Bengals Defend Troubled Draft Pick

I doubt anyone was truly surprised on Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals announced their sixth-round pick.

Yes, Abilene Christian running back Bernard Scott is a talented football player. However, it's worth noting that the Bengals seem to have once again ignored the rap sheet of a player before using a draft pick on him. As Ryan Wilson pointed out Sunday, Scott has been arrested on at least five separate occasions, and actually hit a coach during one of his college stops.

It was doubtful that the Bengals would defend this choice by saying that they weren't aware of Scott's past. Naturally, they were quick to defend their pick, a player whose last college (Abilene Christian) was his fourth since 2003.

"I think at that point in the draft it was worth the opportunity," (head coach Marvin) Lewis said. "He has kind of gotten his life back together. Wherever this guy has been, he has succeeded and run for a lot of yardage. We had a lot of time talking with people around him the last couple of years, and we felt really good about him."

Said running backs coach Jim Anderson: "I think that the image is what (media) project. Give the kid a chance. I think that's the American way - to give someone a chance. Let him come in and do what he can do."

For his part, Scott is trying to make it clear that he's matured.

"I cleared up the issues of my past. All of the mistakes I have made, I have learned from them," Scott said. "I have become a better person. I am not ashamed to talk about what I did. I made those mistakes and I have to answer those questions and go forward from there."

Now, it's likely that someone else would have either drafted Scott or pursued him as a free agent once the seventh round ended. However, these are the Bengals, and given the problems they've had with off-field behavior, they really should know better. Let some other team take the public relations hit that comes from drafting a player with Scott's background.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-27-2009 @ 1:19PM

pugz said...

VERY bad idea! if you want to see the results of drafting loser-thugs with mile-long rap sheets, you need look no further than the 0-16 detroit lying-ons.

4-27-2009 @ 1:36PM

DAVE said...

Just so ya know... I live in Abilene and Have been around to see this guy play. He's a great guy who admittedly did some things wrong, but if anybody deserves a chance it's him...Careful with the thug remarks about people you know nothing about! I'm just saying....

4-27-2009 @ 3:50PM

big blue said...

Well put and I agree 100%. It's hardly mentioned when some of these so called "thug athletes" do community service and visit hospitals to visit sick kids. Much of that is over looked, Aaron Curry comes to mind.
Great people talk about IDEAS
Average people talk about THINGS
Small people talk about OTHER PEOPLE..

4-27-2009 @ 4:47PM

greatr said...

It seems everyone in the world realizes that when you continue to make the same mistake (drafting trash) and expecting the results to be different, you end up with a team of trash.....sounds like Cincinati to me.

4-27-2009 @ 5:09PM

All of yall who are doggin' cincy for picking thugs, I sure hope you don't ever stain your lily white choir robes. Granted they have had some bad experience with criminals but this guy's problems were all when he was realyy young and dumb and he'll be the first to tell you that. It's a crap shoot anyway, I guess the guy's that get in trouble are the one's with a histoty HUH!

4-27-2009 @ 5:34PM

janandrick84 said...

Bernard and Rey can room together. Good luck with both choices. Didn't they wonder why everyone else shyed away from him? Cinci you sure appear to be a slow learner.

4-27-2009 @ 6:01PM

Dave said...

Want to talk about Mike Vick? Big deal, He has a wrap sheet, you don't? We have all made mistakes and as far as the Coach being hit, good, I hope he whacked him good, I've seen how some of these Coaches treat people, 300 pound do-littlers with a huge beergut who prespire just thinking about the Game, get a life and give Him a chance, He can't be all bad.

4-28-2009 @ 8:31PM

bookdriver said...

first off it is perspire....... what does an animal abuser have to do with things? that is what I call a thug. I am a cincy fan and we will see what we see. to me it seems people forget a lot of things right or wrong, if someone performs. look at some of the old hall of famers bragging about partying right up to game time. it's a game people, but thugs are thugs regardless of race. it's actions and future actions that matter.