So Florio is off at a family event for a few hours. (Really. He’s not just in hiding after these recent Steve Smith comments.)
Since Mike’s source and Smith disagreed so much about Jimmy Clausen’s first minicamp, I thought it would be good to hear another perspective.
Darin Gantt of the Rock Hill Herald and Charlotte Observer is one of the most invaluable beat writers around; here’s what he had to say.
“Been asked a lot about Smith-Clausen-PFT. My take? I think [Clausen] may have surprised some vet teammates, but I’m not sure anyone hates him,” Gantt wrote on Twitter. “Bottom line: There were some raised eyebrows with Clausen’s forward approach. But it’s one weekend minicamp -- too soon to read verdict.”
There has been more discussion and debate about Clausen’s personality than any quarterback prospect in memory. It hasn’t stopped with the draft. Clark Judge of CBS has a fresh column on the topic.
In it, one scout said Clausen is a “jerk” and “has a degree of entitlement that is off the charts.” Another said that he heard “horror stories” about Clausen to the point his team didn’t want him.
This is all very personal stuff. If this is all a misguided smear campaign, Clausen should be furious. If the stories are accurate, Clausen’s issues will continue to manifest.
No matter what happens, Clausen has become one of the more fascinating rookies to watch in a long time.