Morgan Trent's Book Generating Small Controversy

by Josh Kirkendall on May 13, 2010 11:20 AM EDT in Analysis

Bengals defensive back Morgan Trent wrote a book back in February, titled "Draft Season: Four Months on the Clock". Geoff Hobson featured a story on the book, including several about-to-be controversial blurbs. And controversy has followed, generating a he-said, he-said comments in which former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr told Trent that current head coach Rich Rodriguez was badmouthing the cornerback. A passage in the book reads:

"Shortly after the draft, Morgan made good on his promise to pay his former head coach (Carr) a visit. Morgan was always happy to see Coach Carr and gave him a warm greeting. However, it didn't take long for Coach Carr to get to the main reason why he wanted to see Morgan. It was there that Coach Carr told Morgan why he wasn't drafted until the sixth round.

"Apparently, current Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez had cost Morgan quite a bit of money. Rodriguez had bad-mouthed Morgan to every NFL scout he could. Rodriguez claimed that Morgan was lazy, he had an attitude problem and he was a big reason why the Wolverines finished with a 3-9 record, the worst in school history. In essence, an entire draft season and an entire college career of hard work were decimated by a few petty words. Those words may have meant the difference between a $1.86 million deal and a $2.86 million deal. It may have meant the difference between the sixth round and the third round."

Former Michigan Coach Lloyd Carr disputes Trent's version, saying:

"That paragraph is completely a distortion of my conversation with Morgan," Carr said. "That is a complete distortion, and it is not accurate. I have never spoken with the author. I have never met him. I have never had a conversation with him to the best of my knowledge."

Current Michigan Coach Rich Rodriguez disputes this also:

"The comments attributed to me are inaccurate and absolutely ridiculous," Rodriguez said in the statement. "I said just the opposite about Morgan Trent to NFL scouts and wish him well with the Bengals."

Morgan Trent stands by his comments and Bengals defensive backs coach Kevin Coyle admitted to hearing "rumblings". No matter how you slice it, if the antagonist in Trent's book is a Michigan head coach, then I have to read it!

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Comments

All that to say…

…the kid couldn’t cover if he payed $20 bucks at the door.
Trent’s a hard hitter and exceptionally fast but has a problem covering even the slowest
WR.
If he gains 10lbs, and gets to the optometrist he may become a decent FS.
Nobody’s gotta bad mouth the kid because he’s got serious coverage problems

Proctor of Minimalist Grandeur

by Drofintellact on May 13, 2010 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

REALLY????????

I watched every game last year and aside from the Oakland game he played pretty damn well in coverage. He played man coverage on Santonio Holmes much of the second half of the Bengals Steelers game in Pittsburgh, a game that the Steelers never found the endzone. Is Trent the second coming of Deion?? NO but the kid can play and should be better this year.

by Andy Johnson on May 13, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I'll agree with you Andy Johnson

For a rookie taken in the 6th round we got good contributions out of him. What CB doesn’t give up a play every now and then. So honestly to say he had a bad game in Oakland isn’t too much of a knock on him. Every CB who has ever played the game has gotten beat from time to time. That being said I would love to see him at FS. I would love to see him or Ghee make the switch to give us that Ballhawking Coverage Safety most of us would love to have that would complete this Defense. Anyway he should get better and probably won’t see as much playing time but I thought he done an decent job as a rookie. I wouldn’t knock on him. Is he a future starter? NO probably not. Will he get beat from time to time? Sure. But again if he improves over his rookie year then he could develop into a solid backup.

by C1ncy4Life on May 13, 2010 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh the Blind Encouraging the Blind Who Can't Cover!

The kid made these plays in the nickel and DID NOT play man on Santonio that often, That was Leon Hall.
And, the Shtealers didn’t find the endzone because of the Bengal PASS RUSH.
Get real Andrew, Trent couldn’t cover in Ann Arbor and he can’t cover in Cincy, he’s wasted at CB, he should go FS

Proctor of Minimalist Grandeur

by Drofintellact on May 14, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions

Rich Rod

Since being at that school up north, he’s caused so much controversy, that I hope he stays there. He’s going to cause even more…. He sucks and thats a good thing.
I say extend his contract. hahaha
GO BUCKS!!

by WHYUS!! on May 13, 2010 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

Wait

So that excerpt from the book is also a quote? Or did Trent write the whole book in the third person?

by Todd G on May 13, 2010 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

Trent didn’t write the book. A writer who writes for Rivals.com penned the book and it follows Trent along with two other mid to late round draft hopefuls in their journey from the end of college ball to the draft.

by Cedric Benson Boat Party on May 13, 2010 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions

That makes more sense. Thanks!

by Todd G on May 13, 2010 1:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Michigan just Sucks

by Evil Monkey on May 13, 2010 3:46 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

This should automatically turn green...

But I do have to admit Leon Hall turned out to be pretty good.

My 2010 Sports wishlist.
1. Thanks for putting the Reds in first place in May, but unless they're playing like this in October, I'm still on the fence about Dusty.
2. Cavaliers Championship...never mind...Let's go with OSU wining the Big Ten.
3. Bengals win Super Bowl XLV

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on May 18, 2010 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions