His mom was a crackhead for 10 years, so Id say considering his homelife as a child, hes fortunate to have made it this far.
Some people do turn their lives around after having a rough start.
The upside is obviously there, so teams are going to take a shot with him.
He wont be the only nfl player with several kids running around with different mothers.
Some people do turn their lives around after having a rough start.
The upside is obviously there, so teams are going to take a shot with him.
He wont be the only nfl player with several kids running around with different mothers.
McFadden is no Pacman Jones, Chris Henry, Michael Vick or any other trouble maker who made the NFL.
Yea, you know he has 2 children (who he hasn't taken a paternity test for) but he says he is going to take care of them, regardless.. Yea he has 2 bar fights which he was never charged for but for the most part, for a kid who has had to overcome the odds he has faced in life, he has done alright. Try growing up in a house in Little Rock, Arkansas, with no father figure, 10 brothers and sisters, a crackhead mom, and brothers in gangs and see if you make it out. He is a very likeable person if you get past the headlines and the teams that pass him up will regret it, ala Peterson.
Yea, you know he has 2 children (who he hasn't taken a paternity test for) but he says he is going to take care of them, regardless.. Yea he has 2 bar fights which he was never charged for but for the most part, for a kid who has had to overcome the odds he has faced in life, he has done alright. Try growing up in a house in Little Rock, Arkansas, with no father figure, 10 brothers and sisters, a crackhead mom, and brothers in gangs and see if you make it out. He is a very likeable person if you get past the headlines and the teams that pass him up will regret it, ala Peterson.
Don't agree with Brian Baldinger at all, but here's one man's opinion:
By:Brian Baldinger
I hate to burst the bubble of Darren McFadden and all the draftniks who think he's the second coming of Adrian Peterson, but he isn't. Honestly, you shouldn't even use both names in the same sentence.
Yes, McFadden ran for a ton of yards at Arkansas and was a two-time Heisman Trophy runnerup. But I've watched him on film and up close in the Cotton Bowl, and I've seen no special qualities that will make him an exceptional running back.
McFadden has breakaway speed, I'll give him that. And he's fearless putting hits on defenders. But that's part of his problem -- he initiates contact. Unless you're built like Earl Campbell -- a mountain of a man whose career was nevertheless shortened to eight seasons because of injuries -- you won't last as a running back in the NFL by seeking contact.
A running back's most important quality is elusiveness. Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton -- all the great ones had it. So do current stars such as Peterson and LaDainian Tomlinson. Their methods differed, but these backs had the key to turning a 2-yard gain into a 22-yard gain -- and to surviving a brutal profession. They knew how to make tacklers miss. McFadden doesn't.
He also lacks the vision that is critical to finding open field. That's why he initiates contact -- he can't see the daylight to run to. He's a classic I-formation back who needs a fullback to lead the way. If the fullback gets caught in traffic, McFadden runs right up his back, rarely making the cut that would allow him to gain more yards.
I do believe an Arkansas running back should go in the first round of the draft. That would be Felix Jones, who, like McFadden, is a junior who is expected to declare for the draft. With his vision, moves and speed, Jones will be a better pro than McFadden.
When the Saints played at Chicago in Week 17, Pierre Thomas of New Orleans made his first NFL start. Thomas was an undrafted rookie out of Illinois, but you couldn't tell by watching him. He showed nifty moves, great vision and balance, power up the middle, soft hands and the ability to break tackles. He ran for 105 yards on 20 carries and caught 12 passes for another 121 yards. Reggie Bush has never had an NFL game like that.
Fact is, I'd take Thomas over McFadden, straight up. In a heartbeat.
By:Brian Baldinger
I hate to burst the bubble of Darren McFadden and all the draftniks who think he's the second coming of Adrian Peterson, but he isn't. Honestly, you shouldn't even use both names in the same sentence.
Yes, McFadden ran for a ton of yards at Arkansas and was a two-time Heisman Trophy runnerup. But I've watched him on film and up close in the Cotton Bowl, and I've seen no special qualities that will make him an exceptional running back.
McFadden has breakaway speed, I'll give him that. And he's fearless putting hits on defenders. But that's part of his problem -- he initiates contact. Unless you're built like Earl Campbell -- a mountain of a man whose career was nevertheless shortened to eight seasons because of injuries -- you won't last as a running back in the NFL by seeking contact.
A running back's most important quality is elusiveness. Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton -- all the great ones had it. So do current stars such as Peterson and LaDainian Tomlinson. Their methods differed, but these backs had the key to turning a 2-yard gain into a 22-yard gain -- and to surviving a brutal profession. They knew how to make tacklers miss. McFadden doesn't.
He also lacks the vision that is critical to finding open field. That's why he initiates contact -- he can't see the daylight to run to. He's a classic I-formation back who needs a fullback to lead the way. If the fullback gets caught in traffic, McFadden runs right up his back, rarely making the cut that would allow him to gain more yards.
I do believe an Arkansas running back should go in the first round of the draft. That would be Felix Jones, who, like McFadden, is a junior who is expected to declare for the draft. With his vision, moves and speed, Jones will be a better pro than McFadden.
When the Saints played at Chicago in Week 17, Pierre Thomas of New Orleans made his first NFL start. Thomas was an undrafted rookie out of Illinois, but you couldn't tell by watching him. He showed nifty moves, great vision and balance, power up the middle, soft hands and the ability to break tackles. He ran for 105 yards on 20 carries and caught 12 passes for another 121 yards. Reggie Bush has never had an NFL game like that.
Fact is, I'd take Thomas over McFadden, straight up. In a heartbeat.
Even if u disagree, at least got to respect him for going out on a major limb. look at the ESPN guys going out on "limbs", Kiper says Ryan wont drop past 8, Greeny says 6.....not too far of limbs.
Most commentators and writers write the same old stories and refuse to come up with their own opinions. Thats why you see buzzwords catch on throughout the industry.
IMO, both J-Stew and Mendenhall will be better backs than McFadden, maybe even Ray Rice as well. McFadden just runs too upright and has that long gait, conducive to an injury plagued career. The people who keep comparing him to Peterson are idiots, they are very different backs. I think McFadden is going to have a Bo Jackson like career personally, a few very good seasons, a ton of highlight reel plays, but will keep getting hurt because of his size and his stride.
J-Stew as a Steeler would be fantastic, get that little bitch boy Willie Parker outta there.
