NFL scouts are mostly focused on size, speed and strength when evaluating players at the NFL Combine. However, we know a player’s “intangibles” and personal background can be just as important. Apparently Twitter also plays a role.
Last week, Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told USA Today Sports that “immaturity” has been a problem for some of the record 98 underclassmen that declared for the NFL Draft early this year. More specifically, Spielman has been shocked by some of the stuff he has seen on Twitter.
“There were guys I found on Twitter this year that I can’t believe they would post and re-Tweet some of the stuff they were saying,” Spielman said. “We wrote a report just on their Twitter accounts.
“I won’t say the names. But out of the 60 that we did, there are eight guys that we have concerns about their Twitter feeds that we will address here.”
If I was an NFL prospect and heard those comments, I’d be off Twitter until at least after I found a home in the NFL. Spielman was asked to elaborate.
“Immaturity: Why would you Tweet that?” he asked. “Some things specifically on there, ‘Hey, I’m going out and partying with the guys tonight.’ Or admitting that they just took a drug. It’s amazing what you can find on social media. And that they don’t realize what they just put out there.”
Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert agreed with Spielman, noting that the 2014 draft class is probably the most “immature group” he has ever seen in addition to being the most talented. The fact that something a person tweets could cost them draft position or a job altogether amazes me. Is it really worth it?
