Wendell Bryant story.

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Wendell Bryant Wants Back In
Posted by Mike Florio on May 5, 2009, 9:44 a.m.
Here’s a great example of the imperfect art of drafting football players.

Seven years ago, defensive tacke Wendell Bryant joined the Cardinals via the 12th overall pick in the draft. As Bryant recently told our own Aaron Wilson, Bryant soon found himself out of the NFL due to his inability to stay away from drugs.

Bryant says he’s now clean, and he’s hoping for a second chance.

Aaron’s interview of Bryant is a solid read for anyone hoping to understand how a promising career can go off track — and for any new player hoping to keep his NFL experience moving in the right direction.

And here’s another reason to respect Bryant. He realizes that, due to his behavior, he owes the Cardinals a partial refund of his signing bonus.

“I want to pay the Cardinals back the money because I didn’t give them what they deserved and they allowed me to live a great lifestyle,” Bryant said. “A man has to face his mistakes.”

Wow. We don’t know whether Bryant has anything left, but we hope that he’ll get a fair chance to fully redeem himself.
 

CaptTurbo

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I never heard anything about him with a drug problem I always thought he just plain sucked.

Wasnt he almost a sure thing because he did well in school etc etc? Good character?
 

Gee!

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I never heard anything about him with a drug problem I always thought he just plain sucked.

Wasnt he almost a sure thing because he did well in school etc etc? Good character?

He had alchohol problems that I thought everyone knew about.. Didnt know about the drugs though..
 

football karma

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He had alchohol problems that I thought everyone knew about.. Didnt know about the drugs though..

I know it came out well after the draft that he tested positive for pot while in college
 

SuperSpck

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Who doesn't love a good retribution story? Bring him in? Can't hurt?
 

TJ

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Great gesture, but would have been nice had he been a factor when he was on the team.

I can't see a spot on this roster for him.
 

imaCafan

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Was looking at our picks for that draft. UGH!!!! Have we ever had a worse draft??? Hope he gets a shot somewhere.....
 

Cbus cardsfan

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Color me skeptical. I don't feel sorry for him. He had the chance of a lifetime and blew it on drugs. Now, he may have finally run out of money and needs a chance. If he's clean, fine, give him a chance but talk is cheap. In reality, the guy put forth zero effort to play proffesional football when he had a legit chance. Now, he wants another chance. If he had an injury filled career that was cut short, like Andre Wadsworth, i'd definitley be rooting for him. But, for WB, i could care less.
 

Gee!

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this song couldnt be more appropriate at this point..

Mr Wendal..

 

Cody

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I'd say bring him him in..let him practice. If he could be the player we once thought he would be...then that would be amazing for our Dline
 

conraddobler

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Let him try out, then sign him for the league minimum if he can play.

What's really to lose there?

It's on him to prove he's for real, the cost to a team is very light, certainly a lot less than drafting a potential bust in the first round.

All that said he has to have the talent which you can see quickly in a workout or two, he gets a few shots at this and then if warranted you keep moving him along, again if warranted.

I don't see why anyone should want to withold a spot for him if he could contribute something of value.
 

earthsci

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Let him try out, then sign him for the league minimum if he can play.

What's really to lose there?

It's on him to prove he's for real, the cost to a team is very light, certainly a lot less than drafting a potential bust in the first round.

All that said he has to have the talent which you can see quickly in a workout or two, he gets a few shots at this and then if warranted you keep moving him along, again if warranted.

I don't see why anyone should want to withold a spot for him if he could contribute something of value.
:yeahthat:
Give him a shot. Worse case scenario, he's a camp body at DT/DE. Best case scenario, we see some of the promise that got him drafted before Albert Haynesworth.
 

40yearfan

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I don't know why we would want to take on a project like this no matter how well intentioned he is. We want to win football games, not be nice guys.
 

earthsci

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I don't know why we would want to take on a project like this no matter how well intentioned he is. We want to win football games, not be nice guys.
Because he might actually help us. Maybe not, but what if he can still play? It isn't like he is old or has a lot of tread on his tires.
 

LVCARDFREAK

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I am all for giving second chances, but WB was never good when he (supposedly) not on drugs with the Cardinals. He was lazy, never chased the play, and routinly got blew up at the line of scrimmage.

Sure bring him in, but he was way overrated to begin with. Cant imagine after being out of football for 4 years
 

Duckjake

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I am all for giving second chances, but WB was never good when he (supposedly) not on drugs with the Cardinals. He was lazy, never chased the play, and routinly got blew up at the line of scrimmage.

Sure bring him in, but he was way overrated to begin with. Cant imagine after being out of football for 4 years

And being almost 30 years old. The Cards stadium is in Glendale not Sun City for Christs sake!
 

DeAnna

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Just read his story on AZ Central. Pretty sad ...

Bryant said he is committed to repaying the portion of the signing bonus he owes, even though only about $400,000 of it is left.
"They deserve their money back," he said. "Without that money, I would not have been able to afford the lifestyle that my daughter is able to live now, that my fiancée is able to live now. We have a damn good life off of those people's money
 

Duckjake

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Wendall Bryant, David Boston, and no telling how many others during that time period. An NFL team with players out of control? (Same thing happened to the St.Louis Cardinals where drugs wrecked the team and led to Keith Hernandez being traded to the Mets.)

Don't have any proof but I'll bet that was the reason we saw some of the worst football in NFL history from 2000-2003.
 

Shogun

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I think the NFL should let him talk at the rookie symposium.
 

Crimson Warrior

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:yeahthat:
Give him a shot. Worse case scenario, he's a camp body at DT/DE. Best case scenario, we see some of the promise that got him drafted before Albert Haynesworth.

It says in the article that Graves is not interested in WB.

I'll never be in favor of leaglizing MJ if it makes people act like that.
 

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