Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has been criticized from many angles. There are rumors, via Tony Softli 101espn.com, that Mallett did drugs in college, and that he may even have been addicted. Others scrutinize Mallett’s leadership skills.
We know he can’t run.
But NFL Network’s Jamie Dukes has struck a new blow to the Mallett pinata, and it has nothing to do with athletic ability, on-field performance, or off-field habits that could ultimately affect Mallett’s play.
“For the lack of a better phrase, he’s kind of the first -- and forgive this phrase -- kind of the Caucasian street guy,” Dukes said on Wednesday’s edition of Total Access. “And what I mean by that, he’s got that Eminem, slash, ya know, Vanilla Ice thing that goes on.
“I just don’t think, truthfully, people are accustomed to seeing a quarterback . . . having a little street in him. And I think that’s kind of unsettling.”
Total Access host Rich Eisen had a pretty good line after Dukes’ observations, speaking of a fellow NFL Network on-set analyst:
“Trent Green may not have street in him. I bet he’s got cul-de-sac in him.”
(Thanks to J.I. Halsell for the link).