(02-16-2021, 07:23 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The draft is a much bigger crap shoot than any "expert" wants to admit.  Even the best teams miss on high draft picks from time to time, and there are always a few players in the later rounds that were passed over by all 32 teams but outplay guys drafted much higher.

However, until last year the Bengals were on one of the worst string of first round busts ever.

(02-16-2021, 08:04 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I think a part of the problem with extremely talented players not producing at their expected level in the NFL, as they did in college, has a lot to do with not being prepared to manage one's own life as an adult.  This isn't meant to be a personal knock on any specific individuals, just a conclusion that I've come to from nearly 52 years of life experience.

What you have, is young men who have been accustomed to having most every detail of their life, every minute of their time and activity directed by others, with the sole purpose of getting them to the NFL.  Once they sign the contract, they're pretty much on their own.  They suddenly have a good deal of money in their hands, often times much more than that of the level they were raised at.  Their time is suddenly their own;  No coaches, trainers, tutors to be responsible to anymore; To a degree, one could arrive at the conclusion that their might be a huge void that comes with advancing to the next level.

Many of these young men are brought to their absolute peak of talent and physical ability at the collegiate level, because their is no "off the clock" time.  The structure, the focus, the guidance, and all of the other accessories that come with being a part of an elite college program are now missing from their lives.  Are most young men with sudden money, but no coaches, trainers, and dieticians monitoring their every day going to make the best nutritional choices?  Likely not.  Are most young men that feel like they "made it" going to keep focusing on improving the weakest parts of their game, their physical condition, their mental toughness without someone calling on them and leading them to do it?  Likely not.

So, what is to do about it?  Is it the league's job to coddle these guys, prompt them to eat right, work out properly, maintain focus, make adult decisions, etc.?  Not really.  Once you're in the pros, you're expected to conduct and carry yourself as a professional individual who makes a living from abusing his body 3 hrs per week, 16 or more times per season.  The sad reality is that many of these guys "maxed out" at the collegiate level, because they are incapable of holding themselves to the same standard as they were in the program they came from.  

The issue of high level players "busting" at the NFL level oftentimes has less to do with raw talent and ability, than it does with personal maturity and self discipline.  In my opinion, the NFL could do far more for the younger players by providing mentorship, assistance with structuring the players time toward cultivating professional lives, than they do with some of the PR stuff they have delved into in recent years.  Apologies for the rant.  When I read the OP, it just got me to thinking about the number of "can't miss" prospects that have busted over the years, and contemplating on reasons why that might happen.

(02-16-2021, 08:04 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I think a part of the problem with extremely talented players not producing at their expected level in the NFL, as they did in college, has a lot to do with not being prepared to manage one's own life as an adult.  This isn't meant to be a personal knock on any specific individuals, just a conclusion that I've come to from nearly 52 years of life experience.

What you have, is young men who have been accustomed to having most every detail of their life, every minute of their time and activity directed by others, with the sole purpose of getting them to the NFL.  Once they sign the contract, they're pretty much on their own.  They suddenly have a good deal of money in their hands, often times much more than that of the level they were raised at.  Their time is suddenly their own;  No coaches, trainers, tutors to be responsible to anymore; To a degree, one could arrive at the conclusion that their might be a huge void that comes with advancing to the next level.

Many of these young men are brought to their absolute peak of talent and physical ability at the collegiate level, because their is no "off the clock" time.  The structure, the focus, the guidance, and all of the other accessories that come with being a part of an elite college program are now missing from their lives.  Are most young men with sudden money, but no coaches, trainers, and dieticians monitoring their every day going to make the best nutritional choices?  Likely not.  Are most young men that feel like they "made it" going to keep focusing on improving the weakest parts of their game, their physical condition, their mental toughness without someone calling on them and leading them to do it?  Likely not.

So, what is to do about it?  Is it the league's job to coddle these guys, prompt them to eat right, work out properly, maintain focus, make adult decisions, etc.?  Not really.  Once you're in the pros, you're expected to conduct and carry yourself as a professional individual who makes a living from abusing his body 3 hrs per week, 16 or more times per season.  The sad reality is that many of these guys "maxed out" at the collegiate level, because they are incapable of holding themselves to the same standard as they were in the program they came from.  

The issue of high level players "busting" at the NFL level oftentimes has less to do with raw talent and ability, than it does with personal maturity and self discipline.  In my opinion, the NFL could do far more for the younger players by providing mentorship, assistance with structuring the players time toward cultivating professional lives, than they do with some of the PR stuff they have delved into in recent years.  Apologies for the rant.  When I read the OP, it just got me to thinking about the number of "can't miss" prospects that have busted over the years, and contemplating on reasons why that might happen.

(02-16-2021, 07:23 PM)fredtoast Wrote: The draft is a much bigger crap shoot than any "expert" wants to admit.  Even the best teams miss on high draft picks from time to time, and there are always a few players in the later rounds that were passed over by all 32 teams but outplay guys drafted much higher.

However, until last year the Bengals were on one of the worst string of first round busts ever.

(02-17-2021, 11:39 AM)Interceptor Wrote: Maybe it's time to acquire a GM (but a legit one).

(02-16-2021, 07:10 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: To listen to some Bengals fans, we are only team to miss on 1st round draft picks.

(02-18-2021, 06:00 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Bengals miss on a 1st rounder and he hangs around 3-4 years adding negative value.

The Buccaneers took Jameis Winston 1st overall 

(02-18-2021, 08:08 PM)fredtoast Wrote: And Winston was their starter for 5 years instead of 3-4.

(02-18-2021, 08:14 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Meanwhile the Bengals stuck with Andy Dalton for 9 years despite it being obvious that while he could get you some regular season Ws on a good team, he couldn't push the team over the hump.

(02-19-2021, 04:59 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Tampa Bay cut ties with Winston after his fifth season.

No way they would have done that if he was 10-3 as a starter with the #2 passer rating in the league like Dalton was in his fifth season.

Quote:Charean Williams
Mon, February 22, 2021, 9:16 PM
Titans General Manager Jon Robinson said last week Isaiah Wilson has to “make a determination” if he wants to play.

The first-round draft choice apparently made a decision, if only briefly, tweeting, “Im done with football as a Titan… No further comments.”

Not surprisingly, the tweet didn’t have a long shelf life. It was deleted a few minutes later, no doubt after someone with Wilson’s best interest in mind offered sound advice.

(02-16-2021, 07:10 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Buried in an article on Tennessee wanting JJ Watt is this gem.

https://www.nfl.com/news/titans-gm-jon-robinson-jj-watt-isaiah-wilson-better-offseason

"We did a lot of work a year ago leading up to selecting him -- the evaluation process, talking to different sources, visiting with him countless numbers of times," Robinson said. "For whatever reason, the player that, this fall, was here in Nashville wasn't the guy that we spent time with last year.

"I think he's gonna have to make a determination if he wants to do everything necessary to play pro football. That's going to be on him. I know what the expectation level is here. It's no different than any other player on the football team. We have a certain standard that we want players to prepare and perform at professionally, and as people, and (there is) a lot of work to be done there."

When pressed on the matter, Robinson admitted he's not certain Wilson has a future in Nashville, responding, "We'll see."

"We've got to continue to find guys that love ball," Robinson said. "Guys that actually want to play the game of pro football."

To listen to some Bengals fans, we are only team to miss on 1st round draft picks. Tennessee had a very good team, so big miss for them with that pick and also Clowney as a FA in 2020.

(02-23-2021, 12:20 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: former 1st round bust.....    But im sure we can turn him around...