The gap in the NFL calendar between the flood of the free agency and the start of the draft leaves a void often filled with harmful entries to health. The main dish of confectionery consumed at random comes from anonymous sources and whisks. These shots can be unpleasant for players, they can go out of context and are sometimes done in a nefarious way with a hidden motive in mind.
Proof A of 2021 for the danger of hearing anonymous sources at this time of year is Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields.
The future choice in the first round was the center of controversy last week, when former NFL QB analyst Dan Orlovsky suggested he was informed that some teams were concerned about Fields’ work ethic and desire to be excellent.
Since the comments were made on “The Pat McAfee Show”, they have been shot down from virtually every angle. OSU coach Ryan Day is the last to intervene, telling NBC Sports Peter King that the notion that Fields lacks work ethics is laughable.
“Any idea that he doesn’t have a very good work ethic?” Day told King. “I mean, for me, this is crazy. He ended the Clemson game [the loss in the college football playoffs in the 2019 season] and he came back and all he did was work to get back to that game. And when these other guys are choosing to leave, what does he do? He asks for time. He set up a petition that the ten Big Ten athletes signed saying that they want to play, but want to play safely and that they do not accept canceling the season. Everything was led by Justin Fields. Where was everyone? Where were the guys who were choosing to go out then? You know, you don’t love the game if you’re doing something like that. This kid loves the game.
“I heard something about the last one to come in, the first one to leave. First, the scouts weren’t in our building all year. The last one to come in? Every morning, at least every morning, we could be in the building, very early, he has [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 did it. He was unbelievable. He changed his diet, he got stronger. He did better than most. “