Adrian McPherson back on the NFL draft day market

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

McPherson enters the 2005 NFL Draft and some team will roll the dice...He's still very young , has a rocket arm and great athleticism, his career ended almost before it ever started...

The former FSU Seminole stole a blank check, filled it out for 3,500 dollars and his career was over, he was also linked to gambling but it was never really proven....

Watching the ESPN piece on McPherson, it looks like whoever ends up gambling on him will have a very intriguing player...he has the same look as Randall Cunningham but stronger, with very little game experience besides the Arena league.

Should be interesting to see which team picks him and where.

Dawoofdaddy · Apr 18, 2005

I expect Dennis Green to be ready to grab this guy. They need a QB and/or if switched to WR, him and Boldin would give secondaries trouble.

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

He's too athletic to be overlooked, even if he's moved eventually , like a Slash or Randal El, or Curry...

I was really imressed with his 225 bench press for 22 reps

Dawoofdaddy · Apr 18, 2005

Exactly. How many of us did silly things as 18-21 year olds that we wouldn't do today. This draft is shallow so some team is going to grab this guy early.

Mr.Smith · Apr 18, 2005

when he played at FSU, he certainly did not have a rocket arm. Also, he could not scramble either, he was not fast at all.

Maybe he has gotten better now, personally I doubt it. Based on ability alone, forget the gambling issues, I would say he is a terrible prospect and a complete waste of a draft pick.

Chris@OlympicSports · Apr 18, 2005

Was a better Hoops player in HS

Won both Mr Basketball + Football in same year

one9 · Apr 18, 2005

A lot of people might not know he is also from the same hometown that produced Peter Warrick.

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

Steve Deberg who backed up quite a few great QB's in his day compared his arm strength and athleticism to John Elway.

All the scouting reports say he has a rocket arm;

Most watchers think he does, due to his excellent size (6'3", 220), and arm strength and exceptional athletic abiltity. His current agent (remember Adrian is already a pro) Leigh Steinberg takes it a step further: "He has the look of a franchise quarterback," Steinberg said. "It's going to be a matter of convincing teams that even though he didn't play three years or four years of college, that whatever team picks him is getting a steal. Our hope is that some franchise will fall in love with him."

one9 · Apr 18, 2005

Warrick also had an incident while attending FSU. He bought clothes from Dillards, and the clerk only charged him a fraction of their price.

Mr.Smith · Apr 18, 2005

what a shock, his agent is telling people he is a franchise quarterback.

I'm telling you he sucks. You'd think since he was on the basketball team it would be a given he could run fast and scramble when neccesary, but he can't.

he isnt anywhere near the realm of an NFL QB throwing wise. He cannot be moved to receiver like a slash, since he is slow.

absolutely a zero on the prospect meter. Like Chris Rix, he can spend some time playing in NFL Europe and cash some paychecks for a few years, but that is his level, nothing more.

franchise QB, that's really funny!

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

How do you see him as slow?

I will agree about the agent, all agents are scumbags...

I'm not defending the guy, just mentioning some respected people like a Steve Deberg have spoken very highly of him...

one9 · Apr 18, 2005

Personally, I would like to see the him have another chance and make it big time. As far as being slow, his 40 time is one of the best ever. His arm strength is tremendous. I hope the kid rocks the house. :suomi:

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

I agree the guy is a spectacular athlete , big arm, quickness, he has all the tools, just lacks experience....He only played a handful of college games...I don't know how you can judge a guy who was only a sophomore and determine he's a 'zero on the prospect meter'...some team will take the gamble...

projected to go in the 3rd round.

More analysis from NFL.com

ANALYSIS
Positives: Excellent athlete who can create something out of nothing … Has outstanding quickness and feet, above-average agility and balance, good change-of-direction and agility and sudden acceleration past the line of scrimmage … Has the ability to set up and throw quickly, showing consistency and a smooth set up … Has good body control to throw on the run and shows speed to his throwing point … Developed a knack for seeing underneath coverage, resulting in a limited amount of tipped passes … Learned to throw the ball away when he should and will not normally force the ball into coverage … Very innovative in the pocket and has the quickness to create problems for the defense with his feet … Plants well to throw and shows a tight spiral behind his tosses … Can get good zip on throws when he sets his feet, showing improvement on accuracy in 2004 arena ball … Has the arm strength to throw the ball 55-60 yards with ease … Shows good zip behind his tosses and is developing above-average deep arm strength that can only get better with maturity … Can drill the ball in the seam and consistently hit the short-area targets, keeping the receivers on their routes with minimal adjustment … Has the strength to get the ball deep, doing a nice job of leading the receiver so his target does not have to wait or come back for the pass … Especially effective with his timing when hitting his receivers in the short and intermediate areas … Can avoid sacks, buy a second chance and make a big play out of a complete disaster thanks to his elusiveness and quickness.

Mr.Smith · Apr 18, 2005

its possible, since he was young when he played at FSU, that he has matured and become a better player. I'll stand by my opinion though.

I did a search and draft scount have him at 4.52 in the 40. thats pretty good. when he played at FSU, he could not scramble though, believe me, he was slow. just a tall very skinny kid who could not run and was a terrible passer.

I truly believe he threw the Wake Forest game he started, probably to get even with some bookies to whom he owed a lot of money. I'm not one to cry fix at all, but his performance in this game was highly, highly suspicious. Once it came out a week or so later he owed bookies thousands he could not pay and had tried to forge checks to pay, his performance in this game became crystal clear.

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

Mr Smith i believe he threw that game too...I posted about the fix on this forum right after the game ended, before it ever came out..I lost alot of money on that game.

I'm not one to cry fix either, another game he came into he fumbled away the run out the clock posession to end the game, and FSU was backdoored...I think that game was against Clemson

Chris@OlympicSports · Apr 18, 2005

Mr Smith I can tell you are a true Noles fan

as I agree with u Adrian is a stiff, he couldn't play a lick at FSU

He had alot of talent around him at FSU and he did nothing with it

Was a better hoops player, kid can't read a Def to save his life

I love to see where scouts look at tapes of him playing at FSU and say he is a good QB

Dawoofdaddy · Apr 18, 2005

Mr. Smith said:
when he played at FSU, he certainly did not have a rocket arm. Also, he could not scramble either, he was not fast at all.

Maybe he has gotten better now, personally I doubt it. Based on ability alone, forget the gambling issues, I would say he is a terrible prospect and a complete waste of a draft pick.

I suppose if that is the consensus, he will be in pro bowl.

:monsters-

Mr.Smith · Apr 18, 2005

did a search, it wasnt wake forest where McPherson tanked it, it was at NC ST.

NC ST won 17-7. Mcpherson 8-20 for 80 yds and 1 INT before being benched for good in favor of Rix. Lots of mystery passes came from McPherson that day, he did not look like a college QB, much less an FSU QB. Lots of balls thrwon at guys feet. When he was benched in the second half, FSU had a big 0 on the scoreboard. This from a high-flying high-scoring team that was about a 20 point road favorite.

I believe this game was dumped to square him up with his bookies. This kid had no money but had made bets up to 5 dimes and could not pay. Were not naive here, he paid another way! NC State and the under, thats how he paid. A sure fire lock that day for whoever was in on it.

I agree this is the past though and he deserves a chance to play. I would be very surprised if he has the talent to play in the NFL at any position.

Mr.Smith · Apr 18, 2005

two weeks earlier at Ga Tech seemed suspicious once it became known what McPherson was gambling.

FSU won 21-13, not sure what the line was. 7 FSU points came on a defensive score. 7 came on a 72 yd TD pass. other 7 came on a 32 YD TD pass. Overall McPherson was 8-24 for 139 yds and did not move the offense. FSU preserved the win with an interection in their own end zone with about 40 seconds left.

This one is questionable whether he tried to dump it. It could be McPherson was trying to subtly dump, but a very strong FSU defensive performance got in the way. It could be he had a bad game because he just sucks.

I have no doubt about that NC State game though, he dumped it to pay bookies. His final chance to get even money he could not pay and he made good on it.

Journeyman · Apr 18, 2005

The game I distinctly remember, he came in for mop up duty, gets in the game (just to run out the clock) and fumbled on back to back plays, and there was no one around him...I would love to see a tape of that 2nd half now, knowing what we know...

I remember posting 'The Fix was in' at FSU...I think this was the first game he played in that season.