Comment woodbuck27:
Tony Mandarich was the Green Bay Packers second overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft behind quarterback Great Troy Aikman. The third selection was the dynamic RB and great Barry Sanders, the fourth,LBer great Derrick Thomas, and the fifth selection, cornerback great Deion Sanders.
Mandarich is the only player of those five not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is tied with Charles Rogers and Clint Jones as the second highest drafted Michigan State player ever (behind Bubba Smith).
He is also the highest-drafted Canadian-born player in NFL history. Is this fact even arguably, one of our greatest embarrassments!? Nope !
Tony Mandarich was drafted as an NFL eligible player by the Green Bay Packers. Here is a LINK to the CFL's 1989 Draft Class. CFL Scouts were 'High on players from Universities such as 'Slippery Rock' University of Pennsylvania.:
The CFL 1989 Draft Class:
https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/1989/
So what did the Packers miss when they decided this was their man in the 1989 Draft? Packerrats, maybe you can glean the answer to that by reading this article? Maybe you can't?
" There's too often something that might offer a weakness to any man." Edwin
https://www.si.com/vault/1989/04/24/...s-up-opponents
THE BIG ENCHILADA
Tony Mandarich, a top NFL prospect, is a chowhound who chews up opponents
By Rick Telander
An excerpt from this story:
" ..." It is a couple of weeks before the draft and Mandarich and Rory Leidelmeyer hoist iron at the Uptown Gym in suburban Whittier, where Mandarich has lived in a rented condominium since moving to California. The Uptown is a bare-bones pit for serious metal junkies. There is nothing here but bars, plates and primitive machines. Fly strips hang like stalactites from the dirty ceiling. Over the PA. system Axl Rose sings: "I used to love her/But I had to kill her," and Mandarich grunts as he does stiff-legged deadlifts with 465 pounds.
Mandarich's girlfriend, Amber Ligon, who came west with him, does tricep curls across the room. A former violinist and Michigan State student, she is now an aspiring bodybuilder, who says, "I'm never leaving California."
"She used to go out with Todd Krumm, our free safety from a year ago," says Mandarich with bemusement. "He's with the Bears now—not real big, slow, a normal guy, kind of an all-American type. And she trades that for me, a sicko."
Leidelmeyer and Mandarich talk about how they are going to get matching 1,200-cc Harley-Davidsons and cruise through the streets of L.A., with their long hair flying, in ripped Guns n' Roses T-shirts, faded jeans and black leather chaps.
"Biceps exploding." says Leidelmeyer. "Two crossed guns on the gas tanks," says Mandarich. They smile at the vision.
That afternoon as Mandarich relaxes with Amber at the condominium, a telegram arrives from the Green Bay Packers. It reads: "Tony, please call Charlie Davis or Tom Braatz concerning travel to Green Bay for predraft physical before end of week."
"Yeah, right!" hoots Mandarich.
Later, Leidelmeyer drops by. The subject of steroids comes up. If Mandarich hasn't used steroids yet, well, why hasn't he?
The big man is silent for a time. "I might," he says finally.
"If he feels limited, he'll have to open that next door," says Leidelmeyer.
Who is Tony Mandarich? There is a Bible on his bedside table, a huge picture of Jesus over his bed, a pair of handcuffs on the stick shift of his car.
Mandarich calls Green Bay and asks for Davis, the offensive line coach. He pauses. The person on the other end is asking something.
"Tell him Axl Rose is calling."..."
Comment woodbuck27:
It's not always what you see that should compel an GM to approve of a certain player; even go 'all monkey' over that man. It's too often the stuff he doesn't see that should steer him away from that guy and to make a wiser decision.
You've got that Genie in a bottle. If you had a choice between having 'the Smarts and intelligence' or 'Wisdom and near perfect Integrity'? What would you choose?
Other References Related To This:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Mandarich
https://www.si.com/vault/2009/03/09/...ery-very-sorry
http://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=4073575
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