player is different, but it could be that the same thing that attracts them to play in L.A. is the same thing that makes them more attracted to the perks of being a pro athlete than to doing whatever is necessary to be the best of the best in their profession.
Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 10:08 p.m.
There’s a growing sense in some league circles that incoming players from the University of Southern California merit extra scrutiny during the endless buildup to the draft.
The concern is that too many of the players who emerge from the Trojan program love the SoCal lifestyle more than they love football.
Though it’s always dangerous to generalize (but what the hell, we’ll do it anyway), there have been a surprising number of busts to emerge from Pete Carroll’s no-pay (by the school) paradise.
In 2003, the Trojans sent a trio of solid players into the league: Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, and Justin Fargas. Since then, however, the only guy who has proven to be a consistent high-end talent is linebacker Lofa Tatupu. The growing parade of busts includes Keary Colbert, Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, Mike Williams, Darnell Bing, Dominique Byrd, Frostee Rucker, Winston Justice, Reggie Bush (relative to his draft status and hype), and Dwayne Jarrett.
UPDATE: Okay, maybe Patterson isn’t a full-blown bust. We were influenced by his pot charge.
As to Matt Leinart and LenDale White, the jury is still out, but might be coming back soon. There already are signs that football isn’t their top priority. Otherwise, White wouldn’t go blowfish in the offseason and Leinart would be exuding the demeanor of a guy who intends to be a starting NFL quarterback for a long time.
Every player is different, but it could be that the same thing that attracts them to play in L.A. is the same thing that makes them more attracted to the perks of being a pro athlete than to doing whatever is necessary to be the best of the best in their profession.
