NFL | Yo, we're pumped about acquiring an underachieving WR now?

by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Hate to burst any Eagles fan’s bubble …

But, c’mon now with the excitement over acquiring Dorial Green-Beckham.

Yeah, get it. He’s a “name.” Has a little hype to his game. Was picked up for merely the price of a dime-a-dozen offensive-line talent.

However, his presence in Philly now doesn’t exactly erase a major flaw in the team’s arsenal, that being an incredibly underwhelming receiving corps. In fact, the only thing, right now, that it guarantees is that another team weakness just got even weaker.

Not for nothing, but Dennis Kelly was, if nothing else, a serviceable guy along the offensive front who could be inserted at multiple positions and not categorically bomb at any of them. He definitely was no prize. But he was no booby prize, either, despite being made out to be one by those trying to rationalize the no-lose benefits of the trade.
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Now, Kelly is off to Tennessee, which, apparently, values his versatility … especially when it represents the Titans ridding themselves of DGB’s teasing tendencies and getting anything in return.

Thing is, no one is going to debate the kid has ability, and the size (6-5, 230 pounds), to be a special player in the NFL.

But he never quite reached his potential in college, at least not any linked to the proclamations of him being the next Randy Moss when coming out of high school. He was a decent player at the University of Missouri, but a far cry from even, say, a former wideout of the school previously drafted by the Birds and now with Kansas City.

No, Midnight Green Nation, this is not the second coming of Jeremy Maclin, nor even a reasonable facsimile of him. DGB never registered a 1,000-yard receiving season while at Mizzou, nor All-America status or any numbers in the return game – all staples of J-Mac’s two-year tenure with the Big 12 school.

What DGB has been is an enigma … a young man blessed with incredible athletic skills that, unfortunately, have not been matched in his performance, or even effort, paving the way to mixed results on the field and mixed reviews off it.

Make no mistake, Tennessee was done with his immature act, frustrated to the point that it no longer wanted to wait and see if his promise would ever pay off. Hey, same thing happened at Missouri.

Drug-related problems and a domestic incident led to his dismissal there. His Andrew Bynum-like “dog” tendencies led to the same from the Titans.

Sure, DGB could wake up, grow up and finally, legitimately, utilize all the gifts bestowed upon him. Just wouldn’t count on it ... no matter how many change-of-scenery salvation stories get rattled off to provide hope he will.

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What DGB has been is an enigma … a young man blessed with incredible athletic skills that, unfortunately, have not been matched in his performance, or even effort, paving the way to mixed results on the field and mixed reviews off it ... Sure, DGB could wake up, grow up and finally, legitimately, utilize all the gifts bestowed upon him. Just wouldn’t count on it.