FanPost

Could Weatherspoon create a locker room rift?


Sean Weatherspoon is a popular pick for many teams mainly because he'll be loved by the fans of the team that drafts him. Why? Because he's charismatic. He was the motivational leader of that defense at Missouri and he was a great locker room presence. This guy will be a camera junkie and the media will love him. He will be immediately a vocal player in the pros.

But I have some slight concerns over that. I mean, do you think Weatherspoon can rub some guys off the wrong way here -- with his attitude? If he gets drafted by us at 15 (which I think is a reach. He's a top 40 overall prospect, not 15), he's going to make millions and will likely become a starter seeing how he got drafted within the first round. Guys can possibly feel,regardless of that, Weatherspoon has zero credibility for being so outspoken and he might come off as cocky, arrogant, egotistical, and an asshole due to his style. Weatherspoon will immediately become a media whore and an on-field trash talker. Does our team really need a guy like that? Motivation-wise, I think the Perry Fewell hiring fixes that. Plus it's not like we have shy and quiet personalities on our team. Especially in the defensive-line room; it's crazy over there. Can Weatherspoon emotionally lead a group of guys like that by just being an outspoken trash talker? You saw it at the Senior Bowl, 'Spoon was hyping up the players there from the beginning by talking trash and all that nonsense (though he probably knows the seniors there very, very well.) He'll immediately have that kind of impact here: good or bad.

Weatherspoon's a great guy and all, but I prefer guys like McClain, Spikes, or Sean Lee. Quiet leaders that will lead by example and grow into their roles. I think Weatherspoon could possibly be rejected by the locker room for simply being a talker before playing the game. He's not a quiet man, that's for sure. It was already reported that teams removed Weatherspoon off their draft boards because he can impact a locker room in a negative way, and an anonymous GM claimed that he wouldn't even touch weatherspoon because he came off as conceited and brash during combine interviews. Weatherspoon will be a guy you'll really love, or really hate. Is that a risk? And it's not like Weatherspoon's going to play at a high level immediately at ILB. He doesn't shed blocks very well. What if he holds a contract holdout? (OK, most likely not. Just threw that in there)

I don't hate Weatherspoon, personally. I love him actually, and I would prefer to have him play on the outside instead of Boley, but I'm just trying to create some pre-draft discussion here.

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