I love this time of year as a NFL football fan. As the draft approaches I get to see which teams rise up and which teams fall on their face. Every year picks are wasted on players that never reach their full potential. And many times, the #1, 2, or 3 pick is that player. Consider Ryan Leaf, Tony Mandarich, or Akili Smith - all high draft picks that were flops. The teams that drafted these busts spent huge amounts of money and time to make this calculated decision to draft this person. They failed miserably and many lost their jobs.
This year's bust, the guy most say is going # 1, is Jadeveon Clowney. His physical skills are unparalleled. His natural ability to play the game has been a constant ESPN highlight. However, other tell-tale signs tell us he will be an over-paid flop. Some team is going to draft him and someone will be fired. I love the NFL.
You think I'm wrong, but look at the facts. His 1st issue is he's not a hard worker. It is well known about his taking plays off during his last season at South Carolina. As soon as he was informed of his status as a possible #1 pick (around January of 2013), his work habits become null and void. His final season stats tell the tale of a player waiting for his pay day.
The second issue is a bad attitude. Although it never officially came out, it was obvious Steve Spurrier had discipline issues with Clowney. For all his abilities, the one that never showed through was leadership. All his credentials would have made him the leader of this team, but he wasn't even captain.
The third issue is not his fault. He had a very shaky upbringing. His father spent years in jail for armed robbery. Most of that time in jail was during Clowney's formative years. It's tough for any child to overcome this obstacle, and it might be the reason for issues 1 and 2.
These warning signs should be noticed by the top level scouts that NFL teams are paying big bucks to. Unfortunately, they are not paying enough attention to history and the fundamentals that make a great football player. Yeah someone is going to get fired after they pick Clowney. Maybe not this year, but within two seasons they will. The only question left is will it be the Texans or the Rams.