Steelers' rookie calls pre-draft narrative false
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't afraid to take a flier on draft prospects with checkered pasts when it comes to medicals. They did twice this year with TE Darnell Washington, and CB Cory Trice JR. But following a durable start to camp, Washington had something to get off his chest when it came to his pre-draft […]
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't afraid to take a flier on draft prospects with checkered pasts when it comes to medicals.
They did twice this year with TE Darnell Washington, and CB Cory Trice JR.
But following a durable start to camp, Washington had something to get off his chest when it came to his pre-draft "label:"
Darnell Washington: "That's just Draft Talk"
"You haven't missed a practice or anything it looks like. There was talk before the draft about some injury history," mentioned a reporter.
"I mean, I guess that's just draft talk," said Washington. "I never had a knee injury in college. I never set out any games or practice over my knees. So I don't know who started that or how that came about but it's just draft talk. It is what it is. I'm 100% healthy and ready to just get the ball rolling."
One of the most interesting parts of draft weekend is seeing players slide down the board. Typically, the media and even teams will have players graded highly based on tape study, leaving us wondering why certain players haven't been selected.
But even the most dialed-in of media members seldom get the insight that teams have when it comes to medical and character, which are the largest part of the pie chart for most teams.
And Washington, unfortunately, fell due to an injury concern, lasting nearly until the fourth round when no one would have batted an eye had he gone in the top 50 selections.
So we will never know who, how, or why Washington's injury history was fabricated, but as he said, that's behind him and he's just focusing on being the best Pittsburgh Steeler he can be.
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There seems to be a problem here
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