Priority Sports writes that they are "devoting all of our attention on the high character"

by Kirkendall on May 21, 2009 4:22 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 10 comments

In an exclusive letter sent to Pro Football Talk, Priority Sports writes:

“In regards to Andre Smith, we are moving forward and devoting all of our attention on the high character, hard working and honest clients of Priority Sports.

“We were asked to come in at the last minute to provide credibility to his draft status and we succeeded in that task. Soon after the draft, Andre Smith became a tremendous distraction to our company. What we have subsequently determined is that Andre Smith does not match the culture of Priority Sports and the character of the clients we take so much pride in representing.

“This will be our final statement on this matter.”

Fantastic.

0 recs | Comment 10 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I hope....

these kind of shenanigans don’t prevent him from working out with the team throughout these crucial training months.

If you don't live like you wanna, you live like you shouldn't

by trotanoy on May 21, 2009 4:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is why the private sector needs regulation.

by jsl413 on May 21, 2009 4:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

this does not bode well for smith.

but i think if they can get through the initial bs and get him signed, the leadership of williams, whitworth, and palmer should keep him on the straight and narrow. not to mention Paul Alexander is an amazing and underrated offensive line coach.

by brandone on May 21, 2009 4:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Bad Omen!

I don’t think Bengals would have drafted him if he was going to stay with bad advisors. Pretty obvious using priority sports’ good name to salvage his plumiting draft status. Didn’t Paul Alexander go to his house the weekend of the draft to sort that stuff out.

by featherman on May 21, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

“high character, hard working and honest”

3 qualities that describe Andre Smith to a T. It’s the immaturity that’s the problem, right?

by bodacio on May 21, 2009 6:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's been my impression too.

My guess is that Priority Sports is pouty about losing Smith. I could be wrong, but that’s the impression I get.

Blogger at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.

by Kirkendall on May 21, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sour grapes...

It’s funny how missing dollar signs can bring out the best in folks.

by IFChris on May 21, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree too… it probably is just (or at least mostly) sour grapes.

BUT… I have to wonder if they can get Keels in trouble for draft tampering or something? IF the allegations that it was planned all along for Smith to dump Keels to use Priority to raise his status and then dump them to go back to Keels… IF that allegation is true, I suspect the NFL may not like that and may be able to do something about it.

And IF it’s true, IMO fitting punishment would be to ban Keels as an NFL agent for a long time… something like 5 to 10 years or so. And suspend Smith for a while too. We can live without him. Shoot, I never really wanted us to draft OL in the first round anyway.

by FriarBob on May 21, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was being facetious...

There’s really nothing to this point that would indicate Andre Smith as a man of high character(is Nick Saban going to say the guy is a dope?). All I’m saying….out of everyone we could have drafted we “lucked” into the guy that’s most likely to give us trouble. Makes you wonder how many job interviews Eugene Monroe quit and how many agents he’s fired.

by bodacio on May 22, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a low rent and slimy smear by Rick Smith/Priority Sports. Andre Smith is a 22 year old kid from Alabama probably being pulled in every different direction. What’s Rick Smith’s excuse?He’s going in a different direction because he got fired. Tough. Take it like a man. Don’t cast personal aspersions through an email to an internet blogger. After reading this latest, I have to say that Rick Smith comes off far worse than Big Andre. One will mature, while the other will always be a jerk.

by blueridge624 on May 21, 2009 7:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs