Ezekiel Elliott has left Ohio State University and is headed to the NFL, as he revealed in a humorous and entertaining interview Monday on ESPN’s “Highly Questionable.”
The running back said he hadn’t been to a class since just before Christmas break, is training daily for the upcoming NFL Combine in Indianapolis and “can’t remember what class is like.”
After a bitter 17-14 home loss to Michigan State cost the Buckeyes a shot at back-to-back national titles and Elliott ran the ball just 12 times, the junior running back said there was “no chance” that he would return to college in 2016.
NFL.com has Elliott being drafted in the first round by the Houston Texans with the 22nd pick. The week before the Super bowl, ESPN’s Mel Kiper had him also being selected in the first round – by the eventual world champion Denver Broncos.
While he is physically ready for the draft, Elliott showed through his wit and storytelling that he is mentally ready to compete at the highest level too.
His father, Stacy, was a linebacker at the University of Missouri. His, mom, Dawn, ran track at Mizzou and apparently also is capable of running the household.
“I think everyone is afraid of my mom. We call her ‘Momma Bear,’ he said with respect and a smile.
“My mom used to wrestle with me. (She) is a big, strong athletic woman. It took me (until) high school (at John Burroughs School) to keep up with her. We would be at track practice playing around, before I knew it I’d be on the ground with my mom on top of me.”
Host Dan Le Batard asked what “Momma Bear” had to say after Elliott criticized Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer following the Michigan State loss. He, Elliott and co-host Bomani Jones were soon in hysterical laughter.
“That’s on my list of topics that are off-limits,” he said while holding up a sheet of paper.
“That is so great,” said Le Batard, who then asked what else was on the list.
“Just one other thing: no questions regarding the Heisman (Trophy),” Elliott said while still chuckling.
He also demonstrated how he wore his jersey tucked under, exposing his abdomen during games. He called it the “crop top,” and the college football powers-that-be didn’t like it.
“You can’t show too much. Show just enough. The NCAA might try to come and get you,” he said.
I had been wishing he would return to Ohio State. However, Elliott seems so grounded and intelligent – along with having great talent – that he has won me over. I’m sorry to have doubted your son, “Momma Bear.”
Golden boy tarnished
Peyton Manning went out a winner in the Super Bowl. He was on top of the world, even though the NFL is investigating an allegation he used HGH.
However, a Title IX federal lawsuit filed last week against the University of Tennessee reminded the world that Manning was alleged to have been involved with a sexual harassment/assault in 1996. There reportedly also was some type of incident in 1994.
The 1996 case was settled out of court and the female trainer involved, Dr. Jamie Ann Naughright, left the school. A defamation lawsuit was settled when the alleged victim said derogatory comments about her work at Tennessee in the 2001 book “Mannings,” which led to her losing her job at Florida Southern University.
The debate rages as to whether Manning was given a free pass then – and now – by a sports media that would certainly vilify a black athlete alleged to have committed the same offense. In my opinion, “yes!”
A document entitled “Facts of the Case: Filed in Opposition to Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment” published in May of 2001 is available online and resurfaced this week. It summarizes the case of Jamie Ann Naughright vs. Peyton Manning, Archie Manning, John Warren Underwood, Peydirt, Inc. and HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.
Its allegations include:
– A player named Malcolm Saxon was asked to verify Manning’s “mooning” story as part of a cover up for Manning’s alleged sexual misconduct. He didn’t play along, and he alleges it cost him his eligibility.
– Tennessee specifically asked Naughright to pin the incident on a particular athlete — an African-American athlete.
– Manning told his father (Archie Manning) that Dr. Naughright was “trashy,” had a “vulgar mouth,” was unattractive despite her “big breasts,” and that “she had been out with a lot of black guys.” Archie Manning said in his deposition there was a perception among some that trainers “should not be going out with blacks if the trainer is white.”
The allegations are disgusting and, if true, so are Peyton and Archie Manning.
Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.
