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Where my Noles at? The undrafted free agent edition.

(Melina Vastola Photography)

The clock kept ticking, Radio City Music Hall emptied, Mel Kiper, Jr. kept talking.

And yet, several notable Seminoles were still waiting to be drafted, some of whom we thought would be drafted in the middle rounds and not looking at the scenario of not being drafted at all.

How was this possible?  Christian Jones, Kenny Shaw, and James Wilder, Jr. went undrafted. 

Christian Jones is most notable because he stayed at school another year to improve his draft stock.  Last year, he was graded as a middle-round prospect.  Suddenly, after another great year of production, he slipped to being not drafted at all.  So, what gives?

For starters, this was one of the deepest drafts we've seen in decades.  But more than anything, Wilder was hurt by off-field issues and on-field injuries while Jones was hurt by a failed drug test (and in this case, a diluted sample).  

It's unfortunately, given what we know about their talent; both played instrumental roles in reviving Florida State to the elite level that it is today.  But we all know the story of the Seattle Seahawks.  They've made it work with countless undrafted free agents.  Being undrafted is not the end of the story because, as it turns out, our boys wound up getting their contracts. 

Christian Jones will be joining the Chicago Bears, James Wilder, Jr., will be joining the Cincinatti Bengals, and Kenny Shaw will be joining the Cleveland Browns.  I couldn't think of better scenarios for them to join.  Jones is joining a defense that is in the process of rebuilding.  There is no overpaid incument clogging his slot.  He also figures to be one of the best undrafted free agents we've seen, though many are continuing to speculate why he went undrafted:

Christian Jones, LB, Florida State: Perhaps the reason no NFL team drafted Jones is that there wasn’t enough tape of him in one place — he played strong-side in 2011, weak-side in 2012 and in the middle in 2013. But at 6-3 and 240 pounds, and with 223 tackles and eight sacks through his collegiate career, Jones could prove to be a versatile and productive NFL defender. The Bears have signed on to find out.

Personally, I don't buy that reasnoning for a second.  Being verstatile is something the NFL wants.  Jones has a real chance to contribute next year and it's a shame he didn't get drafted as a reward for staying at school.  Wilder shouldn't have any problem spelling Benjarvus Green-Ellis so long as he can remedy his shoulder injury (although he will compete with Stephen Hill for those duties).  And last, but not least, Kenny Shaw will be catching passes from Johnny Manziel.  Shaw is most known for his superior route running and I'll never forget hearing about him practicing his routes by himself for hours on end.  It showed last year and it will make him a great pro.  

Looking ahead, many major sports outlets have released their mock drafts for 2015.  It's kind of silly, but we love it.  CBS has five Seminoles going in the first round:

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State: Winston has the skills to be the No. 1 overall pick, but he has room to grow on the field and needs to keep his nose clean off the field.

16. Dallas Cowboys -- P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State: An emerging superstar last season, Williams was the Defensive Player of the Game in the BCS Title Game and has a big future ahead of him as a versatile defensive back.

17. Baltimore Ravens -- Cameron Erving, OT, Florida State: The Ravens right tackle job is somewhat of a question mark right now and if Kelechi Osemele or Ricky Wagner don't secure the position, it could be a need here.

26. Indianapolis Colts -- Mario Edwards, DE, Florida State: A player with all the requisite skills to be an impact lineman, Edwards is still figuring out how to use his talent and could take a big step in 2014.

29. New England Patriots -- Nick O'Leary, TE, Florida State: From an athletic standpoint, O'Leary isn't overly special, but he has reliable hands, knows how to get open and has the toughness NFL teams will covet.

It truly is too early to speculate, but having five players projected for the first round is nothing short of spectacular.  It means we've come a long way... like a really long way.  Such a long way, in fact, that there was a day when Jimbo Fisher remarked that Preston Parker was the only player that could sniff a roster spot on LSU, meaning that Parker was the only legitimate NFL prospect on the Seminoles many years ago.  

Oh, how the times have changed.  And oh, how good these times are.  

And on a final note, SI.com is running a piece on "veterans on notice" thanks to the draft.  Look no further than the Falcons and their selection of Devonta Freeman:

• Steven Jackson/Jacquizz Rodgers, RBs, Falcons: Hard to say how the Atlanta backfield will shake out (and Freeman may never be a true No. 1 runner in the NFL). It is safe to assume, though, that the Falcons were very dissatisfied with their run game last year, considering that it finished dead last in the league paced by a measly 543 yards from Steven Jackson. The porous line was to blame for the most part, but certainly the Jackson-Jacquizz Rodgers pairing was not free of fault. Hence, the Freeman selection.

Would you support a gay football player at Florida State?

Michael Sam was drafted yesterday to the St. Louis Rams.  Together, they made history.

Ordinarily, a defensive end being drafted isn't a big deal.  Dozens of defensive ends were drafted yesterday by teams eager for an aggressive pass rush.

It is, however, a big deal when that player is the first, openly gay player to ever be drafted by an NFL team.

Regardless of your views, what Michael Sam did was courageous.  It's not easy to expose yourself to criticism.  Too often, we shy away from it because that's the natural thing to do.  But Sam felt compelled to be himself.  We should applaud him for doing so in the face of scutiny and persecution.

Following Sam's admission, several moons ago, a college basketball player revealed that he, too, is gay.  Derrick Gordon of UMass basketball, became the first openly gay player in Division I men's basketball.  Together, both Sam and Gordon have paved the way for the first ever openly gay Division I college football player.  It's only a matter of time.  I now sit and wonder whether Florida State, its administration, and supporters can support an openly gay player.  We'll get to that in a bit, but first we need to discuss the dynamics of the Michael Sam story.

There's a big reason why Sam decided to make his admission as he enters the NFL.  

The NFL is a business and in business, performance is peformance.  Performance is blind to race, color, ethnicity, and importantly, whether you are straight or gay.  

Performance knows no bias.  Well, at least it's supposed to be that way.  It's the one of the pillars upon which this country was founded.  You know, that whole thing about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."  Michael Sam is a living example of those very words; he's living his life, the way he wants to because he is free and able to make his own decisions that make him happy.  So, then, what's the hang up?  Why is this story such a big deal?  It's because we are not, as a society, ready to accept and confront homosexuality.  

The funny thing about America is that it began as a refuge.  This country was founded on many freedoms, but apparently, being gay is not one of those freedoms that we're yet willing to accept.  

This country was also founded on the belief that you can make a name for yourself if you just work hard enough (i.e., performance).  Apparently, however, we can't let Michael Sam, or any other gay athlete for that matter, live their life and pursue their dreams because they happen to be gay.  If our country truthfully depended on performance, we wouldn't care whether someone was gay, straight, green, or purple.  The problem is that the person gets engulfed in the story and it has become too difficult to separate Michael Sam the player from Michael Sam the story.  

American was founded on principles that made it progressive but the backlash to the story of Michael Sam taught us that we, collectively, are anything but progressive.  

Our society is much like a chain link fence: its only as good as the weakest link.  And the comments in response to Michael Sam being drafted by the Rams showed us that we have quite a few weak links.  

And it got me thinking: could Florida State, its administration, and its supporters, support a gay player on the football team? 

Let that thought sink in for a second.  Could you support a gay player on the Florida State football team?

My answer?  Well, duh, of course.  But you can count me among the group of more progressive thinkers, although I admit I am a bit of traditionalist.  No, not in the traditional sense of a man and a woman, but the tradition upon which this country was established.  The tradition that you are who you are and that you have the freedom to be who you are.  And that we will judge you based on your performance, not only professional but socially, because that's what defines us as people and not the color of our skin, our ethnicity, or whether we are straight or gay. 

Can Florida State sustain that kind of thinking and support a gay player?  I'd like to think so and while it shouldn't be a big deal, it unfortunately it is.  I do feel, however, that any locker room run by Jimbo Fisher is one of acceptance.  Jimbo believes that your character is what defines you and nothing else.  It's one of the many reasons why Jimbo is so successful.

If you are upset by this conversation, then I've done my job.  Because one day, Florida State will have an openly gay football player on its roster.  And now, given the path laid by Michael Sam, it's time for us to start opening up to the idea.  We apparently have little to no reservation about supporting players who are accused of sexual assault or otherwise.  So how do we reconcile the two?

Time.  

In time, Michael Sam will just play football.  He'll show that there is no boogie man to be afraid of or or run from.  That he's just a man and is just like the rest of us, trying to live the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Who's waiting to be drafted?

There are still many 'Noles to be drafted today and I believe almost all of them will.  

Christian Jones and James Wilder, Jr. should be the next Seminoles off the board.  Past that?  I could see teams taking a flier on Kenny Shaw.  He was possibly the best route runner on the team last year (it's quite the debate between Greene and Shaw) and can make tough catches (remember that crucial 3rd down against Florida?).  I could also see teams taking a chance on McDaniel or McAllister given the constant need for big bodies to clog the middle of the field. 

 

Telvin Smith is headed to the Jaguars!

It took a few rounds, but finally, Telvin Smith has found a home in the NFL.  He was picked in the 5th round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in what should be, thankfully, a great fit.  Let's face it, Gus Bradley built the defense that we saw in the Super Bowl.  He just wasn't there to take any of the credit for it.  And in Jacksonville, he is slowly but surely building a defense that will wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.  

And aside from punishing defensive ends and tall cornerbacks, you need someone that can do it all.  What Telvin lacks in size, he makes up for it in heart and instincts.  He was, alongside Joyner, the heart and soul of the defense last year.  He was, much like Joyner, a true football player.  Because at the end of the day, size is great, but it's not everything.  

Telvin will make a career for himself by creating havoc.  There have been rumors that some teams want him to move back to safety because of his size.  I don't think that's quite necessary.  His role can be invaluable in that you don't quite know what he's going to do; drop back, play the run, or attack the quarterback.  Telvin provides the versatility that many NFL teams crave and he's going to make Gus Bradley a very happy man.  Congrats Telvin!

 

Freeman and Stork taken in the fourth round

It's only fitting that Freeman and Stork went together in the 4th round.  Stork hiked the ball, Freeman took it to the house.  Both were selected to teams that should make for a good fit.  Freeman is going to the Atlanta Falcons where he'll share the workload with Steven Jackson.  I get that Jacquizz Rodgers is still on the Falcons, but Freeman is much more suited to be an early down back than Rodgers, which would seem to mean that Freeman would become the incumbent starter if Jackson were to get hurt.  And let's be honest, it's Steven Jackson and he's likely to get hurt (see, e.g., missing most of last season with a hamstring issue).  But until then, Freeman gets to learn from one of the best running backs to play in the last decade.  Regardless of whether he scorned your fantasy team, Jackson was a top tier running back for many years.  And much like Toby Keith, he can be as good once as he ever was, which will take pressure off Freeman to start right on day 1.  

Meanwhile, Bryan Stork was taken two picks later by the New England Patriots.  This pick surprised me, but more than anything else, it is a testament to Stork's talent, maturity, and professionalism.  

This is also a notch in Rick Trickett's belt.  He deserves a lot of the credit for coaching Stork, though Stork gets the full reward of an NFL contract.  

Stork arrived at FSU as a 6'4" 240 pound "tight end" but all indications pointed to him becoming an offensive lineman.  His other offers were to Syracuse, UCF, and Florida International.  But thanks to Rick Trickett, he's a 4th round pick, going to one of the more prestigious organizations in the NFL.  And in particular, an organization that prides itself not just for brawn, but for brains.  It's finally the recognition that Stork deserves.  Show me a player that can move from center to left tackle at the drop of a hat and I'll show you someone ready to play in the NFL.

Good luck Bryan!

The St. Louis Rams really, really wanted Lamarcus Joyner

Yesterday, many fans were debating which Seminole would go off the board first.  Arguably, Timmy Jernigan was the best player available.  But as the Cleveland Browns showed us, the draft is not an exact science.  Sometimes you take a gamble on a player you think will be better for your organization down the road than one you know is better right now. 

Kelvin Benjamin is a Carolina Panther

Yesterday, Kelvin Benjamin was formally announced as the newest addition of the Carolina Panthers.

Congratulations, Kelvin!  

Kelvin Benjamin introduced as a Panther. pic.twitter.com/wsm9vcq9NG

— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) May 9, 2014

Earlier this week, we predicted that he would be selected somewhere in the first round.  There were many options, with the most likely landing spots being Philadelphia or Carolina.  

Do you know what the best part of being projected to go late in the first round?  You get to join a playoff team.  Kelvin is walking into a dream scenario where he will be playing from day 1 on a playoff team. 

Admittedly, the Panthers should have kept Steve Smith.  Benjamin is the type that will need some coaching and mentoring.  There were many knocks on him prior to the draft; that he took off plays, that he had bad hands, that he only had one year of production (albeit a good year).  Some of that may be true, but when the moment called for it, Kelvin Benjamin showed up.

He had two amazing catches this year (among many), but the touchdowns respectively against Clemson at the beginning of the rivalry game and against Auburn at the end of the national championship game bookended Florida State's amazing season.  Florida State's success this year was a blend of many things working in its favor, all at the same time.  And one of those elements was the emergence of Benjamin.

He showed that he was more than just a 6'5" frame.  He showed that he could handle the spotlight of playing on a national championship team.  He beat defenses that were designed to beat him.  We wish Kelvin nothing but the best of luck in the NFL. 

Lamarcus Joyner is what Greg Reid could have been... and I hate saying it.

This article is actually painful to write.  It pains me to think that Greg Reid should be sitting in Lamarcus Joyner's position... a relatively undersized cornerback, looking forward to being drafted and looking back on a prolific collegiate career.  

Unfortunately for Greg Reid, that never happened.

We still love Jameis and here's why...

You know, the whole downside of this internet thing is that you don't really know who's typing the words that you're reading.  So give me a moment to explain myself. 

I'm a hard ass.  You can ask my kids.  I'm always on them to do better.  I'm sure they'll need therapy in the coming years.  

But once you know me, you know why I write the articles I do about Jameis.  It's because I expect better of him.  He's our quarterback.  He's the quarterback at Florida State and with that, comes tremendous responsibility.  

But part of my angst comes from the fact that we've had enough jokers at the position in recent years. Sure, Ponder and Manuel were near-flawless and handled themselves professionally on and off the field.  But we've had plenty of issues with the likes of Xavier Lee and Adrian McPherson.  We've also just had a handful of quarterbacks who were perfectly fine players, like Drew Weatherford, but were never going to take us to the next level.

Jameis Winston is so obviously a next level quarterback.

The problem with Winston is that he is so successful on the field that it magnifies the issues he has off the field.  And he just can't seem to stay out of his own way.  The most recent shoplifting-and-avoiding-the-deputy incident irked me, particularly, because it could have so easily been avoided.  BB guns are an example of "youthful ignorance" ... not shoplifting.  

Every single incident makes me cringe, but I can bear it because, deep down, Jameis Winston is a good person.  

I can't really say he's a good person because of how well he mopped the floors at the YMCA, but you can judge a man by the company he keeps.  His teammates adore him and it's for a reason: Jameis supports them with every fiber of his being; he has their back no matter the circumstance.  That shows a heart full of compassion.  No Seminole will ever forget the exchange that ocurred on the final drive versus Auburn.  Yes, Jameis, if you're strong, we're strong.

The problem, however, is that, he is wildly successful on the field, but diametrically different off it.  Let's just state the obvious: he has a lot of work to do off the field.  The only thing to stand between him and a successful career is... himself.  And that must be a world of responsibility on his shoulders.  I imagine a lot of his success has come relatively easy for him.  He's kind of a prodigy.  So, keeping him entertained and on the straight-and-narrow is pretty much a full-time job for Jimbo Fisher.  But they've failed.

Famously, Jameis once said "If I ever get the Manziel disease, I want all of you to smack me in the head with your microphones."

Well, it's time.  I think we can officially call it.  You've suffered from the Manziel disease.  Your on-field play is suberb, but your mind-numbingly actions off the field are working against you.  What's the solution?  Accountability.  Jimbo Fisher is a master of it and at this point, we just need to trust that he can hold Jameis Winston accountable.  Because if he can, he'll go down as the best quarterback to ever play at Florida State.

So, it wasn't a mistake, but do you care?

For the record, we didn't want to be right about this.  I had a gut feeling and couldn't betray it.  Chant Rant went on the record, several times, admonishing the behavior.  This just didn't seem like a case of "Oh, I forgot to pay for it."  That defense seemed awfully empty and so did his statement.  It didn't feel right, but as it turns out, the Leon County Sheriff's Office believes that Winston made an attempt to avoid the deputies.

Now we're left with the reality that Winston, in all likelihood, knowingly shoplifted and then lied to cover it up.  As I'm typing this, I really don't want it to be true.  But surveillance tape is what it is; it's not a he-said, she-said account of events... it's the actual event.

We all know what it's like when we're caught doing something we're not supposed to be doing.  We flinch, pause, pivot.  We've all been there.  And Winston was there, in that Publix, knowingly taking what he didn't pay for and flinched in that moment when he saw the deputy.  

The idea that Publix was giving Winston free seafood is also unlikely at this point.  We discussed that idea a few days ago and it actually seemed the most likely of scenarios until the Leon County Sheriff's Office released its report.  He wouldn't flinch if he felt he was doing something wrong.  The manager also wouldn't have had concerns if it was a known occurence that football players and/or local celebrities get compensated with free food.  

So now we're just left with something of a painful realization: Jameis Winston stole something and then lied about it.  I suppose we should add this to his list of transgressions filed away in "youthful ignorance."  

Will anything else come of this fiasco?  Possibly.  He served a four day suspension, which seems ridiculous no matter how you spin it.  If he is guilty, what are we teaching him by "benching" him for four days?  It's not enough, especially when you tally the incidents together.  The ledger is starting to get overwhelming and something must give.

I wouldn't go as far as Jeremy Fowler and bench him for a game.  Florida State needs to do something however, but it should be about giving back to the community and not benching him for a game.  Benching a player for a game is cliche; he sits out for three hours of one day.  If you're going to try and help someone realize the err in their ways, it'll take more than three hours.

So, Noles... what do we think?  Winston is, and will be, our quarterback, but what are we to do?  Nothing?  Yeah.  Nothing.  Nothing but hope he manages to stay out of trouble long enough for him to get to the NFL.  It seems he can't stay out of his own way, but let's hope Jimbo Fisher and the Florida State administration can do something about that.