Character Still Key With Mark Dominik
February 27th, 2011
The NFL Combine, aside from being a glorified track practice (does it really matter just how far a quarterback can long jump; has a Super Bowl been won because a quarterback can jump high?) and a winter conclave for NFL types, is a hive of espionage where teams and agents alike, taking advantage of the hordes of media which flocked to the Indianapolis, plant lies and innuendo so a client/player/team might better themselves somehow.
It seems one of the many rumors floating around central Indiana now is that the Bucs don’t care about character because they drafted/signed Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount last year.
Speaking to Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune, Dominik dismissed this notion.
Though no one has said so publicly, some around the league have begun to wonder if the Bucs have started to cut corners when it comes to character. Dominik has heard the rumblings, and he swears no corners have been cut.
“I don’t believe we have (cut any corners) at all on character,” said Dominik, who is especially upset with those who believe he may have lowered the Bucs’ standard for character by bringing Williams and Blount onboard.
“I’m proud of both of those guys and what they’ve accomplished so far,” he said. “I don’t view them as character issues or concerns, (either) on our team (or) in our locker room. I’m glad they’re members of our team.”
Dominik again Sunday had a sitdown live on Sirius NFL Radio, which Joe will have transcribed by tomorrow, and Dominik again emphasized nothing is more important to him than character.
It’s because Dominik and his scouts did so much research is why Dominik felt comfortable in acquiring Williams and Blount. It appears teams that have put in less work are trying to sully Dominik’s reputation as some form of covering for themselves.
February 27th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Here’s where the concept of “start(ing) to cut corners” make no sense:
The team under Bruce Allen and Jon Gruden drafted a guys like Tanard Jackson and Aquib Talib and signed a guy like Jerramy Stevens. So who is getting the concept that there were EVER choir boys in Tampa when Dominik arrived? Hell Warren Sapp wasn’t exactly a church mouse and he was the face of the franchise for years. Stupid question to ask by Cummings even dumber to report. You should no better since you cover the team, but I guess you don’t.
Dominik runs the team for ONE year, and in his second draft takes a flier on Mike Williams. So again, Dominik didn’t sit back and keep with any ideology that he wouldn’t take such a risk. After he avoided Blount during and after the draft (and he did) Dominik saw the success of Williams in the off-season saw the need for a RB and was probably very relieved when he got a mulligan on Blount after the Titans released him.
I’m sure Dominik grades character highly, he drafted a number of team captains last year and good guys. But what he did in the draft is no different that he or any other GM has done, you take risks. If anything the people “around the league” sounds like those airing some sour grapes because they whiffed on those two.
February 27th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
ahh….temptation is always delicious
February 27th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
I’m soooo tired of people saying Aquib Talib. Damnit, it is AQIB TALIB…please get it right!!!
February 27th, 2011 at 5:58 pm
aquib talib rhonde barber and adrian claybourne haha
February 27th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Sounds like sour grapes from the teams that did not end up wit Williams and Blount.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
In the NFL, “character” means not getting caught.
February 28th, 2011 at 12:24 am
Who cares what these people think? Blount is running and jumping over and Williams is blowing by their ‘character’ guys. Meanwhile no problems in the locker room with either one. Stay the course.
February 28th, 2011 at 12:32 am
mistakes should not have any effect on a human no matter what mistakes he done. We as humans always make mistakes.
February 28th, 2011 at 5:15 pm
Personally, I don’t want to see a bunch of goody goody ass kissers on my football team.
We have to remember, these are KIDS! Kids make mistakes. As long as they are not Ax Murderers it is ok with me. Geeze, sometimes I think we want Tampa to draft Elders for our Church, instead of Football Players ?