Manti Te'o shouldn't be first option in draft

As reported by the Denver Post, Vice President John Elway is expected to talk with Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o. Te’o, who has been at the top of the mountain when it comes to personal matters going public, certainly wants to change his current stigma, and allow teams to evaluate him as a football player, not as a celebrity.

The Broncos are looking for a possible replacement for the aging Keith Brooking who only signed a one-year deal last season. Brooking played very well for his age, yet the time to find new and fast talent is now. Te’o fits into this thinking process, however the question of his true football ability will
certainly become a heated issue.

There’s no denying that Te’o was a dominant college football player this year. He recorded seven interceptions, nearly led the league in turnovers, and was the winner of nearly every single defensive award. He was even a runner-up candidate to the Heisman trophy. But as a football fan and as coach, it’s important to evaluate talent more so by their overall game play than just by their highlights.

Notre Dame did not play a tough schedule. Yes, they defeated a ranked Oklahoma, Michigan, and Stanford. But were these really great victories? Oklahoma’s season was nowhere near as dominant as years passed, Michigan still seems to up-and-coming after losing so many years ago to the D-1AA Appaliachian State, and Stanford, well the Stanford win altogether is very questionable. This is the same team that only played against Boston College or Wake Forest, and still went into triple overtime with an unranked Pittsburgh.

But off the rant about Notre Dame, when credit is due, it’s right to give it. Notre Dame still went undefeated in the regular season, which is certainly not an easy task, regardless of who you are playing. Te’o, was definitely a major factor in their victories. Their defense kept them in games this year, and was basically why the team was so successful. The anchor of this defense was obviously Te’o. He made the necessary plays when his team needed him. Can this translate to the NFL? Maybe, but like the rant shows, it’s important to measure the “real” competition that Te’o dominated.

In the BCS National Championship Game, the story was completely different. The star linebacker clearly did not show up. Reports have argued that Teo’s infamous girlfriend story was looming in his head during the game, and as a result cause him to be preoccupied.

For the record, this is complete nonsense. This is the biggest game of Te’o’s career, and it’s not like he is a little kid. Te’o is set to make millions of dollars by the end of next year. If he can’t free his mind of “public” stress in the most important game of his life, than how will that translate to the NFL, where
every game is basically on a national stage.

Te’o was completely flat against the first real competition he faced all season. While Te’o should not get all the blame for the loss, his publicity and his “god-like” play that he was described as leading up into the game, only diminished as the quarters went on. He missed countless crucial tackles, and was getting manhandled on nearly every play. And yes, that Alabama team was exceptional, yet still, only a few of them will make the NFL, let alone start on a team. If Te’o cannot perform on a grand stage against “real” competition, how could NFL scouts truly evaluate him as a dominant threat in this year’s draft.

I think it be wise for Denver to truly reconsider their meeting with Te’o. There are far better linebackers in the draft and in free agency available, and with the current situation, not drafting this “amazing” player will not be that bad of a move. The bottom line, scouts must really see something special in this kid that can grow, because it doesn’t translate on the field. His name, his publicity, and of course, his school, is the reason why he is boasted so highly.