Miami quarterback Cam Ward sent a warning to interested teams as he prepares to go through the NFL Draft process.
Ward received the Davey O’Brien Award on Monday as the nation’s top quarterback and offered a word of caution to teams that might pass on him at the top of the draft. The quarterback said he would very much take note of teams that do not select him, and would do so for the rest of his career.
“OK, you’re either going to draft me or you’re not,” Ward said, via Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press. “If you don’t draft me, that’s your fault. You’ve got to remember you’re the same team that’s got to play me for the rest of my career, and I’ll remember that.”
In other words, Ward will be keeping receipts for everyone who passed on him. That probably will not be many teams, if any, but the quarterback is evidently highly motivated to silence whatever doubters he has.
There is a growing chance that Ward will not actually have to keep any specific teams in his mind. The Tennessee Titans have the top pick in the draft, and might be leaning his way.
Ward attracted some pre-draft controversy with his handling of his bowl game, though that does not appear likely to impact his actual draft position. If the Titans do not take him, a team like the Cleveland Browns or New York Giants might do it instead.
Ward was outstanding in his first and only season for Miami. He threw for 4,313 and led the nation with 39 touchdown passes.
