NFL

Manti Te’o, Post-Fake Dead Girlfriend: “My Trust In People Is The Same”

by Matt Rudnitsky | 12:42 pm, February 19th, 2013

Manti Te’o has been mostly quiet save for the Katie Couric interview, but USA Today Sports scored an exclusive interview with the former Notre Dame linebacker. Among the things he had to say: he thinks he “remains a first-round pick,” he got rid of his Twitter account and has no immediate plans to return to social media… and speaking of social media, he doesn’t seem to regret anything about the catfishing scandal:

“I didn’t do anything illegal. I didn’t break any rules, I didn’t hurt anybody. I just wasn’t very forthcoming, as forthcoming as I should have been but in that, I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Some people would argue with that, certainly. But as far asNFL teams’ evaluation of him:

“Teams will be comforted by his passion,” NFLDraftScout.com senior analyst Rob Rang said. “Anybody I’ve ever talked to about him says he’s just naïve. “He’s a good football player. I still have him going in the first round — to Baltimore (at pick No. 32).”

Legendary speechmaker Ray Lewis to guy who fell for internet hoax – it would be an interesting change in the locker room dynamic.

Te’o said he is not currently dating anyone. But says he’s refused to allow the hoax to change him.

What?

“The worst thing I could do in this whole situation is change who I am that has brought me to this point,” he said. “My trust in people is the same. I’m just more cautious.”

That’s kind of a contradiction. I guess he’ll trust the next fake person he meets, but will wait to fall in love with them. Or something like that.

Check out the whole interview here, and revel in the wonder that is Manti Naïvetéo.

[USA Today]

Filed Under:
manti te'o

Anonymous

Dumb. No other word for it.
Mirage

I doubt the NFL considers IQ scores when it drafts players.
Manti can tackle. That’s the whole story in pro ball.

But, they should check him thoroughly for traumatic brain syndrome (concussions/ brain damage.)
Anonymous

For the record: maybe not IQ scores, but the league must have everyone do the Wonderlic for a reason. And that goes double for middle linebackers, who usually get counted on to know not only the defense in and out, but read what the offense is doing so they can make calls for adjustments before the snap. Usually those guys are QBing the defense, so you’d like if they’re some of your sharper players.