“Character” is an all encompassing word used around this time of year to describe NFL prospects. Some teams put an emphasis on “high character” guys, while “character concerns” knock others down the board.
From an athlete’s perspective, we can see how it sounds harsh or unfair. Saying someone has poor character is more than saying he made a bad decision; it’s attacking who he is as a man.
Michael Oher of the Ravens is now just an observer to the NFL Draft process, but he doesn’t feel character tags are fair.
“Ok im so tired of the Character issues they are puttiing on ppl!” Oher tweeted Tuesday. “What Character issues?!? Somebody tell me? . . . I never got in trouble with the Law . . . yes sir no sir guy . . . But this Todd Mcshay guy acts if he knows ppl on a personal level get real!”
Percy Harvin chimed in during all this and noted that he was tagged with the character issue as well. At that point, Oher realized McShay was on Twitter and started addressing him directly:
“What if someone was to talk about your son . . . and he had character issues!! Thats how my family felt. You need to meet ppl first and then judge them not go off what you hear!! . . . And I respect Mel Kiper way more then I respect you...your a joke!!” Oher wrote at McShay.
If Oher made these comments while he was a draft prospect, folks would probably knock him for immaturity. We like that he’s sticking up for himself and future “character” tag kids that get painted with an overly broad brush.
McShay, who isn’t overly active on Twitter, has yet to respond.
