Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito

Attached Thumbnails · 05-23-2016, 10:51 AM

Tim Lelito never forgot those words. Not after he finished high school with zero major college scholarship offers. And not after all 32 NFL teams bypassed him in the draft in 2012.

No, the insult Lelito remembered the most came as a high school freshman on the track and field team in his hometown of St. Clair, Michigan, where an athletic director observed practice one day and then told him he would never throw a discus farther than 150 feet.

"It kind of burned my (butt) a little bit that this person three years down the line didn't know what I was capable of," said Lelito, who as a senior far surpassed that distance with a throw of 189 feet, 11 inches. "It kind of stuck with me," he said.

Now relate that story to the present. And imagine his reply to anybody who would suggest that after three seasons with the New Orleans Saints he cannot provide them with what they need at either guard position on the offensive line for the 2016 season.

"When people tell me I can't do something, like 'Oh, hey, you shouldn't be here because you're an undrafted free agent,' I'm like OK, I'll show you." the Grand Valley State product said in an interview to promote a charity softball game with Saints players. "I'm like, here we go."

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ScottF · 05-23-2016, 01:37 PM

that is an oddly specific slight to hold onto for 10 years

jnormand · 05-23-2016, 01:42 PM

I'm fine with him holding it. If it makes him meaner and more aggressive and can help him out play others...do it man. I personally don't care who starts at guard, as long as they play their ass off and provide good protection for Drew.

Cruize · 05-23-2016, 03:01 PM

I say you can't be a starting guard in the NFL. Now, what ya gonna do about it?

ScottF · 05-23-2016, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Cruize

I say you can't be a starting guard in the NFL. Now, what ya gonna do about it?

go for broke... why not say "pro-bowl" guard? Or "All-Pro"? or "Super Bowl winning"?

halloween 65 · 05-23-2016, 03:32 PM

He may be coming around better this season. He might not be a stud at G but as long as he can do his job in the run game and passing game he don't have to be. I still think C is where he plays his best. I worry more about Kelemente more than Lelito, another good G would go a long way.

Rugby Saint II · 05-23-2016, 06:10 PM

He's adequate but I want better!

jeanpierre · 05-23-2016, 06:32 PM

Hey Tim, you'll never be an All-Pro Guard

Note: Please feel free to print and stick this in your locker

Hoping you have that breakout season and you quiet all the haters, doubters big man!

foreverfan · 05-24-2016, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

'Oh, hey, you shouldn't be here because you're an undrafted free agent,' I'm like OK, I'll show you." the Grand Valley State product said in an interview to promote a charity softball game with Saints players. "I'm like, here we go.[/URL]

He shouldn't be here but he is.

hagan714 · 05-24-2016, 09:36 AM

use it to fuel the fire and keep improving.

Evan Mathis is proof

05-23-2016, 10:51 AM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,203 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) Tim Lelito never forgot those words. Not after he finished high school with zero major college scholarship offers. And not after all 32 NFL teams bypassed him in the draft in 2012. No, the insult Lelito remembered the most came as a high school freshman on the track and field team in his hometown of St. Clair, Michigan, where an athletic director observed practice one day and then told him he would never throw a discus farther than 150 feet. "It kind of burned my (butt) a little bit that this person three years down the line didn't know what I was capable of," said Lelito, who as a senior far surpassed that distance with a throw of 189 feet, 11 inches. "It kind of stuck with me," he said. Now relate that story to the present. And imagine his reply to anybody who would suggest that after three seasons with the New Orleans Saints he cannot provide them with what they need at either guard position on the offensive line for the 2016 season. "When people tell me I can't do something, like 'Oh, hey, you shouldn't be here because you're an undrafted free agent,' I'm like OK, I'll show you." the Grand Valley State product said in an interview to promote a charity softball game with Saints players. "I'm like, here we go." read more Attached Thumbnails
Views: 2993

05-23-2016, 01:37 PM	#2
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito that is an oddly specific slight to hold onto for 10 years

05-23-2016, 01:42 PM	#3
jnormand 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Free State of Idaho Posts: 5,687	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito I'm fine with him holding it. If it makes him meaner and more aggressive and can help him out play others...do it man. I personally don't care who starts at guard, as long as they play their ass off and provide good protection for Drew. spkb25, foreverfan and ctsaint01 like this.
	Last edited by jnormand; 05-24-2016 at 07:51 AM..

05-23-2016, 03:01 PM	#4
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito I say you can't be a starting guard in the NFL. Now, what ya gonna do about it? ScottF and halloween 65 like this.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

05-23-2016, 03:31 PM	#5
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito Originally Posted by Cruize I say you can't be a starting guard in the NFL. Now, what ya gonna do about it? go for broke... why not say "pro-bowl" guard? Or "All-Pro"? or "Super Bowl winning"?

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05-23-2016, 03:32 PM	#6
halloween 65 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Grand Haven, Michigan by way of a little Mississippi River town in Louisiana Posts: 5,893	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito He may be coming around better this season. He might not be a stud at G but as long as he can do his job in the run game and passing game he don't have to be. I still think C is where he plays his best. I worry more about Kelemente more than Lelito, another good G would go a long way.

05-23-2016, 06:10 PM	#7
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,073	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito He's adequate but I want better! K Major likes this.

05-23-2016, 06:32 PM	#8
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito Hey Tim, you'll never be an All-Pro Guard Note: Please feel free to print and stick this in your locker Hoping you have that breakout season and you quiet all the haters, doubters big man!

05-24-2016, 12:45 AM	#9
foreverfan 12,000 BS Posts Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 13,457 Blog Entries: 5	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito Originally Posted by SmashMouth 'Oh, hey, you shouldn't be here because you're an undrafted free agent,' I'm like OK, I'll show you." the Grand Valley State product said in an interview to promote a charity softball game with Saints players. "I'm like, here we go.[/URL] He shouldn't be here but he is.

05-24-2016, 09:36 AM	#10
hagan714 LB Mentallity Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 15,870 Blog Entries: 68	Re: Long-ago slight rankles New Orleans Saints' Tim Lelito use it to fuel the fire and keep improving. Evan Mathis is proof

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