Grantland Article on NFL Combine features Clark's interview prominently
Not a bad read, even if Clark wasn't part of it.
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/americas-second-greatest-reality-show…
“It could have all been avoided,” Clark went on, “if I’d said, ‘No, I don’t want to go to Sandusky. No, I don’t want to go the water park.’”
Eyebrows raised around the table. Deciding not to go to an Ohio water park may be sound thinking generally, but it’s not usually part of the avoiding-domestic-violence process.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:22 AM ^
“When we were in the room,” he said, “the person involved let something get out of hand and took something further than what it was planned.”
“I’m not saying I’m a womanizer or anything of that nature,” he protested. “I’m just saying it was a confrontation … and the woman involved took it to another level that it shouldn’t have been taken to.”
yup, still a piece of shit
February 25th, 2015 at 10:11 AM ^
and this is pure speculation, like she got ahold of his phone, found some txts or pics from another woman, and flipped shit.
EDIT: I'm not saying that justifies his actions.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:12 AM ^
Yep. That's pure speculation, alright.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^
Well, considering Frank Clark is the one speaking, not sure what he's speculating on. Basically sounds like his GF found some incriminating stuff on a phone, confronted Clark about it, then it escalated quickly and violently.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:33 AM ^
“That’s fine. I’m not throwing her under the bus. I’m not saying she did anything wrong. I’m just saying that a lot of things that happened in that room that night could have been avoided.”
Let's not hand pick quotes now.
Still sounds iffy.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:48 AM ^
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February 25th, 2015 at 9:23 AM ^
Best line of the entire article.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:28 AM ^
on the same interview that was covered in several posts last week?
February 25th, 2015 at 9:31 AM ^
Clark tested very, very well. he'll get picked somewhere in the mid rounds.
February 25th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
And that's exactly why he'll be drafted by a team needing an edge rusher. With the NFL being punch drunk with bombs away QBs and an overall pass-centric league, quality DE's are at a premium.
None of this excuses punching or slapping his woman, but we all know the NFL is a business, and very few of these dudes are (or ever were) choir boys. In 1996, when RB's were much more a part of NFL offenses, the Rams were elated to draft Lawrence Phillips, maybe the biggest thug of all of them, making Frank Clark look almost delicate next to him.
Clark will be drafted, especially with him showing so well at the Combine.
February 25th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^
"his woman"?
February 25th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
I make valid points about the post with relevant information that is contributing to the blog, and you key in on the use of "his woman?"
You either have WAY too much time on your hands or are looking for reasons to be offended. Would "his lady friend" have been more suited to your politically correct tastes? I wasn't trying to denigrate women. If I had meant to do that, I could have said "his hoe" or "his bitch" but obviously did not.
Go get some fresh air.
February 25th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
...will disrespect the abilities of a D-1 staff to teach technique and skill development by assuming that such a freak athlete should be a highly productive player at the collegiate level. They'll largely ignore the character issues, too, all because he put up good combine numbers. They'll ignore the fact that Clark underachieved for 3 consecutive seasons. They'll draft him despite having no evidence for doing so other than an outstanding vertical jump and shuttle time. They'll have wasted millions of dollars on a draft pick and cut him before the season starts. Then they'll turn around and hypocritically rip on recruiting rankings.
"Ugly girlfriend means no confidence.... I"m just sayin', his girlfiend is a six--at best."
I'm sorry, but performance on the field in a Power 5 conference plus character issues equals undrafted free agent for me.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:39 AM ^
He's going to play in the NFL.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
do the Ravens need a pass-rusher?
February 25th, 2015 at 12:32 PM ^
Yes. Pernell McPhee is a free agent.
And I too think Clark is going to be a mid-rounder. The NFL will let things slide for a young (read cheap) pass-rushing DE.
February 25th, 2015 at 9:44 AM ^
February 25th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^
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February 25th, 2015 at 12:15 PM ^
Owning up would be really old school, and really unexpected. Never utter a phrase like "what I did" or "I was wrong" or "I shouldn't have touched her, no excuse". The proper phraseology of the day is "it was a bad decision" or reference to "what I've been through". Sickening.
February 25th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
Good PR is not always what you say, it's what you don't do or don't say. Don't put yourself in a position where whatever you say makes you sound like a liar or just totally ignorant. "Next question... next question... next question" -- that did more damage than not having a press conference would have done. Frank either needs a handler or, if he has one, he needs a better one.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
Not touching this with a ten foot pole.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:10 PM ^
with gobs of self-awareness. Or as though the months between--or his counselors--have provided that for him. I mean, even the most self-seeking person might have absorbed by now that the correct first and last answer to any inquiry should be I f'd up, I am really sorry about it, and I am learning to handle myself better. Doesn't an agent, for example, counsel this before an interview? Even if only in an effort to get paid?
Would it be possible to conceive that making kids spend a year on just growing up and being in school might have resulted in a different outcome for Frank Clark? Certainly, that could be the kind of thing you would change the policy for.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:13 PM ^
JUST STOP TALKING.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:14 PM ^
It amazes me that Clark didn't have better media preparation before these talks. Regardless of what happened (which by all accounts shows Clark to have violently assaulted his girlfriend), in this one context at least fake sorrow and accountability, even if in his heart Clark clearly feels the blame should be shared. I'm sure Clark isn't some uber-violent felon, but at this point he's coming across as a tone-deaf POS and, sadly, doesn't appear to be all that bothered by it. He seems mad that this cost him a chance to finish out his college career and will hurt his draft stock, not that he comprehends the full reprecussions of what happened in Sandusky.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:39 PM ^
Clark just needs to go silent on this issue. He has spoken about it enough. He needs to simply make a quick apology and move on. If not, he will really become the next Ray Rice.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:43 PM ^
Not sure if he can just go silent when it's an NFL team asking about it. What he needs to do is accept responsibility for his role in the altercation. She may have antagonized him but he still responded with violent behavior.
February 25th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
"I made a tremendous mistake that has cost me more than I can put into words. Aside from my reputation being destroyed, I was involded in something that should have never occurred. I have no choice but to work harder than I have ever before, to grow and learn from this experience. There is no way around it, I screwed up. I hurt those I loved. I have embarrassed my family, friends and teamates. I am commited to fixing the issues that I have and hopefully having a chance to play at the next level."
February 25th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
Does anyone know if Clark has signed with an agent? If so, that agent should be fired for not preparing him better. As the writer of the Grantland article says, there's a formula of cliches that everyone at the combine is expecting. They don't lower your draft stock if you say trite shit, in fact they boost it.
February 25th, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
...I don't think Frank has much of a chance.
People recall most vividly Graham's destruction of Glenn Winston during a goal line stand at MSU, and while that was certainly impressively awesome, the one play that demonstrates what a freak BG was, was when he blocked a punt against Penn State; blasting through the line and then absolutely dump-trucking Navarro Freaking Bowman before getting to the punt.
February 25th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^
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February 25th, 2015 at 3:01 PM ^
If he makes a roster and becomes a starter, I hope that he mentions his HS in the MNF introductions and forgets he went to Michigan.
February 25th, 2015 at 3:11 PM ^
Brian wasn't chastising; if bringing all points to bear in a discussion is chastisment, then maybe, yes. He never defended Clark's actions. But there is a larger narrative about Clark's life (like all of us) that should be included in the record if you're going to bother, you know, having the discussion. You can deplore what he did (or him) and still humanize him. I know nuanced approaches to discourse are frowned upon these days, but crikey.
February 25th, 2015 at 10:09 PM ^
Interesting. I struggle to get that reading of Brian's piece, since he has no problem with cutting through nuance in other works. E.g., would the nuances of Frank Clark's case be best captured by calling Clark a "dog shit human being"? Because, ALTHOUGH I don't think it's fair to call Clark that, as a domestic abuser with little appreciation of the immorality of his actions he has a far greater claim to that description than some jackass CEO type who raised ticket prices. Maybe it's just an inconsistency between the pieces, but Brian seems more than happy to offer a full-throated moral assessment when someone has done bad things. You might think the difference between Brandon and Clark's issues is epistemic-- we just don't have enough info to judge Clark. But at this point that seems silly. We not only have evidence of what he did, but also that he doesn't appreciate the seriousness of what he did. Of course it's possible he comes to appreciate it, but it's also possible Brandon sees the light and recants all he's done to Michigan. Neither seems very likely.