Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career

SmashMouth · 04-10-2013, 09:00 AM

Putting the fake dead girlfriend aside, the biggest question NFL teams have about former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is whether his bad performance against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game indicates that he folds against NFL-quality competition. Unsurprisingly, Te’o doesn’t see it that way.

Te’o knows people say that because Alabama was the best team he played, and because Alabama was the worst game of his senior year, that must mean that when he plays against the kind of NFL talent that Alabama has, he can’t compete. But while visiting the Lions on Tuesday, he told the team’s website that that perception is inaccurate.

“It’s a little frustrating that people look at one game and say that was the closest thing to an NFL team that I had faced, not giving credit to all the other teams that I played,” Te’o told detroitlions.com. “So you’re saying Stanford isn’t an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC. [Alabama] is definitely a game I didn’t do as well as I could have, but it’s not something I felt could define my career at Notre Dame.”

It’s true that Alabama wasn’t the only good team on Notre Dame’s schedule during Te’o's senior year, but it’s also true that Alabama had future NFL players on the offensive line and at running back with Eddie Lacy, and that Alabama running game ran right over Te’o. That has to be a concern.

“I can always get better, and I’m going to get better,” Te’o said.

If an NFL team is going to spend a first-round draft pick on Te’o, that team will have to be convinced that he will get a lot better than he was against Alabama.

Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career | ProFootballTalk

Mardigras9 · 04-10-2013, 10:26 AM

Big players shine in big games, so............

papz · 04-10-2013, 11:39 AM

"It's a little frustrating that people look at one game and say that was the closest thing to an NFL team that I had faced, not giving credit to all the other teams that I played," he told detroitlions.com. "So you're saying Stanford isn't an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC.

I thought Notre Dame was a "smart" school.

TheOak · 04-10-2013, 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

“So you’re saying Stanford isn’t an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC.

As real as your GF.. Sorry I couldn't pass it up.

Play a full game in the NFL then come back and tell me if those teams are NFL teams.

SloMotion · 04-11-2013, 05:34 AM

... no, one game doesn't define a career ... but that 'dead girlfriend' thing just might,

.

QBREES9 · 04-11-2013, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by SloMotion

... no, one game doesn't define a career ... but that 'dead girlfriend' thing just might, .

Ya'll beat me to it

SloMotion · 04-12-2013, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by QBREES9

Ya'll beat me to it

Great minds think alike, QB ...

.

QBREES9 · 04-12-2013, 10:59 PM

Hockey minds, LOL

04-10-2013, 09:00 AM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,125 Blog Entries: 29	Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Putting the fake dead girlfriend aside, the biggest question NFL teams have about former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o is whether his bad performance against Alabama in the BCS National Championship Game indicates that he folds against NFL-quality competition. Unsurprisingly, Te’o doesn’t see it that way. Te’o knows people say that because Alabama was the best team he played, and because Alabama was the worst game of his senior year, that must mean that when he plays against the kind of NFL talent that Alabama has, he can’t compete. But while visiting the Lions on Tuesday, he told the team’s website that that perception is inaccurate. “It’s a little frustrating that people look at one game and say that was the closest thing to an NFL team that I had faced, not giving credit to all the other teams that I played,” Te’o told detroitlions.com. “So you’re saying Stanford isn’t an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC. [Alabama] is definitely a game I didn’t do as well as I could have, but it’s not something I felt could define my career at Notre Dame.” It’s true that Alabama wasn’t the only good team on Notre Dame’s schedule during Te’o's senior year, but it’s also true that Alabama had future NFL players on the offensive line and at running back with Eddie Lacy, and that Alabama running game ran right over Te’o. That has to be a concern. “I can always get better, and I’m going to get better,” Te’o said. If an NFL team is going to spend a first-round draft pick on Te’o, that team will have to be convinced that he will get a lot better than he was against Alabama. Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career \| ProFootballTalk

04-10-2013, 10:26 AM	#2
Mardigras9 Site Donor 2015 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Land Mass between LA and AL Posts: 4,375	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Big players shine in big games, so............

04-10-2013, 11:39 AM	#3
papz Problem? Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Orleans Posts: 11,744	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career "It's a little frustrating that people look at one game and say that was the closest thing to an NFL team that I had faced, not giving credit to all the other teams that I played," he told detroitlions.com. "So you're saying Stanford isn't an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC. I thought Notre Dame was a "smart" school. QBREES9 and TheOak like this.

04-10-2013, 02:24 PM	#4
TheOak 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Cypress Tx. Posts: 19,026	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Originally Posted by SmashMouth “So you’re saying Stanford isn’t an NFL team; Michigan State, Michigan, Purdue and USC. As real as your GF.. Sorry I couldn't pass it up. Play a full game in the NFL then come back and tell me if those teams are NFL teams.

04-11-2013, 05:34 AM	#5
SloMotion 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,776 Blog Entries: 15	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career ... no, one game doesn't define a career ... but that 'dead girlfriend' thing just might, . QBREES9 likes this.

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04-11-2013, 05:33 PM	#6
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Originally Posted by SloMotion ... no, one game doesn't define a career ... but that 'dead girlfriend' thing just might, . Ya'll beat me to it SloMotion likes this.

04-12-2013, 06:28 AM	#7
SloMotion 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 6,776 Blog Entries: 15	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Originally Posted by QBREES9 Ya'll beat me to it Great minds think alike, QB ... . QBREES9 likes this.

04-12-2013, 10:59 PM	#8
QBREES9 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Haven Ct Posts: 23,985	Re: Manti Te’o: The Alabama game doesn’t define my career Hockey minds, LOL SloMotion likes this.

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