Merril Hodge: Sam is better than Clowney

[SonnyCID]

The NFL is the 99.99 percentile of talent, though. If you use the NFL average and elite levels as your benchmarks, the statement still stands. Elite talent wins out.

Elite talent does not mask lack of effort. But effort can compensate for lack of talent.

 

[milker2324]

As I said he said he would draft Sam before Clowney....the guy is an asshole

Yeah that is not saying Sam is better or will be better, he just doesnt like clowney for where he is being drafted.

 

[JDM]

Elite talent does not mask lack of effort. But effort can compensate for lack of talent.

No, it can't. It can't even come close.

 

[NinerSickness]

Merril Hodge: if you had any credibility it's officially gone.

That is... without a doubt... the stupidest thing ANYONE has said about football players since people on the ESPN 49ers' board said Terrell Owens could play in the NBA.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

No, it can't. It can't even come close.

Let me put it like this, most players drafted in the first few rounds have tons of talent, what separates them is the drive to succeed.
Now I know you'll disagree that they have the talent, but not the drive and claim just the reverse, so let's agree to disagree.

 

[NinerSickness]

Michael Sam could have the work ethic of Jerry Rice and he still wouldn't be fit to carry Clowney's jock.

This is like saying Colt McCoy is a better prospect than Andrew Luck. It's so asinine it's insulting to everyone's intelligence.

Also, he's lying through his teeth. There's no way in hell he'd take Sam over Clowney. He's just another dishonest, attention-grabbing hack.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

those that put in the hard work magnifies their talent.
Those that rely solely on their talent, usually have a short career.
I am willing to bet coaches would have an easier time game planning against top talent alone, than to game plan against above avg. talent that is driven to succeed.
you need a certain level of talent to be elite is true. But no matter how much talent you have, you wont be elite unless your driven towards it. No one is accidentally an elite player with little effort.

I would take above avg. talent with a very strong work ethic over an uber talented player that thinks he can get by on talent alone everytime.

Amazing how much some underestimate the mental part of football. No player has ever been elite with no work ethic. There have been players that weren't considered top talent that has become elite.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Michael Sam could have the work ethic of Jerry Rice and he still wouldn't be fit to carry Clowney's jock.

This is like saying Colt McCoy is a better prospect than Andrew Luck. It's so asinine it's insulting to everyone's intelligence.

Also, he's lying through his teeth. There's no way in hell he'd take Sam over Clowney. He's just another dishonest, attention-grabbing hack.

Michael Sam should be like a 5th round pick, so yeah no amount of work ethic will make up for that compared to a top 5 pick. I believe in a work ethic counting, but not any where to that degree. That article was just for attention, without a doubt.

 

[Think McFly Think]

I tried to find a picture with both Bayless and Hoge in it, couldn't find one. I guess ESPN couldn't afford to fit so much BS into one segment.

 

[RoboticDreams]

Clowney is going to be a bust. He has all the physical ability in the world, but he's proven to be a loafer on occasion. You cannot be an elite player with sub-par work ethic. Michael Jordan didn't become who he was by half-assing during games. He worked harder than everybody else and he had elite level talent. I agree with, Sonny, and as usual, not with JDM. Work ethic is the difference between being simply good and being elite.

 

[NinerSickness]

Clowney is going to be a bust. He has all the physical ability in the world, but he's proven to be a loafer on occasion. You cannot be an elite player with sub-par work ethic. Michael Jordan didn't become who he was by half-assing during games. He worked harder than everybody else and he had elite level talent. I agree with, Sonny, and as usual, not with JDM. Work ethic is the difference between being simply good and being elite.

Clowney "loafing" (like when he was "sick" AKA hung over) was still just had his way with whoever was blocking him this season. And offenses game-planned away from him & rarely let anyone block him without help.

Clowney is one of the safest bests you'll ever see in the NFL draft. And people saying Mack is better are clueless (I'm looking at you Mike Mayock). People (well one attention-grabbing tool) saying Sam is better are (is) just lying.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Clowney "loafing" (like when he was "sick" AKA hung over) was still just had his way with whoever was blocking him this season. And offenses game-planned away from him & rarely let anyone block him without help.

Clowney is one of the safest bests you'll ever see in the NFL draft. And people saying Mack is better are clueless (I'm looking at you Mike Mayock). People (well one attention-grabbing tool) saying Sam is better are (is) just lying.

Is anyone here saying Mack is better? Without even looking thru this thread I venture the answer is hell no. Folks just have their doubts about Clowney living up to his hype, given that he doesn't appear driven.

 

[RoboticDreams]

Clowney "loafing" (like when he was "sick" AKA hung over) was still just had his way with whoever was blocking him this season. And offenses game-planned away from him & rarely let anyone block him without help.

Clowney is one of the safest bests you'll ever see in the NFL draft. And people saying Mack is better are clueless (I'm looking at you Mike Mayock). People (well one attention-grabbing tool) saying Sam is better are (is) just lying.

Yes, Sickness, I realize you're in love with him. That has been well documented but I on the other-hand, am not sold on him ending up as an elite player. When I say bust, I just mean not the player he is capable of being.

We will both find put in the not to distant future. If he isn't a Reggie White level player he is a bust. The talent is all there. Maybe he wasn't taking plays off and was just tired and a little out of shape. I've been wrong before and I will be again.

 

[NinerSickness]

Is anyone here saying Mack is better?

No, but Mayock & Hodge did.

 

[SonnyCID]

No, it can't. It can't even come close.

Football is just like anything else, maximum effort will take you farther than god given talent.

 

[Davis_Mike]

If he isn't a Reggie White level player he is a bust. The talent is all there. Maybe he wasn't taking plays off and was just tired and a little out of shape. I've been wrong before and I will be again.

So if he isn't an all-time great type of player, he is a bust? Some people are delusional & irrational with their standards. If turns into a double digit sack guy year in & year out, that will more than justify his top 5 selection.

 

[milker2324]

Clowney "loafing" (like when he was "sick" AKA hung over) was still just had his way with whoever was blocking him this season. And offenses game-planned away from him & rarely let anyone block him without help.

Clowney is one of the safest bests you'll ever see in the NFL draft. And people saying Mack is better are clueless (I'm looking at you Mike Mayock). People (well one attention-grabbing tool) saying Sam is better are (is) just lying.

Except he didnt say that, at least not in that segment that i saw. He was saying he would not draft clowney where he will go, and would rather have sam at his value in the draft. I dont agree or disagree but some people seem to have heard something different or not heard it at all.

 

[RoboticDreams]

So if he isn't an all-time great type of player, he is a bust? Some people are delusional & irrational with their standards. If turns into a double digit sack guy year in & year out, that will more than justify his top 5 selection.

Judging from what some of you people think of the guy, I might even suggest he had better be able to walk on water or I'll consider him a bust.

What you are talking about is pure silliness. Clowney is being touted as the most incredible player in the history of the known universe. I've never seen such hype for a player off of one huge hit. I hope he pans out for you guys.

 

[Davis_Mike]

What you are talking about is pure silliness. Clowney is being touted as the most incredible player in the history of the known universe. I've never seen such hype for a player off of one huge hit. I hope he pans out for you guys.

Correction, he is being touted as the top college prospect to come out in a long time. Hype is the name of the game. But there is substance behind the hype. There is a track record to go along with the hype. You can use 2013 to define him all you want, but most people admit that 2013 was just a walk-through for him. Because of the circumstances, I won't hold 2013 against or point to it as sign of things to come. He would have been the #1 pick in the 2013 draft.

 

[RoboticDreams]

Correction, he is being touted as the top college prospect to come out in a long time. Hype is the name of the game. But there is substance behind the hype. There is a track record to go along with the hype. You can use 2013 to define him all you want, but most people admit that 2013 was just a walk-through for him. Because of the circumstances, I won't hold 2013 against or point to it as sign of things to come. He would have been the #1 pick in the 2013 draft.

There is no correction to be made. What I stated was correct. What you do or do not hold against him is irrelevant. If he becomes the greatest human player in the history of the world, he will have lived up to the hype. If not, well then he's a bust.