re: Saints drafted other players over these LSU players

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I don't believe the NFL told anyone not to draft him. That is foolish talk. I do think teams were extra-cautious given the then-recent domestic violence controversies.

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You are most definitely wrong.

Guys have had worse and more clear issues come up and still been drafted. This was a clear envelope-push by the league at a time when they were under fire for off the field stuff. Media would have run with it so hard: NFL makes accused murderer millionaire. It isn't that hard to figure out.

You can question why they didn't sign him as an UDFA once it was all cleared up, if you want. Personally I think he didn't want to play here. But it isn't fair to question why we did not draft him. He was talented enough to overlook the issue and draft him in the late rounds, and if I can make that assessment, I'm positive at least one of 32 NFL teams can too. They were absolutely clearly instructed (or agreed as a group) not to draft him, period.