Medical reasons why Saints may have passed on RB Tyjae Spears (1 Viewer)

[SonOfNOLA]

There may have been concern that he wouldn’t play out his rookie deal, making it a gamble to select him with the 3rd rounder. Hines Ward and Elway played without an ACL, but it’s different wear and tear for a RB without it long term.

 

[B-Train]

This noise magically surfaced during draft week. Hard to say to what degree it’s true and/or how if affects him. Watching him play this last season it didn’t seem to have an impact.

 

[St4ever]

I think he would of been the third back and with that roll you have to play special teams which is more wear and tear on a bad knee

 

[Hadders]

His leg must have been falling off for the Saints not to pick him on injuries history

 

[Nolan]

This noise magically surfaced during draft week. Hard to say to what degree it’s true and/or how if affects him. Watching him play this last season it didn’t seem to have an impact.

I don't think there's anything magical about it releasing, teams knew well before the tweets surfaced. Sure, it didn't have an impact last season but I think teams are looking for more than just short-term productivity even at the halfback position.

 

[TribuneUK]

This noise magically surfaced during draft week. Hard to say to what degree it’s true and/or how if affects him. Watching him play this last season it didn’t seem to have an impact.

The fact is undeniable that teams had medical red flags on him. The fact we haven't heard about it as much as fans until now doesn't means teams haven't known for months. They are incredibly diligent on this stuff.

I hope the guy beats all the odds and has a long and productive career, but it's absolutely the case that teams think long and hard about the medical risk when potentially adding a player.

None of this diminishes what he's achieved to date, but past returns don't necessarily guarantee future production.

TLDR; What Nolan said.

 

[Saintsphere]

Tulane fans are not happy I see

 

[nakadish]

There may have been concern that he wouldn’t play out his rookie deal, making it a gamble to select him with the 3rd rounder. Hines Ward and Elway played without an ACL, but it’s different wear and tear for a RB without it long term.

Isn't "not unstable" a good thing? Are knees suppose to be unstable? Maybe that explains why my knee sometimes goes left when I want to go right.

 

[nakadish]

I don't think there's anything magical about it releasing, teams knew well before the tweets surfaced. Sure, it didn't have an impact last season but I think teams are looking for more than just short-term productivity even at the halfback position.

The funny part is that the Saints have take lots of criticism for taking players with an injury history. But, then when they pass on a player with an injury history, they still get criticized.

 

[Tapxe]

Tulane fans are not happy I see

Live action of the threads on this one.

Poster: OMG this sucks! Saints suck! They can't evaluate prospects like I can.
2nd poster: Over react much? You can't possibly know as much as they do and won't lose your job if wrong.
Poster: No, I am confident because I read some stuff and looked at other stuff and watched his plays on TV.
2nd poster: But the team has known this med info since at least the combine. They also draft for fit which you can't possibly know without being in those meetings.
Poster: You're wrong I'mma throw another tantrum now, because I'm smarter than everyone else so must be right.

 

[Grumpy Old Manatee]

Not sure what his social life has to do with anything…

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

This noise magically surfaced during draft week. Hard to say to what degree it’s true and/or how if affects him. Watching him play this last season it didn’t seem to have an impact.

You've been hammering this notion for quite a while. Are you trying to imply that it was a false report and leaked to cause him to drop purposely? And let's say it is a false report (I don't think that), it's not like we picked an inferior RB. Miller, Spears and Achane were the next bubble of backs in the draft. They have different skill sets but none of them is the "wrong" selection. Saints may have gone with Miller even if Spears had a very sound knee. I like Spears a lot, but I think the Saints made the wise choice.

 

[faceman]

Not sure what his social life has to do with anything…

I see you caught that too

 

[B-Train]

You've been hammering this notion for quite a while. Are you trying to imply that it was a false report and leaked to cause him to drop purposely? And let's say it is a false report (I don't think that), it's not like we picked an inferior RB. Miller, Spears and Achane were the next bubble of backs in the draft. They have different skill sets but none of them is the "wrong" selection. Saints may have gone with Miller even if Spears had a very sound knee. I like Spears a lot, but I think the Saints made the wise choice.

I’m not saying it’s fake. I’m saying the timing and intentions are suspect. Happens every year prior to draft. I’m choosing to trust what I see with my eyes: His performance on the field.

I’m not commenting on other RBs here, just staying on topic since this thread is about Spears. I believe he got an unfair shake leading right up to the draft but I’m happy for him that he still got taken in the 3rd. Titans got a great RB.

 

[B-Train]

Tulane fans are not happy I see

Yet every single year this board is full of LSU fans doing the same thing and hardly anyone bats an eye.