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this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; All this talk about taking players with character over guys with football measurables is reminding me a lot of our '97 draft under nutcase Ditka. He said he wanted a team full of hardworking guys - his Grabowski's. Why is ...
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05-02-2006, 04:51 PM | #1 |
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Grabowski's
All this talk about taking players with character over guys with football measurables is reminding me a lot of our '97 draft under nutcase Ditka. He said he wanted a team full of hardworking guys - his Grabowski's. Why is this draft, other than Bush, under Payton any different?
1997 Draft 1 (10, 10) - Chris Naeole, Colorado 2 (3, 33) - Rob Kelly, Ohio State 2 (9, 39) - Jared Tomich, Nebraska 3 (2, 62) - Troy Davis, Iowa State 4 (3, 99) - Danny Wuerffel, Florida 4 (20, 116) - Keith Poole, Arizona State 6 (2, 165) - Nicky Savoie, Louisiana State |
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05-02-2006, 04:58 PM | #2 |
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RE: Grabowski
I'm glad you mentioned this. I was thinking the same thing Sunday afternoon. It really reminded me of Ditka's first draft. I recall the TP talking about how the draft class might win good citizenship awards, but weren't the best football players.
I'm hoping that what Payton was drafting was guys who are dilligent workers and football smart, not just guys who avoid trouble with Johnny Law. I'm being optimistic here. |
05-02-2006, 05:14 PM | #3 |
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RE: Grabowski
Was pointing this out all weekend...
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05-02-2006, 11:53 PM | #4 |
Merces Letifer
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....difference, of course, Ditka thought he was going to will the team into winning just because he was Mike Ditka, and that opposite teams were just going to surrender because they were going against Mike Ditka, to hell with the playbook and actually coaching the team.
There were a lot of guys who were decent players and would've made a difference and been good role players had they not landed with the Saints during the Ditka years. Ditka ruined a lot of careers during his 3 year disaster. Don't compare the situations. They are not even close. Payton is a young coach who's looking to make a name for himself in the NFL, while Ditka both flaunting his HoF credentials and riding the wave that Buddy Ryan's 46 defense created a decade earlier. |
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05-03-2006, 01:17 AM | #6 |
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Jared Tomich = Nankovich?
Keith Poole = Mike Haas? Roman Harper = Rob Kelly? Some of the comments made regarding why we'd take some of these guys over more talented players reminds me too much of '97 and makes me a little nervous. |
05-03-2006, 01:52 AM | #7 |
Merces Letifer
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Originally Posted by LSUJeremy
Well, then... By that logic, if they go and get more talented athletes like Haslett did, they are screwed too, because that didn't work either, right? So why bother either way, right? It's 2 very different coaching staffs, 2 very different situations. . |
05-03-2006, 09:32 AM | #8 |
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Explain how these are "very different situations" cause I'm obviously not the only one that sees this.
Haslett was NOT bringing in more talented athletes. My "logic" is why are we passing up talented, highly rated players at posistions we need, like, oh, I don't know, middle linebacker, defensive tackle, and right tackle for the hard working class president safety? Think we're going to the Super Bowl with Boy Scout Troop 375? |
05-03-2006, 10:10 AM | #9 |
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I never noticed that but now that I think about it....I feel that character is slightly more important. I don't think that Payton is solely drafting guys with nothing but character. If thats the case he might as well draft me cause I would give my arm to help the Saints win a championship. But lets face it....how many totally awesome players do we know of that simply don't produce as much as they should because they don't give it there all? Look at the niners of the 80's. Montana.....not spectacular physically but a hard ass worker. Rice....do I have to explain that? Even Lott....not the biggest safety but worked his ass off to destroy recievers. Hell lets leave the niners for a second....WAYNE CHREBET. Need I say more?!?!?!? Short, undersized, not too fast...probably the best reciever the Jets had at one point. I think high-character, hard-working players DO make a difference. Wait....weren't we all pissed at a certain QB for not having high character?!?!?!? (Of course all the fumbling didn't help either...lol)
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05-03-2006, 10:19 AM | #10 |
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Originally Posted by FatiusJeebs
I'm not saying that character isn't important, don't get me wrong. I just don't think that all the talented guys we left on the board in the 2nd and 4th rd were law breaking, weak minded, lazy players. Afterall, they had to do something right to be so productive in college and have so many other teams think highly of them.
I have to disagree with your examples of Rice and Lott. Yes, they were extremely driven hardworking guys, but they also came with a LOT of talent. |