Westbrook: Perception Not Reality
March 3rd, 2017
DeDe Westbrook running from the past.
You probably don’t know DeDe Westbrook, said DeDe Westbrook.
A receiver at Oklahoma, Westbrook is one of the speediest, best receivers in college football. In most years, he might be a second round pick, at worst.
But there is a problem, not unlike the kind of problem his more famous teammate Joe Mixon deals with.
Westbrook, for all his skills, is being dragged down by his sordid past.
Earlier this decade, Westbook was jailed twice for alleged family violence complaints. In 2012, Westbrook was alleged to have thrown the mother of two of his children to the ground after he broke into her apartment through the window. A year later, he was accused of chomping the same woman in the arm and blasting her in the grill, Mixon-style.
Westbrook now has three children, which he says keeps him grounded. The reason why there is not a national outcry against Westbrook? There is no video.
Westbrook claimed today at the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center that those charges are not the real DeDe Westbrook. He noted that while meeting with teams — he said he has yet to speak to the Bucs — his alleged woman-beating past is teams’ biggest concern with him.
“They love everything I do on the field,” Westbrook said. “They are pretty much questioning my character and who I am off the field.
“I am being completely honest with them. The truth is, what type of person I am , how I carry myself, and I feel I am a very respectful and humble person and they can see that when they are talking to me. So they are able to get their own perception as to how I am.”
To be fair, Westbrook was never convicted of any of these charges. The charges were dropped due to an “inability to locate state’s witness,” per Texas court records, where the alleged incidents took place.
It wouldn’t be a shock to Joe if Westbrook is drafted before Mixon. Why? As the title of the very first music video played on the debut of MTV back in 1981 may suggest, “Video Killed the Radio Star.”
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:04 pm
Why so many kids at such a young age? And personally, I don’t like either of them..
Case closed..
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:25 pm
“Video Killed the Radio Star.”
Always has bothered me.
DeDe’s track record is way worse than Mixon on the surface in terms of alleged crimes. Hell the actual abuse sounds more premeditated and was against his own family vs Mixon hitting a chick in a reactionary moment who had a record of drinking/drugs/and had slapped him in the video before he retaliated (not that it was the right form of retaliation for a man of his build. Definitely wrong)
Everyone knew Ray Rice hit his wife before that video came out. We knew he punched her out. Yet people didn’t freak out till they saw the video. That’s bullsh1t imo. The video shouldn’t change your outrage if it’s just confirming what we already knew.
Greg Hardy sounded like an absolute psychopath in terms of what he did to that one woman. But no video = 2nd chance for you. The reformed Ray Rice seems like a saint compared to that guy
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Oklahoma sure is not catching the same heat that Fsu would have faced if the shoe was on the other foot.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:29 pm
It makes sense. Innocent until proven guilty. A video pretty much confirms guilt or innocence.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:32 pm
No on Westbrook or Mixon for me. It always astonishes me that ppl still justify what Mixon did to that girl.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:45 pm
I would be a hypocrite if I said no to Dede Westbrook after saying I would give Mixon a second chance. So again, if Licht does his research and finds that those incidents aren’t who Dede Westbrook is then I would be ok with him being a Buc.
Now the question is, when could he go? This could be a similar situation to Tyreek Hill last year. A strong performance by Westbrook at the Combine and/or his Pro Day could lead teams to take more of a chance on him, meaning higher pick. Hill was almost undraftable last year until his 4.25 forty at his Pro Day which got him into the 5th round.
Before the Combine I’ve seen him mocked in the 3rd or 4th round. A strong performance could lock him into a Day 2 pick. And yes, I agree that he does get drafted before Mixon. Well, unless Bob Quinn really likes him and Detroit takes a huge risk earlier than expected.
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:46 pm
Joe’s I’ve got a name for you to ask around about
Curtis Samuels, RB (now WR) from OSU
The kid is very very intriguing and could be there in the 4th or 5th round. I see him as a Sterling Shepard type that could be a real playmaker for this offense.
Please, Joe’s, ask around about this kid. Would love to know what the buzz is
March 3rd, 2017 at 5:52 pm
In no way at all am I protecting this guys previous violent crimes, but he looks like he could be a really good number two for the Bucs. Almost all of those plays were extremely hideous play action from the OU QB and Jameis’ is one of the most beautiful. Jameis went through stuff at FSU and now he has turned into a very mature young man and leader of this team. He can help this kid mature into a better player and man. And if he don’t, Jameis aint gonna have that in his “family.”
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:05 pm
I’m curious who has a 4th or 5th round grade on Curtis Samuel lol
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:07 pm
When a man will lower himself to beat a woman he is worthless. Once a woman beater always a woman beater. Let any of you up here willing to give him a shot think about how you would feel if you had a daughter and some guy beat her. Their behavior is beyond acceptable. Let them play somewhere else. We don’t need choir boys but no thank you. Many people despise Michael Vick because of some dogs he never killed but people will give these guys a pass.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:19 pm
Bo…you don’t know DeDe.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:22 pm
Eric S. Says:
“No on Westbrook or Mixon for me. It always astonishes me that ppl still justify what Mixon did to that girl.”
Not only that but some said they’d do the same. I wonder what their wives/gf’s would say about that.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:28 pm
No problem…….DeDe is from Oklahoma…….GMC could mentor him in a Christianly-Fatherly way…….then he could beat his Ex and help her up afterwards.
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:32 pm
TBBF…lol omg.
Classic!
March 3rd, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Hahaha tbbf!
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:00 pm
I literally just snorted LOLOL
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:08 pm
If the law deems they paid their price or that they weren’t guilty of a crime, who am I to say that they shouldn’t play. I’m more frustrated with the law system that doesn’t come down hard enough on said people than the people themselves. Once they are through with it in the eyes of the law I’m fine if they can help my team win. If it becomes a distraction and they can’t help the team then cut them. I’m over hoping we only get high moral players. As long as they don’t commit crimes while being a buc, oh well. I hated Sapp as a person, but loved that he suited up as a pewter pirate on sundays.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:09 pm
Regarding the Mixon situation my wife said the young woman no longer deserved her “lady” status once she hit Joe Mixon and that she got what she got because of her own actions. If it was a guy Mixon hit it wouldn’t even be news. If she didn’t want anything to do with Mixon why did she wave him over to her table? Why did she think it was okay to hit somebody from behind as he is walking away? I’ve heard this saying before and it applies perfectly here, “don’t start nothin, won’t be nothin”. Had the young girl not hit Mixon everyone here except for NosBos would be clamoring for the Bucs to draft Mixon in the first.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:19 pm
Not only that but some said they’d do the same. I wonder what their wives/gf’s would say about that.
—————-
If they were dumb enough to put their hands on him first, then what they feel shouldnt matter. I personally would never hit a woman but I would never think less of a man for defending himself against a woman who thought she was a man.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:31 pm
As far as Westbrook goes though, breaking into her aparement and throwing her to the ground and If “chomping her in the arm” means he actually bit her… sounds like he just went nuts to me.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:35 pm
USFBuc says “If it was a guy Mixon hit it wouldn’t even be news.” Are you serious! It was not a man that he punched. That has to be dumbest thing I have ever read on this site! Do you beat your woman USF? I ask because it sure as hell sounds like it. She had it coming is basically what you are saying. I have news for you, if an athete punches a woman in the face it will be news every time.
March 3rd, 2017 at 7:38 pm
Licht and the boys aren’t even talking to him so he ain’t coming here. At least the guys in charge have some kind of moral compass!
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:08 pm
I would take a chance on Dede Westbrook, 5th round or later. Worth the risk.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:10 pm
Business is trade by border. He would be there to produce. He don’t produce he’s gone.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:11 pm
**trade by barter
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:44 pm
I’ll take either of them very late in the draft or as an UDFA. I’m the exception to the rule. I believe everyone deserves a second chance. I admit that it’s disgusting to hit a woman particularly via a blast to the dome but we all made stupid mistakes as teen-agers or twenty-something year olds.
March 3rd, 2017 at 8:48 pm
@Couch Fan. I get that. I get how a man may need to defend himself from a woman. I’m all about Mixon getting a second chance. In fact, I think we should draft him in the 7th round. With that said, let’s not pretend that in any way Mixon was defending himself. He could have pushed her, even pushed her to the ground and nobody would raise a big stink but, come on, did you see the video? No way he needed to defend himself from a tiny little blond thing that posed no threat.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:03 pm
Oh im not defending Mixon. The tape looked awful. There is no excuse for what he did and I dont know enough about the facts to defend him. I was speakin more from a general standpoint on his situation. This Westbrook situation though seems completely different according to what Joe has said in this article.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:16 pm
There is a major problem with folks discussing Mixon here. There is the video which we’ve all seen…and there are the reports of what happened on the sidewalk that led to the altercation inside the club on video.
I was not at any of these altercations so I let the judicial system handle however they wish. Mixon frightens me a bit more than Westbrook because of his behavior AFTER the infamous video. He should have been a choirboy when given the second chance. Many reports indicate he hasn’t been. Given all the talent in this draft why take the chance.
I do not care so much about the transgressions if indeed these guys have learned and are not operating as they formerly did…I just worry about the chemistry in the locker room.
Bottom line for me is Licht and Koetter…if they do due diligence and decide the player is either not guilty or has reformed…think #3 in the first case and Noah in the 2nd case…I’ll trust their judgement. I think the ASJ fiasco has taught Licht an excellent lesson.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:17 pm
@ TouchdownTampabay
First of, ad hominem attacks, like “do you beat your woman?” just show the weakness in your position. In answer to your question though, no I do not beat my wife.
Second, that statement about it not being news if he had hit another man was a quote from the attorney general in Okalahoma.
Third, she broke the law when she attacked him first. Where is your social outrage against her violently attacking another person?
Fourth, you could actually try to answer some of my questions. Why did she wave him over to her table if she really wanted nothing to do with him? Why did she wait to call the police until well after the incident? Why did none of her male friends come to her aid? Why do you feel that she was justified in attacking him but he was not allowed to defend himself against her?
Finally, why do you assume that I am for violence against women? I simply argued that if she didn’t wish to be punched she should not have attacked Joe Mixon. The kid was walking away from her table when she started attacking him. A more simple version of the argument for you, if you don’t want to overdose on drugs, don’t use drugs. This position is infallible so don’t try and argue against it.
Also no “white knight arguments” they are not a real defense of your attack on me as a person.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:24 pm
@ Stpetebucsfan – what other behavior of Mixon’s has you worried? I read about his tearing up of a parking ticket and egging on the crowd at a game but I have not heard anything else concerning him.
Personally, reading this post I would be more worried about a guy who went through somebody’s window to attack them and then in another incident bite them. Westbrook to me seems to have shown more of a pattern of violence towards women that he is in a relationship with.
I do agree that if we are considering any of these guys then a very detailed background and maybe mental evaluation should be done on them.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:26 pm
@ touchdowntampabay – also they have not talked to Mixon because he is not at the combine. I am sure that they will have somebody looking into him and talking to him very covertly before and after his pro day.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Right on Couch.
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:36 pm
Pass
March 3rd, 2017 at 9:59 pm
Too many opinions that means nothing… Damn if any player is allowed to seek employment in the SHIELD I’LL lobby for said person if he can help my team WIN… Let these young men live there lives fu¢kers… Your living yours…
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:05 pm
@TouchdownTampabay
I’m a woman and when I was a teenager I got into more than my fair share of fights with guys. I was taught if you hit a guy you better be able to finish it. Right or wrong, it’s apparently up for debate. Before I watched the video, I was all about Mixon needing a heftier punishment. They made it seem like he hit this poor girl. After watching it, she deserved to be hit back. Granted he could have approached it more maturely, but he didn’t and he shouldn’t have been punished for it. The table isn’t on trial by keyboard warriors and it’s what really hurt her. He shouldn’t have his future ruined over this. She was a drunk and stupid girl that bit off more than she could chew. She was underage to be drinking and had been busted for drugs. She ran before the cops got there because she didn’t want to be busted again. People need to get over this whole all women are flowers regardless their actions. They aren’t.
Attacking a man and calling him a wife beater because you don’t like what he’s saying is exactly what’s wrong with the world today. You should take a good look at yourself before judging others.
March 3rd, 2017 at 10:25 pm
Cmurda – all I need to know are the facts. Facts are facts and she broke the law. If she didn’t want to get punched she should have considered her actions before she carried through on them. I always tell people you can do whatever you want in life so long as you can handle the consequences.
Can you attack somebody and not be violent? The act of attacking another person is violence in and of itself. That’s why they call it domestic violence. There are not degrees of it like domestic non-violent, or domestic sort of violent. It’s just domestic violence regardless of the level of damage caused.
I think my position is clear though that he too should have thought about what he stood to lose by hitting her. He has lost far more than she did and he should have been smart enough to walk away. To disregard her actions before, during, and after the event just shows that you are unwilling to listen to facts.
What would you have said about Mixon had he called the police and filed battery charges against her without hitting her? What if Mixon had lost an eye while she was clawing at his face? Should she have been held financially responsible for his loss of NFL income? Did you watch the entire video?
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:00 pm
@USF
I don’t know man. I saw the video but maybe not the full length version. All I know is I didn’t see this 90lb chick as a threat. We can agree to disagree but we agree on one thing. USF BABY!
March 3rd, 2017 at 11:10 pm
this kids domestic violence history is not our problem, the lack of decent weopons for Winston is, hold your focking nose and lets get this done in the 3rd or fourth round. he is going to drop and we are gonna be there ready for his playmaking abilities.
March 4th, 2017 at 12:19 am
I got a rule that I like be by: Keep your hands to yourself! Let these guys have a chance to get it right, I would hate to see Mixon go to someone in our division, get himself together and run that rock down our throats for the next 6 or 7 years, all because we wouldn’t pull the trigger! MIXON COULD MAKE THE BUCS GREAT AGAIN! But we must continue to build a wall…..but not in Mexico…dumb a$$!!
March 4th, 2017 at 12:52 am
2nd round pick call it on Licht
March 4th, 2017 at 7:52 am
@cmurda USF should have a good year this year, I wish Mack had come back to have a final shot at winning the AAC and a big bowl
March 4th, 2017 at 8:12 am
Sorry to hear a woman chime in and say it is ok for a man to punch her in the face if she gets out of line.
March 4th, 2017 at 8:18 am
USF she was a small little teenager and he is a big strong college athlete. He had many options such as walking away or pushing her away. Wailing on her face with his fist really shouldn’t have been on the table as an option there. The fact that he chose that course of action says a lot about what type of man he is.
March 4th, 2017 at 11:05 am
Touchdown,
this kids dv history is our opportunity!–why is it up to the Bucs to do the “right” thing. we all have to want to win more than anything. We are not going to use a 1st or a second on him.Best Weapons for Winston at all cost. Stop worrying over someone who could of walked away but chose to stay and have kids with this man. If all we spend is a later round on him–perfect! We can dump him when/if he regresses.
Yes touchdown I am a straight woman–we care about football, Bucs and combine, etc just like a guy.
Anything to get the Bucs in the playoffs–worth it!
March 4th, 2017 at 11:31 am
I am of the mindset that the gal should not of bothered with police. Wait till he is asleep, take his phone, take baseball bat to both knees, while he is incapacitated, pack up and and leave. So you have to understand the dynamics of domestic violence and stop feeling so sorry for the “powerless” woman. Getting hit more than once by the same guy is always a choice.
Westbrook in the 3-4th is a deal–watch his you tube–worth it.