Pittsburgh Steelers May Want To Pass On Kelvin Benjamin
Dec 7, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (1) runs by the tackle of Duke Blue Devils cornerback Ross Cockrell (6) during the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. FSU defeated Duke 45-7. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
A name that’s been near the tops of the Pittsburgh Steelers draft board (well at least for fans and pundits who speculate) is WR Kelvin Benjamin. The Steelers are in dire need of a tall and fast receiver who could also be a playmaker very early in their career. Benjamin may have taken a hit today in his prospects – not just on the Steelers board, but on boards across the NFL.
Thursday afternoon, Gil Brandt from NFL.com tweeted that Kelvin Benjamin canceled a scheduled workout with an NFL coach.
Kelvin Benjamin 30th in my new rankings. Was told KB recently blew off workout w NFL coach who had made special trip, said he was too tired
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) April 10, 2014
So not only was it an NFL coach, but it was a coach who flew in as a special trip just to be with Benjamin. He’s not even on a team yet, and he’s wasting team dollars. Benjamin must think very highly of himself and his chances of being drafted in the first round if he has the gal to skip a workout with a coach on the lame excuse of being ‘too tired.’
This draft could be the only shot for certain players to become part of the NFL and would never dream of missing any opportunity that would help them gain favor in becoming drafted. Either Benjamin feels he will go in the first round (more than likely) or it was a coach where he doesn’t want to become part of that team (understandable but inexcusable).
This latest revelation into Benjamin’s psyche makes me take great pause as to whether the Steelers should still pursue or pass on this guy. The Steelers have been burned before with players with poor work ethics – as either young hot shots or guys who signed big contracts following big years (see LaMarr Woodley, Mike Wallace, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress, etc etc etc.). They may want to avoid someone like Benjamin if they want to try and cultivate better mojo in that locker room, especially after recent guys like Wallace and Woodley, who had rather poor locker room attitudes. Far from the “Steelers modus operandi.” He may not be worth that trade up the boards. Based on Brandt’s new rankings, it already looks like he’s fallen quite a bit.
I have more to say about this, but I’m going to rest my fingers and go take a nap….