Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints

Attached Thumbnails · 08-21-2017, 12:38 AM

As practice nears its end, set up shop in the sun-soaked end zone of this gorgeous, if unfamiliar, Orange County practice field and watch the Chargers and Saints walk off the field together.

Players mingle for half an hour, chopping it up with college teammates, professional contemporaries and family members close enough to see their sons pursue an NFL dream.

Watch the Chargers closely. This could have been Manti Te'o's team.

Chargers old and young, established stars and little-known backups, make a point to stop and talk with Te'o. So do trainers, equipment managers, security guys and public-relations specialists.

Te'o, one of the nicest, most approachable linebackers in the NFL, talks to everyone, lingering in deep conversation for 10 minutes or more with a few old teammates.

"I know everybody, and they know me," Te'o said. "It was like I had 200 teammates out there — teammates I have with the Saints, teammates I have with the Chargers."

If a step he took in the first half of a game at Indianapolis last year had been a simple plant and release, like thousands of others he has taken, Te'o might still be wearing Chargers purple.

"When I suffered my Achilles injury, it just so happened to be during a huge season," Te'o said. "That was my contract year; I came in in great shape. I was playing at a high level. I was a captain of my team, everything was working in my favor and then that happened. It kind of sends you down a spiral. You’re on this fall, and you’re trying to grab onto anything as you’re descending."

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Cruize · 08-21-2017, 08:38 AM

The talent is there. He just has to stay healthy.

spkb25 · 08-21-2017, 08:55 AM

Definitely impressing.

skymike · 08-21-2017, 07:35 PM

very impressed.
seems like a good guy too.

CharityMike · 08-21-2017, 07:41 PM

I will be honest. When we picked him up I wasn't expecting much. But he is showing so far, that he has got some skills. Looking forward to seeing him this season.

Danno · 08-21-2017, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by CharityMike

I will be honest. When we picked him up I wasn't expecting much. But he is showing so far, that he has got some skills. Looking forward to seeing him this season.

This is exactly what I was going to say. I actually sighed when I read we signed him, and assumed he'd be an early cut

But so far (yeah, EVERYONE knows its only preseason), he's exceeded my expectations three-fold.

jeanpierre · 08-22-2017, 05:24 AM

I expected him to be used as a transition guy as he was familiar with how Mike Nolan operates and was put in the LBer pool to help the other LBers assimilate...

Playing against his former team and being known as an emotional player really came out...

We'll know more in the next two weeks...

08-21-2017, 12:38 AM	#1
Threaded by SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,125 Blog Entries: 29 Rating: (0 votes - average) As practice nears its end, set up shop in the sun-soaked end zone of this gorgeous, if unfamiliar, Orange County practice field and watch the Chargers and Saints walk off the field together. Players mingle for half an hour, chopping it up with college teammates, professional contemporaries and family members close enough to see their sons pursue an NFL dream. Watch the Chargers closely. This could have been Manti Te'o's team. Chargers old and young, established stars and little-known backups, make a point to stop and talk with Te'o. So do trainers, equipment managers, security guys and public-relations specialists. Te'o, one of the nicest, most approachable linebackers in the NFL, talks to everyone, lingering in deep conversation for 10 minutes or more with a few old teammates. "I know everybody, and they know me," Te'o said. "It was like I had 200 teammates out there — teammates I have with the Saints, teammates I have with the Chargers." If a step he took in the first half of a game at Indianapolis last year had been a simple plant and release, like thousands of others he has taken, Te'o might still be wearing Chargers purple. "When I suffered my Achilles injury, it just so happened to be during a huge season," Te'o said. "That was my contract year; I came in in great shape. I was playing at a high level. I was a captain of my team, everything was working in my favor and then that happened. It kind of sends you down a spiral. You’re on this fall, and you’re trying to grab onto anything as you’re descending." read more on The Advocate Attached Thumbnails
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08-21-2017, 08:38 AM	#2
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints The talent is there. He just has to stay healthy.
Cruize 1000 Posts + Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4,457

08-21-2017, 08:55 AM	#3
spkb25 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 13,097	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints Definitely impressing.

08-21-2017, 07:35 PM	#4
skymike E. Side Cholo Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: The Barrio, H-town Posts: 6,089	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints very impressed. seems like a good guy too.

08-21-2017, 07:41 PM	#5
CharityMike Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mid City, New Orleans Posts: 3,556	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints I will be honest. When we picked him up I wasn't expecting much. But he is showing so far, that he has got some skills. Looking forward to seeing him this season.

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08-21-2017, 08:01 PM	#6
Danno Truth Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Spanish Fort, AL (via NO and B/R) Posts: 24,720	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints Originally Posted by CharityMike I will be honest. When we picked him up I wasn't expecting much. But he is showing so far, that he has got some skills. Looking forward to seeing him this season. This is exactly what I was going to say. I actually sighed when I read we signed him, and assumed he'd be an early cut But so far (yeah, EVERYONE knows its only preseason), he's exceeded my expectations three-fold. ctsaint01 likes this.

08-22-2017, 05:24 AM	#7
jeanpierre Site Donor 2018 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Thibodaux Posts: 43,543 Blog Entries: 39	Re: Unbroken and unbowed, Manti Te'o is trying to come back stronger with Saints I expected him to be used as a transition guy as he was familiar with how Mike Nolan operates and was put in the LBer pool to help the other LBers assimilate... Playing against his former team and being known as an emotional player really came out... We'll know more in the next two weeks... skymike likes this.