Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Well, something we all expected has happened. Manti Te’o is one step closer to being drafted by the New York Giants in two weeks with the 19th pick. I have been on record on this very site in saying that I think drafting Te’o will prove to be more trouble than he is worth.
On the plus side, Justin Tuck, the leader of the defense is behind the pick. Of course, he and Te’o have something very important in common; they are both Notre Dame alums. Does that have something to do with it? You bet it does. Is it possible that if Te’o went to, let’s say, Florida, would he react the same? Possibly.
Here’s what Tuck had to say; “I think it is a step in the right place, the whole thing doesn’t come to fruition about the hoax, then nobody is even questioning what he did on the football field. Yes, Alabama might have exposed him a little bit [in the national championship game]. But Alabama exposed a lot of people.”
Tuck is right about one thing. Bama exposed a lot of people (except for Johnny Manziel). His combine numbers weren’t great, however, that should only be a small part about how Te’o is judged.
Te’o could certainly fill a need for the Giants. Their middle linebackers are Dan Connor and Mark Herzlich. Te’o could help fill in in the middle, however, as I have said in the past, you have to wonder how he’ll handle New York and everything that comes with it.
Jerry Reese has done a great job of building this team in his tenure. One of the keys is doing a great job in the draft. If they feel Te’o is the right man if on the board then fine, however, until I see something from him, I will question it.
