Molk goes off on Konz and Brewster
Didn't see this up here, and the title says it all, but a couple enjoyable tidbits from the ESPN/Ann Arbor News post:
In an interview with AnnArbor.com, the Rimington Trophy winner says it's "pretty stupid" to think any other center should be drafted ahead of him, including Wisconsin's Peter Konz and Ohio State's Mike Brewster.
Molk also doesn't believe that Ohio State's Brewster, a four-year starter and 2010 All-American, should be drafted higher than him. "He is nowhere near me as a player," he said of Brewster.
Awesome.
Full interview at:
http://www.annarbor.com/sports/um-football/michigans-david-molk-believe…
February 29th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
This.
I think many on this thread are neglecting to consider that this is likely a calculated move by Molk. Yes, he comes off as a dick, but don't you want your center to kind of be a dick to everyone not on his team? Haven't we spent the past two weeks a little tight in the pants because of all the OL we're getting that have a "mean streak?" If the NFL teams do their homework, which they always do, they'll find out that Molk is the ultimate team guy, and this comment just proves him to be the head bashing badass he is. When Molk speaks, people listen, and I think coaches and GMs will listen to these comments as well and take them to heart, even if only subconsciously. Molk knows how to get where he wants to go as an underrated prospect. He's been doing it his whole career. I doubt he suddenly forgot how to handle the media or how to achieve his goals.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^
It's possible that he has received some bad news concerning his draft stock, who wants him, when they'll take him, and what his compensation package will look like.
I agree that it seems out of character for him to kind of fly off the handle like this and it certainly won't help him in the eyes of potential teams.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:59 AM ^
Wonder if he is making these statements per the advice of his agent. It doesn't seem like him, but it seems like a good way to get teams to take a second or closer look at you... make them wonder if that young man can back up his talk. While it's cocky, I don't think it reaches any kind of prima dona level that suggests he won't be a team player.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
unquestionably that he is not a prima dona. He works his ass off. Unfortunately, despite eye-popping statistics and a Rimmington, he's somehow still regarded as less of a prospect than others in his own conference. A good agent SHOULD tell him to talk himself up without fear. Make sure that he directly challenges pre-concieved notions about him.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
I don't see how any team would be more inclined to draft a guy just because he claims to be better than his peers. It's a given that most top players feel accordingly. NFL team, having heard Molk's quotes, aren't gonna say, "Oh, well, now that he's told told us he's superior, let's draft him." They already know what kind of guy/player he is. Molk's claims add nothing to the equation. Nothing good, anyway.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:33 PM ^
Some things you say, some things you keep to yourself and prove. This would go into the latter category.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:00 PM ^
Like many of you, I think these thoughts would be best kept to himself. It's kind of strange that he used to hate the media and avoid it at all costs, but now that he's preparing for the draft, he seems to be doing frequent interviews with questionable content. Maybe he should go back to hating the media and keeping to himself.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
Could be more a function of the coaching staff or the fact that he was on the team representing the school keeping him(self) in check. Now that he's off to the draft, he can let loose. Just a possibility.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
back it up, but I if i was Mr.Molk i'd let my actions do the talking.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
most recently, rupturing a tendon in his foot, playing on it anyway because his team desperately needed him, had surgery and still managed to be in top shape for the combine. If I'm a GM, that's more important to me than any inflammatory remarks in an interview. I would make a concerted effort to get him on my team. That's the attitude you want in an offensive lineman. They're the grunts. The sun doesn't shine on them too often. They need to have different external motivators than the skill position players.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:22 PM ^
Except they don't know he's in top shape because he didn't run at the combine.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:04 PM ^
Worry about his personality? You mean the guy who stuck by his school and teammates during a massive shitstorm and is as responsible as anyone for Michigan's resurgence? You want him to say that those players are better than him? He won the Rimington Trophy fergodsakes.
A scrappy guy like Molk has to show confidence. You don't get anywhere by conceding inferiority to your competition.
Love this guy.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
Feel like the media might have twisted this a bit. I don't know how the other players' names came up, but it sure sounds like he was asked leading questions to a certain extent. Was this the smartest thing Molk has done? No. Is this a huge deal and will it kill his draft stock? No.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:14 PM ^
I think this has been taken wrongly by the media, but I think it does show his mentality. Molk is a guy who has always been doubted because of his size. What has he done? He won the Rimington and was an All-American. Now for the NFL Draft, what's happening? He's getting overlooked again because of his size. Yeah, it might be a bit of a Napoleon complex, but that's what's gotten him to where he is today. He's going to play with that chip on his shoulder. He's going to work harder. He's going to be a successful pro.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:29 PM ^
They're direct quotes. It's not the media's fault.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:52 PM ^
I didn't question the quotes. I was questioning the way the media has spun the comments and the way it's being viewed by a lot of people here.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:16 PM ^
I think it was after he became a free agent he declared himself to be the best running back in the NFL.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:18 PM ^
I assume this rant wasn't his idea based on his history with the media. Whoever advised these statements didn't help him.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:20 PM ^
also wonder whether it comes across as less than badass when you compare yourself favorably to two in-conference rivals, not to the top dogs. He's not projected for the first round anyway, right?
February 29th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^
especially if unprovoked but I don't have a problem with ol' Molk. I think he's proven that he's better than the other centers through his work on the field, in the combine. McShay is a goober. He jumps on the bandwagon and rarely do I find him making intelligent/thorough analysis, thinking outside of the box. He is re-hashing what other "experts" think/feel. I think Molk will do fine in the NFL as a center and prove everyone wrong, as he has for most of his career.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
No problem with him thinkings he's the best. But I have a problem with him calling out other players. Just talk about youself without mentioning others. It can only hurt his draft stock IMO.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
Molk would have been better off without specifically mentioning other players. If he said something like, "I believe I am the best center in this year's draft. The Rimington speaks for itself," then it would be fine. Specifically calling out other players in this way is uncalled for. I love Molk, but this makes him look bad.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:37 PM ^
If anything, at least he's showing them the anti-finesse, which is great since finesse was a criticism. But it is strange that one of the few players that knew EXACTLY what to say to the media when he was in school is suddenly coming off overly arrogant. Seems like a very conscious decision to come off this way.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:39 PM ^
He definitely hit a nerve with Brewster according to his twitter. "And Molk, keep my name out of your mouth"
February 29th, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^
Molk will be sorely missed next year IMO
February 29th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
oh please... this is childsplay compared to the shit talk that we hear about in the NFL every week. This isn't some guy coming off the street with nothing to back up his talk with. He's advocating himself, pushing for a top tier job in the NFL. Good for him. We've always known he is a cock... as long as he continues to put in the work to maintain his high level of play, I see no problem with this.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
...when The Fab Five walked into Michigan like they owned the Big Ten, and I like that Molk believes he is the best player available at his position. It shows unwavering confidence and a swagger that cannot be taught. And of course if Brewster or Konz said the same things I would probably not like it; that's the beauty of sports.
As for NFL teams' brass questioning his leadership or mental makeup due to these comments, I don't think that's going to happen. Over the past five years, David Molk has proven his mental toughness and his leadership abilities time and time again. I don't know that he will be a great pro and I have no idea in which round he will be drafted, but I am confident that whoever takes him will get a confident, tough, hard-nosed, well-rounded, hard working young man.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:47 PM ^
It's not about endearing yourself to all 32 GMs.
It's about impressing 1 GM enough to take a shot on you earlier.
Some may be turned off by this, but someone may be intrigued and further explore what sort of bad ass he is.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
Context is everything.
In a vacuum these are dickish comments, banging up other kids, but there’s legit context justifying his position. The reality is Molk is being undervalued. He’s worked his ass off his entire career. He’s won the Rimington. He’s had a great combine, doing more than three times as many reps of bench as the purported “#1 guy.” Yes, he’s received praise and awards, but I’d hazard to guess most college players would pass up all the awards short of a Heisman in exchange for moving up four or five rungs up the NFL pay and respect scale. Molk has a valid point, and it makes perfect sense for him to voice his point at this critical time, to give NFL teams something to think about. On the other hand, the kid’s 23 years old, and a jock, so you cannot expect that him to be the modicum of diplomacy at this juncture in his life in terms of getting his point across.
If the shoe were on the other foot, and Brewster were mouthing off about Molk, in a vacuum I’d think he’s a dick, but I’d understand if he’d just won the Rimington and had a draft value lower than Molk’s.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
Players also ought to understand that college is different than the pros, though. Just because you're the best college center doesn't mean you'll be a great pro center. Jason White was a great college QB at Oklahoma, but he didn't do anything in the NFL and wasn't highly regarded by scouts. Ron Dayne was a great college RB. Things don't necessarily translate from one level to the next, so it's understandable that NFL general managers might have a different view than Rimington Award voters.
If Molk needs to carry a chip on his shoulder to propel himself forward, more power to him. But that doesn't necessarily mean that he should vocalize those opinions.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
I think GMs want angry muthas on their lines. That is all.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:03 PM ^
Self-confidence is great, and Molk has certainly earned the right to express confidence in himself. But any player who demeans others in order to express self-confidence seems like an insecure diva. Molk should spend more time analyzing the abilities of NFL defensive tackles than the skills of guys who he'll never line up against.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:05 PM ^
The best part of that article is actually the revelation that our former punter nearly out benched a 6'5",314 pound center from Wisconsin. Insane. Can't argue with Barwis's results in the weight room.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
February 29th, 2012 at 1:10 PM ^
February 29th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^
and he talks like him. He'll probably only hang around the league for over a decade too.
Dear Mr. Molk. I truly appreciate the fire that made you a team leader. Helping keep the team together through the transition might prove to be a pivotal moment in Michigan History. We appreciate you going back in to play the Sugar Bowl on one foot. We appreciate that it is your competitive nature that allowed you success at the Combine. Can you turn it off when it doesn't suit us? Thank you, signed, a few fans.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^
I tottaly agree! Molk has been nothing but a class act and a leader for his entire time at Michigan. I see nothing in these comments that make me worried about his character. I can't believe some of the comments on this board acting like he should just shut his mouth and meekly allow others to shape his image becouse telling the truth might be rude or insensitive.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:22 PM ^
He probably shouldn't have said it in the way he said it... but MAN am I glad he did. I mean, was there ever a more Molkian interview than this one?
February 29th, 2012 at 2:11 PM ^
be burned at the stake. Your 25,000 + points are in jeopardy.
I might have expressed it differently, but he is the one who has to back it up. I'm not going to ask him to change now.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^
Good for Molk. F Ohio
February 29th, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^
really gonna miss molk
February 29th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^
Let him drop... right into Jim Schwartz's lap. He'd look great in Honolulu Blue.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
February 29th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
When I posted it the first time, I realized it would be funnier the second, third, whatever time. I'll run out of steam at some point, but I'm still having fun with it at the moment.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
But respect your opponent.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:43 PM ^
I actually don't think Molk has any respect for his opponents. People always talk about OLineman with 'Mean Streaks' very few actually hurt belittle thier opponent. You can see that Molk gets enjoyment out of hurting guys so bad that they quit. I think he sees Konz and Brewster as his opponents right now.
It's a little twisted, and while I wouldn't want a guy like this to date my daughter, I'd be more than happy to have him play C on my football team.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
February 29th, 2012 at 3:00 PM ^
Aren't psycological profiles part pf the draft process? Molk comes off like an idiot kind of reminds me Kyle turley back when Turley was good. " I run people into the ground all day, what like Jerel Worthy ?
February 29th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
Good for Molk.