Chiefs Gunther sweet-talking Aaron Curry & his mom... - Page 4

T-post Tom · 08:35 PM

I found it interesting that the Chiefs weren't mentioned here.

Aaron Curry has visits scheduled with the Seahawks, Bengals and Rams in the coming weeks.

As a walkup to the NFL draft on April 25, SI.com writer Ted Keith has arranged to get diary entries from Aaron Curry, an All-America linebacker at Wake Forest who is projected to go high in the first round. You can read his first entry here, his second entry here and his third entry here.

After the combine, I was back in North Carolina for a few days. I had a chance to go over to Winston-Salem and visit with some people at Wake Forest. It was my first time back since I graduated in December and, of course, everyone's talking about basketball now. I'm friends with all the guys on the team -- Jeff Teague, Al-Farouq Aminu, James Johnson, all of them. I haven't been able to pay as much attention to the team as I'd like this year, but I plan on catching up.

I also had a chance to have dinner with Jon Beason, a middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He gave me the rundown on what everything will be like in the NFL. He said it will get chaotic and once I enter minicamp it will be even crazier. He also said not to get too stressed out being a rookie. Go in there level-headed, don't try to take over the team or take over the world. Just work hard and learn hard. Get with a veteran to take me through the playbook. Take it just as serious as I took it in college football and high school football. And do that every single day.

That was good advice for when I went to visit the Detroit Lions, who hold the top pick in the draft. It went very well and a lot of the conversations were just regular ones, with them trying to learn what type of person I am and how I would fit in there. I met every coach on the defensive side of the ball and we just talked about how I would fit in, where the franchise was headed. I got to have breakfast with new Lions linebacker, Julian Peterson. He was giving me a lot of advice about how to be successful in the NFL. I also got to talk with another Lions linebacker, Ernie Sims, about how to be professional. I figured if they wanted to draft me, they'd put me between those two Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers and just let me wreak havoc.

I mostly just went from room to room and talked to all the coaches. Then they had me meet with Martin Mayhew, the general manager. He mostly seemed interested in how I was doing with this personally, all the attention of being a possible top pick. He also asked about my body and if I was ready to accept the responsibility of being the overall No. 1 pick in the draft. I told him it was something I'm willing to live up to. There's no pressure for me if they draft me that high. It's still just the same game of football, and I like to play the game of football.

When I met with Gunther Cunningham, the defensive coordinator, he told me that I've got a level head, and that the way I carry myself is a testament to the way my mom raised me. She got a kick out of that when I told her. We speak on the phone all the time; she's the first person I call whenever I get a chance. I'm always on the phone with her. She's like my mom and my manager. She doesn't care where I go play, but she said if I get too far away from her she's going to come out and be near me. Of course, if it was up to her I'd play right back in my hometown of Fayetteville, N.C.

I didn't get to see anything in Detroit. All I got to see was the Lions facilities, the airport, the headquarters for football and the practice field. There was even a big mall behind my hotel, but I didn't get to see any of it. The GM and the coaches were telling me there're nice places to live in Detroit, so I'm not too worried about the city I go to. I just want to play the game.

The next teams on my list of visits are the Seattle Seahawks on the 30th, the Cincinnati Bengals on April 1st, and the St. Louis Rams on the 15th. I don't know what those teams are going to do. In fact, I don't know what any teams are going to do in the draft. Nobody knows until they hear their name called. The coaches in Detroit told me they don't even know who's going to get drafted. They told me they'd like to have me there but they also wanted me to know they're not the ones making the decision.

I've been back in Arizona working out at Athlete Performance Institute, trying to get ready for my pro day at Wake Forest on March 23. Two of my best friends have been out here with me for a couple weeks, Jonathan Patterson and John Fuller. I couldn't go home to Fayetteville, so they brought Fayetteville to me. They tell me not to get a big head and not to pay attention to any of the pre-draft hype. I feel like I'm still in high school trying to find a place in the world. They always tell me I haven't shown them anything yet and that the NFL would just be me getting started.

We've mostly been playing video games on PlayStation 3, like Call of Duty, NBA 2K9, NHL 2K9 and, especially, Madden. I created myself and put myself at free safety, so that way I could do what I want and go around and make the tackles I want. Not that I have any interest in playing safety in the NFL, but it's fun for a video game. I put myself on my hometown team, the Carolina Panthers. I know Jamila, my girlfriend, would love it if I wound up with them so I could be back in Charlotte, but that's probably not going to happen since they don't have a first-round pick, and that's fine. I'll go wherever I need to go.

I'm anxious to find out where that will be. The word is the week before the draft is a dead period when teams stop contacting players. By then, I'll be ready to just lay on my mom's couch and relax.

Mecca · 03-19-2009, 08:20 PM

Curry is a nice player who tests extremely well because he's athletic but his tape never really "pops" I don't think he'll be a superstar because he never was that in college...he'll do what he's asked to do and be disciplined but I'm not sure how someone can justify that as a top 5 pick.

Hell you can pull up his tape and Maualugas tape and you see Maualuga pop on tape.

**doomy3** · 03-19-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth CarlSatan

Is my eyesight fading, or does it seem like he puts on the brakes right before he hits?

OMG! That's exactly who I was thinking of as I watched that!

Except that your "assessment" was basically the exact opposite of his. Milkman said he's a good tackler. You said about 3 posts ago that Brandon Flowers is a better tackler than him.

T-post Tom · 03-19-2009, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Only the Lions would draft a middle linebacker with the #1 pick when LB is the only strength of their team. With Daunte Culpepper as their QBOTF they're going to be next year's 2007 Dolphins.

Building on strength isn't a bad idea. Look at what the Giants are doing with their defensive line.

Mecca · 03-19-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

Building on strength isn't a bad idea. Look at what the Giants are doing with their defensive line.

Other than a Dline can mask the rest of your defense, having the best LB's in the league in a 4-3 will get you a handful of shit.

T-post Tom · 03-19-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

History of losing playoff games? Not sure of what history you're speaking of

There was this guy that used to be the Asst. GM out at Arrowhead. They called him D.T. He kind of had an okay career at LB. [The same position that Curry plays.] You can catch some of his highlights on YouTube. YOU might want to check it out.

Mecca · 03-19-2009, 08:26 PM

Showing Aaron Curry a highlight of Derrick Thomas would be like sitting DeMarcus Ware down and showing him Derrick Brooks.

RustShack · 03-19-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

There was this guy that used to be the Asst. GM out at Arrowhead. They called him D.T. He kind of had an okay career at LB. [The same position that Curry plays.] You can catch some of his highlights on YouTube. YOU might want to check it out.

Just because you play the same position doesn't mean you do the same thing. Thats like showing Donnie Edwards film of Merriman.

T-post Tom · 03-19-2009, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Other than a Dline can mask the rest of your defense, having the best LB's in the league in a 4-3 will get you a handful of shit.

Mecca · 03-19-2009, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

You don't agree with that huh?

You give me a top Dline with blah LB's you take the blah DL with the top LB's and I'll show you has the better defense.

RustShack · 03-19-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

T-post Tom · 03-19-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustShack

Tylerthigpen!1! · 03-19-2009, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by milkman

No one is questioning his talent.
But you simply don't take a cover backer in the top 5.

Cover backer is a non-impact position.

what impact positions have top five talent in this draft though? **** the pick, go with your need

RustShack · 03-19-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

You don't agree with that huh?

You give me a top Dline with blah LB's you take the blah DL with the top LB's and I'll show you has the better defense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

No response?

T-post Tom · 03-19-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

You don't agree with that huh?

You give me a top Dline with blah LB's you take the blah DL with the top LB's and I'll show you has the better defense.

"having the best LB's in the league in a 4-3 will get you a handful of shit."

Um, not so much. You overstated your postition.

Mecca · 03-19-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-post Tom

What.....LB is the least significant position on defense unless you play 3-4 which the Lions don't...

If they really take Curry I'm going to bust up laughing they'll have a #1 pick and #11 pick spent on 2 OLB's who don't rush the passer.

03-18-2009, 09:16 PM
T-post Tom Busy in a Kohl's restroom Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milk/Honey/Gazland Casino cash: $1927293	Gunther sweet-talking Aaron Curry & his mom... I found it interesting that the Chiefs weren't mentioned here. Aaron Curry has visits scheduled with the Seahawks, Bengals and Rams in the coming weeks. As a walkup to the NFL draft on April 25, SI.com writer Ted Keith has arranged to get diary entries from Aaron Curry, an All-America linebacker at Wake Forest who is projected to go high in the first round. You can read his first entry here, his second entry here and his third entry here. After the combine, I was back in North Carolina for a few days. I had a chance to go over to Winston-Salem and visit with some people at Wake Forest. It was my first time back since I graduated in December and, of course, everyone's talking about basketball now. I'm friends with all the guys on the team -- Jeff Teague, Al-Farouq Aminu, James Johnson, all of them. I haven't been able to pay as much attention to the team as I'd like this year, but I plan on catching up. I also had a chance to have dinner with Jon Beason, a middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers. He gave me the rundown on what everything will be like in the NFL. He said it will get chaotic and once I enter minicamp it will be even crazier. He also said not to get too stressed out being a rookie. Go in there level-headed, don't try to take over the team or take over the world. Just work hard and learn hard. Get with a veteran to take me through the playbook. Take it just as serious as I took it in college football and high school football. And do that every single day. That was good advice for when I went to visit the Detroit Lions, who hold the top pick in the draft. It went very well and a lot of the conversations were just regular ones, with them trying to learn what type of person I am and how I would fit in there. I met every coach on the defensive side of the ball and we just talked about how I would fit in, where the franchise was headed. I got to have breakfast with new Lions linebacker, Julian Peterson. He was giving me a lot of advice about how to be successful in the NFL. I also got to talk with another Lions linebacker, Ernie Sims, about how to be professional. I figured if they wanted to draft me, they'd put me between those two Pro Bowl-caliber linebackers and just let me wreak havoc. I mostly just went from room to room and talked to all the coaches. Then they had me meet with Martin Mayhew, the general manager. He mostly seemed interested in how I was doing with this personally, all the attention of being a possible top pick. He also asked about my body and if I was ready to accept the responsibility of being the overall No. 1 pick in the draft. I told him it was something I'm willing to live up to. There's no pressure for me if they draft me that high. It's still just the same game of football, and I like to play the game of football. When I met with Gunther Cunningham, the defensive coordinator, he told me that I've got a level head, and that the way I carry myself is a testament to the way my mom raised me. She got a kick out of that when I told her. We speak on the phone all the time; she's the first person I call whenever I get a chance. I'm always on the phone with her. She's like my mom and my manager. She doesn't care where I go play, but she said if I get too far away from her she's going to come out and be near me. Of course, if it was up to her I'd play right back in my hometown of Fayetteville, N.C. I didn't get to see anything in Detroit. All I got to see was the Lions facilities, the airport, the headquarters for football and the practice field. There was even a big mall behind my hotel, but I didn't get to see any of it. The GM and the coaches were telling me there're nice places to live in Detroit, so I'm not too worried about the city I go to. I just want to play the game. The next teams on my list of visits are the Seattle Seahawks on the 30th, the Cincinnati Bengals on April 1st, and the St. Louis Rams on the 15th. I don't know what those teams are going to do. In fact, I don't know what any teams are going to do in the draft. Nobody knows until they hear their name called. The coaches in Detroit told me they don't even know who's going to get drafted. They told me they'd like to have me there but they also wanted me to know they're not the ones making the decision. I've been back in Arizona working out at Athlete Performance Institute, trying to get ready for my pro day at Wake Forest on March 23. Two of my best friends have been out here with me for a couple weeks, Jonathan Patterson and John Fuller. I couldn't go home to Fayetteville, so they brought Fayetteville to me. They tell me not to get a big head and not to pay attention to any of the pre-draft hype. I feel like I'm still in high school trying to find a place in the world. They always tell me I haven't shown them anything yet and that the NFL would just be me getting started. We've mostly been playing video games on PlayStation 3, like Call of Duty, NBA 2K9, NHL 2K9 and, especially, Madden. I created myself and put myself at free safety, so that way I could do what I want and go around and make the tackles I want. Not that I have any interest in playing safety in the NFL, but it's fun for a video game. I put myself on my hometown team, the Carolina Panthers. I know Jamila, my girlfriend, would love it if I wound up with them so I could be back in Charlotte, but that's probably not going to happen since they don't have a first-round pick, and that's fine. I'll go wherever I need to go. I'm anxious to find out where that will be. The word is the week before the draft is a dead period when teams stop contacting players. By then, I'll be ready to just lay on my mom's couch and relax. Last edited by T-post Tom; 03-19-2009 at 08:35 PM..
Posts: 22,273

03-19-2009, 08:20 PM	#46
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-492950	Curry is a nice player who tests extremely well because he's athletic but his tape never really "pops" I don't think he'll be a superstar because he never was that in college...he'll do what he's asked to do and be disciplined but I'm not sure how someone can justify that as a top 5 pick. Hell you can pull up his tape and Maualugas tape and you see Maualuga pop on tape.
Posts: 115,250

03-19-2009, 08:26 PM	#51
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $-492950	Showing Aaron Curry a highlight of Derrick Thomas would be like sitting DeMarcus Ware down and showing him Derrick Brooks.
Posts: 115,250