How much do you care about off field issues with draft prospects?

[bsfins]

I'm wondering if what you hear about a player's off the field issues/problems matter to you?

It does to a point, I voted today,and wore my Dolphins sweatshirt.The older lady working the booth,remembered the 72 Dolphins, Dan Marino,and "Reggie" Williams that smoked pot...

So I do care,in the sense I don't live in Florida,and since we've not had a lot of recent success most non hardcore/fantasy football fans only hear of the bad things about the Dolphins.I don't really want a team of thugs either...

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I care only to the extent they affect on-field performance and the availability to be on the field.   

If someone has oodles of off field issues in college they will likely have off field issues in the NFL that will keep them off the field for some time, e.g. Ben Rothesburgers 4 week vacation at the start of the season. 

[Phishfan]

Old ladies that volunteer with election sites and can't remember a player's name are the least of my concerns when talking sports teams. I have to say I am somewhere in the middle on these off field issues. To think every player is going to be Tim Tebow is as short sighted as thinking all of them can be Adam Jones. I can't use a blanket statement because each situation is going to be different. I think the importance is to consider what these past problems were and then also consider the individual's character. If it appears to be an honest mistake that is unlikely to be repeated it is one thing. If it looks like more of the same is likely it is completely different. The severity of the transgression is also important. Things that are likely to get a player in jail is much more of a concern than a player who committed what I would consider a character crime like having someone take tests for them.

[Sunstroke]

I don't mind "a little" bit of off-field issues, but if a player shows a trend of getting into trouble, drinking, fighting, etc..., then I'd just as soon stay away from that player.

[StL FinFan]

What Hoodie said.

[masterfins]

I don't mind "a little" bit of off-field issues, but if a player shows a trend of getting into trouble, drinking, fighting, etc..., then I'd just as soon stay away from that player.

Agree, need to stay away from the Cecil Collins type, doesn't matter how good they are on the field.

[MikeO]

I care alot. You can't have a team filled of alter boys. But you also can't have a team filled with thugs. Plus it becomes almost impossible to root for bad guys these days. And I don't want to have to root for bad guys.

If a kid got in a bar fight in college, whatever!! No big deal. It happens at that age and for the most part you grow out of that.

But if a kid got arrested for has multiple arrests or sexual assault charges  and stuff, then those are huge red flags.

[Pappy13]

The key in my opinion is having 1 or 2 really outstanding on the field leaders. If you have 1 or 2 outstanding leaders, they'll keep any off-field issues from creeping into games. That's the problem with Miami right now, they don't have their on-field leaders, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Henne, Williams and Brown aren't leaders, in fact they're all weak in that regard. Long is the only one that's close. Bring in one really fine leader at QB or RB and the rest could have some off-field issues and it wouldn't be a problem.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^^^^ While I do agree that Miami does lack some on field leadership and that is important.  Having good on field leadership won't prevent the bad apples from being bad apples. 

I think you would agree NEP has pretty good leadership in Brady, Wilfork, Welker, etc.  That did not prevent Spikes from doing something stupid enough to have him miss games.  Having good leadership is part, but you also need to stay away from the bad apples. 

[Pappy13]

One bad apple doesn't spoil the whole bunch...unless you have poor leadership. Missing Spikes may have hurt a little, but in the big picture it was pretty small.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

^^^ I agree with that.  Good leadership will prevent a bad apple from being a cancer to the team.  But a good leadership won't prevent an idiot from having his own stupidity limit his contribution to the team.