Did anyone know this about Laurinitas???

[FreeTedWilliams]

Life in Animal house prepared Laurinaitis for NFL | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

I would have thought that this nugget would have stuck in my brain. His father is "Animal" from the WWE's Road Warriors! This can't be the first time that this has come out. Did I just miss the boat??

The last time the Pats drafted the son of a famous wrestler, he went on to a HOF career, maybe he is worth a shot.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

That's why his nickname is : "Li'l Animal"

 

[CrazyDave]

Odd that we're hearing so little chatter regarding this kid, no?

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Lil Animal is still one of my draft favorites but others on this board dont like his play.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

lil animal is still one of my draft favorites but others on this board dont like his play.

...........

 

[mayoclinic]

Odd that we're hearing so little chatter regarding this kid, no?

Ed Thompson from Scout.com's would agree with you: "it appears that some people got so used to James Laurinaitis playing at a consistently high level of performance for three years in the Big Ten that he's become a first-round talent who has fallen off their radar a bit. And that's simply ridiculous."

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL Draft - 7 Points: Don't overlook OSU's Laurinaitis

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Ed Thompson from Scout.com's would agree with you: "it appears that some people got so used to James Laurinaitis playing at a consistently high level of performance for three years in the Big Ten that he's become a first-round talent who has fallen off their radar a bit. And that's simply ridiculous."

FOX Sports on MSN - NFL Draft - 7 Points: Don't overlook OSU's Laurinaitis

Yeh, chatter about his consistent high level of play...by fans and mediots. Let's face it, the kid shows up and does his job, but he doesn't jump off the screen as a playmaker. Some mediots with scouting sources have been posting for two years now that Freeman is the better all-round LB on that team. Laurinaitis is what we thought he is, a 4-3 WLB.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

...........

LOL

Wasnt directly referring to you buddy. Just meant in general. There are some who just shy away from his potential and play. I really liked Poz a few years ago and hes turning out quite well for Buffalo but Poz couldnt hold a candle to what James did in college and what he could bring to the pros.

 

[maverick4]

Somewhat related in terms of news you probably didn't know about a prospect, I read recently that Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews recently made a Facebook Group called "White Nation" and according to PFT, "among other things advocated the 'arrest [of] black babies before they become criminals.”

ProFootballTalk.com - Matthews, Cushing Might Have Had Some Explaining To Do

 

[VJCPatriot]

Sounds like it was a joke rather than anything serious. I could certainly see that scenario happen considering the ratio of elite black to white athletes at USC. If it was meant seriously, obviously that's a red flag. But it doesn't sound like it from the article.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Somewhat related in terms of news you probably didn't know about a prospect, I read recently that Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews recently made a Facebook Group called "White Nation" and according to PFT, "among other things advocated the 'arrest [of] black babies before they become criminals.”

ProFootballTalk.com - Matthews, Cushing Might Have Had Some Explaining To Do

the story was a few black players would call Brian and Clay and a few other white players that hung around together White nation. They clowned around with it and made a group. The other players on the team knew about it and had no problem with it as an ongoing joke because they had started with it.

 

[DaBruinz]

Life in Animal house prepared Laurinaitis for NFL | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

I would have thought that this nugget would have stuck in my brain. His father is "Animal" from the WWE's Road Warriors! This can't be the first time that this has come out. Did I just miss the boat??

The last time the Pats drafted the son of a famous wrestler, he went on to a HOF career, maybe he is worth a shot.

This nugget was mentioned after the 2007 College Bowl season was concluded and people were wondering if Laurinaitis would declare. ESPN actually did a 10 minute clip about it.

My take from that clip, though, was tht Laurinaitis' head may not be fully in it for football because he mentioned that if it didn't work out, he had a job waiting for him in the WWE and wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

This nugget was mentioned after the 2007 College Bowl season was concluded and people were wondering if Laurinaitis would declare. ESPN actually did a 10 minute clip about it.

My take from that clip, though, was tht Laurinaitis' head may not be fully in it for football because he mentioned that if it didn't work out, he had a job waiting for him in the WWE and wanted to follow in his dad's footsteps.

Gee, do you think that Laurinitas might have had access to steriods via his Dad and the WWE? I remember reading that one NFL scout walked up to him at the Combine and said "give me one Ohio St LB that has ever done &%^$$ in the NFL".. (Mike Vrabel called and has taken offense)

I'm not sold on him, especially in the first round. I still think that Malauga is going to be the pick.

 

[CrazyDave]

Anyone want to guess how long he'll be on the board?

 

[VJCPatriot]

He's a second round guy for a 4-3 team.

 

[CrazyDave]

Too bad he was'nt a little bit bigger. He's got a great motor.

 

[KDPPatsfan85]

Sounds like it was a joke rather than anything serious. I could certainly see that scenario happen considering the ratio of elite black to white athletes at USC. If it was meant seriously, obviously that's a red flag. But it doesn't sound like it from the article.

More On The Clay Matthews “White Nation” Issue
Posted by Mike Florio on April 19, 2009, 12:30 p.m.

Our recent dusting off of the whole “White Nation” Facebook controversy involving two former USC players in the current NFL draft class prompted coverage of the issue by various major outlets.

So we’re compelled to present the other side of the story with some facts we have picked up since posting the initial story.

For starters, it appears clear to us that the whole thing was a joke. Though it wasn’t the kind of joke that will result in Stu Chermak or Jay Crespi suggesting a possible pilot with NBC, it was a joke.

As we now understand it, the “White Nation” label was given to the white special teams players by assistant USC coach Todd McNair, who is black.

Matthews’ former roommate at USC and one of his best friends is Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers, who is black.

Matthews’ long-time girlfriend is black.

Finally, and as several readers have pointed out, Matthews’ wouldn’t have survived for two years in a locker room including multiple black players if Matthews were a closet racist.

So while the joke was in our view stupid and unfunny, it wasn’t the product of a racist mindset. And it shouldn’t affect Matthews’ draft stock.

Unless a team is trying to replace the in-house comedian who signed elsewhere during free agency.


ProFootballTalk.com - More On The Clay Matthews “White Nation” Issue

 

[mayoclinic]

More On The Clay Matthews “White Nation” Issue
Posted by Mike Florio on April 19, 2009, 12:30 p.m.

Our recent dusting off of the whole “White Nation” Facebook controversy involving two former USC players in the current NFL draft class prompted coverage of the issue by various major outlets.

So we’re compelled to present the other side of the story with some facts we have picked up since posting the initial story.

For starters, it appears clear to us that the whole thing was a joke. Though it wasn’t the kind of joke that will result in Stu Chermak or Jay Crespi suggesting a possible pilot with NBC, it was a joke.

As we now understand it, the “White Nation” label was given to the white special teams players by assistant USC coach Todd McNair, who is black.

Matthews’ former roommate at USC and one of his best friends is Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers, who is black.

Matthews’ long-time girlfriend is black.

Finally, and as several readers have pointed out, Matthews’ wouldn’t have survived for two years in a locker room including multiple black players if Matthews were a closet racist.

So while the joke was in our view stupid and unfunny, it wasn’t the product of a racist mindset. And it shouldn’t affect Matthews’ draft stock.

Unless a team is trying to replace the in-house comedian who signed elsewhere during free agency.


ProFootballTalk.com - More On The Clay Matthews “White Nation” Issue

I never assumed it was serious - I couldn't see how he would last playing football in such a mixed racial environment if he were truly a closet white supremacist. I think it should a lack of smarts (not particularly by Matthews, but by whoever coined the dumb term in the first place), but I found it hard to take seriously.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

LOL

Wasnt directly referring to you buddy. Just meant in general. There are some who just shy away from his potential and play. I really liked Poz a few years ago and hes turning out quite well for Buffalo but Poz couldnt hold a candle to what James did in college and what he could bring to the pros.

Poz went to the kind of D I knew would be good for him and he's lived up to my expectations there. If James lands in Buffalo he's golden.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Poz went to the kind of D I knew would be good for him and he's lived up to my expectations there. If James lands in Buffalo he's golden.

...touche...