Mayock: 'Apologies' Get Varying Grades
INDIANAPOLIS -- NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock wrapped up the media portion of the 2012 Scouting Combine with a news conference Sunday evening. Mayock was asked about several prospects who brought off-the-field baggage to Indianapolis - most prominently, North Alabama corner Janoris Jenkins, who confessed to having four children, an arrest record and a failed drug test.
Mayock: 'Apologies' Get Varying Grades
Les Bowen
INDIANAPOLIS -- NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock wrapped up the media portion of the 2012 Scouting Combine with a news conference Sunday evening. Mayock was asked about several prospects who brought off-the-field baggage to Indianapolis - most prominently, North Alabama corner Janoris Jenkins, who confessed to having four children, an arrest record and a failed drug test.
As Mayock noted, the prospects have all been coached to say the right thing to teams interviewing them - they talk about having grown up. But he went on to say, the nub of the issue is how much you "buy into" their explanations and apologies.
"There's all kinds of different red flags - medical, off-the-field. What's interesting to me is how different teams treat those red flags. There's no one uniform way ... for the next two months (such players) are going to get asked 90 gazillion questions. It's all public, it's all out there, teams know more than we do. You've gotta look these guys in the eye and have all the right answers. Most importantly, convince them it's not gonna happen again," Mayock said.
"So they're all going to say the same thing. 'I've grown up, I'm sorry.' Do you buy into that? And at what level? Here's the key, just like medical, at what level do you buy in? At a first-round price? Second-round price? Fourth-round price? Every team's different that way. I already know some teams that have certain players off the board ... 'I'm not dealing with that player, for this reason,' whether it's medical or off-the-field. Some teams say, 'That's a first-round pick, I don't care.' Other teams say, 'He's off the board.' And then there are a bunch of teams in the middle somewhere."
A few other Mayock morsels:
*After watching the quarterbacks work out, Mayock is even more certain that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are the top-two picks. "I would be stunned if these two kids didn't go one and two ... and then, (Texas A&M's Ryan) Tannehill might go in the Top 10" after he completely recovers from a broken foot and is able to work out.
*Mayock was impressed with Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill, whose 4.36 40 was the start of a strong day. "Stephen Hill killed it. I had a bunch of scouts tell me before the combine, this kid might blow the roof off of it, and he did," Mayock said. "The tough thing about Stephen Hill is, coming out of that option offense, he's hard to evaluate. We went through this with Demaryius Thomas (now of Denver) ... because you don't see real routes, all you see are verticals and crosses and play action and jump balls. You've got to do your homework with this kid, and trust me, he's pushed himself right up in the forefront of this receiver class."
Mayock said Hill not only ran and jumped exceptionally well, he looked like a natural pass-catcher.
*Mayock said he was "stunned" to see Baylor WR Kendall Wright, who he thought had DeSean Jackson speed, run a 4.6.
*Mayock felt Temple RB Bernard Pierce didn't have a great day overall and is probably tagged for the fourth round. Pierce ran a 4.49 40.
With the Eagles, the more problems the better. They move em right up their draft board. Injuries...no problem, we love injuries. Committed a crime...great! We rehabilitate. Been to prison? Even better! Thats worth a $100 million.— Kioto- Why isn't Mayock the Eagle's GM?— littlejoe
- Because you would hate him the minute he is hired.— Sean s.
I've never been that impressed with Mayock. He's a poor man's Mel Kiper with a bad voice. And based on what I read going into the combine, I'd say Pierce did well, much better than some 40 times people were quoting.- Poor man's Mel Kiper?? Mayock has been more consistent in his evaluations than anyone we've had making picks since Buddy Ryan. He blows Mel Kiper away in terms of taking a hard line on a player and being right. He said Matt Ryan should've been the first pick to the dolphins, how are they doin? He nailed Patrick Willis, Cam Newton, Eric Berry, Jason Pierre Paul.... He called Vernon Gholston a bust when Kiper and McShay had him going top 5.
I would love to have Mayock as the GM. I would take him in a heartbeat to make personnel decisions over Roseman, Heckert, and even Andy. Check his evaluation on Teo-Neshiem and then check where Andy drafted the guy.... who was right.
Speak on what you know....
— BuddyBall92 - i would definitely trust mayock's version of this "event" rather than some couch potato's opinion based on what he read and saw on the tube...just listening to him you get the impression he knows his stuff..as far as the eagles pick goes,lb is their most pressing need and must be addressed at #15!!! no projects,reaches or hybrid types..they need a solid pick here and luke from b.c. is the one..i hope he's still on the board at 15 but there are other lb's who can help right away..he's their pick and no doubt about it...— jabac
- Kiper is a clown.. research some of his results...— sn11
Mike Mayock knows what he's talking about.— CCRichards- I agree that I think he is off on Bernard Pierce. The two issues people had with Pierce were his speed and durability. He could only answer one of those this weekend and he did. When people are assuming you're a 4.6 guy and you put up 4.49 I am unsure how you had a bad weekend.— regassert6
- I don't know how I can trust a call that calls himself buddyball92. Live in the past much? A very unsuccessful one at that?
- @chalton - "like Buddy Ryan or not the man knew talent". Errr...let's make that DEFENSIVE talent, and you've got a point. It's also good to remember that a lot of the defensive gems Buddy found probably looked a little better than they actually were, given the amount of attention that opposing offenses had to pay to Reggie White - who Buddy did NOT draft. And if "close doesn't get it done", why are you so enthralled with Buddy Ryan? What exactly did he win here again?— JLB
- Buddy was not very good at game day coaching, but he was an excellent talent evaluator. And, not only defensive, remember Cris Carter? All he did was score touchdowns. Mayock would be a major upgrade to what we currently have on this front office team. You can tell some of the fans from NFC rivals by their comments here— stony
- I've always been a Kiper fan. He is what he is and I respect that he knows something/anything about everybody that's drafted...even the last guy in the 7th round. But that last couple years since my provider got NFL Network...love Mayock! As Eagles GM? Never happen under Andy, Mayock will be nobody's puppet and that's requirement number one to work under Andy.— THE-KID (WI)
- @Sean s. That's the most honest post I ever read on this site! I pray that the Eagles owners get an offer to move so Philly haters can continue to hate each other. If this site would require real names, there wouldn't be a racist or hateful post on here.— allworld2
- Mayock knows more than Count Chocula Kiper, are you crazy? Mel eats, sleeps and drinks draft. I like Mike M a lot, but he can't hold Mel's jock on draft knowledge, no way.— BirdinParadise
