The gap in the NFL calendar between the avalanche of free agency and the beginning of the draft leaves a void often filled with unhealthy intakes. The most important candy course used at random comes from anonymous sources and scouts. These tasks may not be flattering to the players, may get out of context and are sometimes made ominous with a side effect in mind.
Exhibit A of 2021 for the danger of listening to anonymous sources this time of year is Justin Fields, Ohio quarterback.
The future choice of the first round was the center of controversy last week when former NFL QB analyst Dan Orlovsky suggested that he say some teams are concerned about Fields’ work ethic and desire to be great.
Since the comments on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ were made, it has been shot down from virtually every angle. OSU coach Ryan Day is the latest to speak out and tells Peter King of NBC Sports that the idea that Fields has no work ethic is ridiculous.
“The whole idea that he does not have a very good work ethic?” Day told King. “I mean, for me it’s crazy. He’s done with the Clemson game [the loss in the college football playoffs in the 2019 season] and he came back and all he did was return to the game. And what does he do if those other guys don’t want to act anymore? He requests to have a season. He compiled this petition which the Big Ten athletes all signed and said that they want to play but that they want to play safe and that they do not accept the cancellation of the season. It’s all led by Justin Fields. Where was everyone else? Where were the guys who then excluded? You know, you do not love the game when you do something like that. This kid loves the game.
‘I heard something about the last one who came in, the first one who left. First, the scouts had not been in our building all year. Last one in? Every morning, at least every morning, we could be in the building early, he’s in with [assistant AD for football sports performance] Mickey Marotti. The guys who were self-motivated and could do things on their own were the ones who got it right. He was incredible. He changed his diet, he became stronger. He did better than most. ‘