The Anonymous Scout Phenomenon: Inside the NFL Draft’s Shade Season

March 21, 2015   ·   Michael Schottey   ·   Jump to comments

Did you hear the one where...?
When it comes to the NFL draft, there is no bigger lure than the aura of the anonymous scout. It's just two little words that seemingly carry incalculable weight in any report. No thought is too thoughtless, and no dis is too distasteful when it is sourced with the idea that it was said by someone from within NFL front offices.
The latest has been an incredible report about Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota from our own Michael Freeman that teams didn't appreciate Mariota's remark to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers website, where he said it didn't really matter to him whether he went first overall. The idea, of course, is that teams would like Mariota to be more competitive.
Poppycock!
This is no different from any absurdity of the anonymous scout phenomenon.
One year, it's that Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater's knees are too skinny. Go further back, and it's that Green Bay Packers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers is ju...

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