You just never know (Vontaze Burfict)

[egn22]

I remember last year around draft time there were a handful of us with interest in Vontaze Burfict. His draft stock plummeted because of off the field issues and a poor combine. He eventually went undrafted and was signed by the Bengals where he had a fantastic rookie season, led his team in tackles and clearly outperformed his contract. (that could've been our strongside linebacker)

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ops-all-nfl-players-in-performance-based-pay/

I wonder who some of the hidden gems are this season.

 

[TheRomoSexual]

I'm not sure I would call Burfict a "hidden gem." He was the consensus top high school player in 2009. He is also far from the "RKG," so I'm not sure I would want him even considering his performance last season.

 

[CashMan]

Hmmm....I just looked at his 40 times, and he is an ILB coming out of college...What other ILB had a bad 40 time at the combine.....

 

[egn22]

I'm not sure I would call Burfict a "hidden gem." He was the consensus top high school player in 2009. He is also far from the "RKG," so I'm not sure I would want him even considering his performance last season.

jeez how much do you value the RKG requirement? if you had a shot at Cincy's leading tackler for league minimum you wouldn't take it?

 

[Nation]

jeez how much do you value the RKG requirement? if you had a shot at Cincy's leading tackler for league minimum you wouldn't take it?

If you are fail the planned NFL combine drug test you either have a problem with drugs, or you are just a moron. I don't want either of those things on this football team. Plus he is a natural WLB and we already have that in Carter.

 

[egn22]

How many games did Bruce Carter miss?

 

[TheRomoSexual]

jeez how much do you value the RKG requirement? if you had a shot at Cincy's leading tackler for league minimum you wouldn't take it?

When it comes to Burfict, I wouldn't taken him for free. He got benched at ASU for too many 15 yard penalties. He failed a drug test during the combine. He's the type of person who can single-handily undermine JG's efforts. Not worth the risk for a few extra tackles.

 

[egn22]

look, i'm not saying we made a mistake in not selecting Burfict. His behavior made it extremely difficult to use a draft pick on him (which is why i referred to him as a hidden gem). But after seeing him actually produce, to turn around and claim he's not worthy of a roster spot because he's not a RKG, seems absurd to me.
of course this is all hypothetical so it doesn't matter and it would never happen, but that RKG stuff seems to have clouded the judgement of some here.

so back to guys with red flags who might turn a corner and actually produce... Rambo? Honey Badger? anyone else?

I'd be willing to take a flyer on one of these guys.

 

[JonJon]

Every situation is different, but for the most part, I'd rather take my chances on a guy that has loads of talent with a blemished record than a guy with minimal talent and a squeaky clean record. One has a chance to be one of the best players in the league at his position, but may miss games for off the field issues. The other has a chance at being one of the worst players in the league at his position and may be out of the league in one or two years because he isn't any good.

Knowing what we all know now, which would you rather have in round 7: Vontaze Burfict or Caleb McSurdy?

 

[TheRomoSexual]

Every situation is different, but for the most part, I'd rather take my chances on a guy that has loads of talent with a blemished record than a guy with minimal talent and a squeaky clean record. One has a chance to be one of the best players in the league at his position, but may miss games for off the field issues. The other has a chance at being one of the worst players in the league at his position and may be out of the league in one or two years because he isn't any good.

Knowing what we all know now, which would you rather have in round 7: Vontaze Burfict or Caleb McSurdy?

McSurdy. I'd rather forfeit my pick than select Burfict.

 

[conner01]

before we sing the praises of this guy, lets see how his entire career turns out. lots of guys put there past behind them for awhile and then it returns. time will tell if he really turned it around but one season is not enough to judge a guy with his history by

 

[Picksix]

before we sing the praises of this guy, lets see how his entire career turns out. lots of guys put there past behind them for awhile and then it returns. time will tell if he really turned it around but one season is not enough to judge a guy with his history by

Agreed. Many players with past issues tend to be on their best behavior during the first year, then regress and have similar issues in subsequent years.

 

[JonJon]

McSurdy. I'd rather forfeit my pick than select Burfict.

I respect your opinion, but I'll agree to disagree there. The draft is about finding players that can play the game and improve your team. If it were a congressional election, then a guy like Burfict would have no value. I vision drafting a guy that can't play to be worse because he will soon be out of the league and the team that drafted said player will have lost value. It is way to early to tell the complete story, but so far, the gamble that Cincinnati made for Burfict and the gamble that the Rams made for Janoris Jenkins is paying off. They both helped improve their respective teams by being among the league's best at their positions as rookies. On the other hand, McSurdy has contributed zero to the Cowboys as he was only able to play in one preseason game.

 

[DFWJC]

Vontaze Burfict was passed over 254 straight times on draft day.
254 to 0.
Not a single team out of 32 picked him.
The Cowboys were not alone and in fact did what 100% of all the other teams in the league did.

Good for him that he caught on and did well for Cincy as an UDFA. Occassionally you hear stories like this, and maybe it'll even turn out well long term.

But not a single team drafted him--not even Cincy.

Just saying..

 

[JonJon]

Vontaze Burfict was passed over 254 straight times on draft day.
254 to 0.
Not a single team out of 32 picked him.
The Cowboys were not alone and in fact did what 100% of all the other teams in the league did.

Good for him that he caught on and did well for Cincy as an UDFA. Occassionally you hear stories like this, and maybe it'll even turn out well long term.

But not a single team drafted him--not even Cincy.

Just saying..

Yeah, that's kind of the point of this thread. Nobody drafted him due to character concerns, yet he turned in one of the best seasons for a rookie, starting in 14 of 16 games and finishing 15th in the league in total tackles.

Now with that said, I still would not have drafted him in high in the draft. The kid was in very bad shape going into the draft last year. But when his name is still out there as you begin to approach the end of the draft, I think it starts to become a consideration. Knowing what they do now, I am sure at least half of the teams would have turned in their 7th round cards with his name on it.

 

[Nation]

It was always known that he had talent, he was once thought to be a first round pick. I don't think anyone would have any real regret in not drafting him. More a matter of when things will go wrong than if.

 

[egn22]

Yeah, that's kind of the point of this thread. Nobody drafted him due to character concerns, yet he turned in one of the best seasons for a rookie, starting in 14 of 16 games and finishing 15th in the league in total tackles.

Now with that said, I still would not have drafted him in high in the draft. The kid was in very bad shape going into the draft last year. But when his name is still out there as you begin to approach the end of the draft, I think it starts to become a consideration. Knowing what they do now, I am sure at least half of the teams would have turned in their 7th round cards with his name on it.

 

[egn22]

its funny how in one thread (the golden tate hit) Cowboys fans seem to want someone with some attitude to thug it up a bit, and when you speak of bringing in some guys with checkered pasts that have proven they can get the job done, everyone wants choirboys. to the point that some would forfeit a draft pick!!!! LOL.
can't please everyone.

 

[speedkilz88]

He was also out of shape before the draft. The guy gave all appearances that he didn't want it. It was his fault he went so late but I also give him credit for getting with the program (for at least one year). The guy still has a lot to prove and who knows how he will do for a career. I'm not against taking guys like that late but the Cowboys obviously have decided after getting burned so many times that they no longer want to take that chance.

 

[btcutter]

Agreed. Many players with past issues tend to be on their best behavior during the first year, then regress and have similar issues in subsequent years.

Completely agree. Especially when they get taste of money. In addition, Dallas is a different football town. To survive in Dallas is much harder than other cities. Just ask T New.