Just know this, Malcolm Kelly: The Truth Is Out There. Or something. After yesterday's career-ending-before-it-starts workout* for NFL scouts, the former Oklahoma wideout did what any of us would do as we watched our hopes and dreams take one last lap around the Thomas Crapper before disappearing forever: blamed it on a conspiracy to sully his good name:
"Certain people have tried to hold me down, and they know who they are," Kelly said after the workout. "I wouldn't say the whole OU coaching staff, but certain people, I would say that."Head coach Bob Stoops should be sure to include that in the recruiting video. Apparently, Kelly's slow 40 times aren't his fault, but lie with OU's strength coach, who forgot to inform Kelly that he'd be running "on the Everest Indoor Training Center's field turf instead of the Mosier Center's AstroTurf, a surface on which Kelly had been training the last month."
Somebody should point out to Kelly that in the NFL you don't get to choose the surface you run on. And I'm guessing if he runs in the high 4.6s on any artificial surface built for, you know, running, he'll be noticeably slower on grass (or worse, this). Kelly also blamed OU doctors for misdiagnosing a leg injury that kept him out of the Fiesta Bowl and the NFL Combine.
In the scheme of things, I don't think a slow 40 time is an indictment on a guy's ability to play in the NFL. Calling out team coaches and doctors? Yeah, that's a little different.
* not really
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-10-2008 @ 2:13PM
Charles said...
It's pretty obvious you aren't familiar with the situation at Oklahoma. Their strength coach has had a history of asking injured players to "Shoot up and play". According to the Texas media guys, you'll never find a higher character guy than Kelly. Sure, it comes off as whininh when you run slow, but after hearing an account from someone who was actually in the building yesterday, Kelly is more than justified. OU nearly cost him his career at the Fiesta Bowl, and knowingly lied to him about it...and it was obvious he was "Set Up" yesterday by his own coaching staff.
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4-10-2008 @ 4:23PM
chris said...
It's comical to me that someone with no history of playing college football would write in such a negative fashion regarding Kelly's current comments. Having played DIV1 football I understand the sacrafice and commitment it takes to perform at a high level. Unfortunately for Kelly the coaches at OU did not reward Kelly for his hard work which led to success for the OU coaching staff. The Pro Day at OU was set up for two players to perform. Kelly was one of the main athletes. Two days before he was set to perform he requested that he run on a faster surface. Whatever his time was is irrelevant. The coaches at OU should have treated Malcolm with the respect he deserved and granted his wish. They deliberately disregarded his request, without consulting him. This sounds like a slap in the face. No wonder OU has such a strong injuy history. They run their players into the ground, misdiagnose them, and overwork them during the season. When was the last time they won a bowl game?
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