It is no secret that the Atlanta Falcons will be targeting former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney in the upcoming NFL draft. Trading up seems like the only way the Falcons will be able to get their hands on him though. general manager Thomas Dimitroff and the rest of the front office are no strangers to doing so.
Although many people are questioning his work ethic from a season ago, which many teams (including the Falcons) will factor into the decision on whether they should trade up or not, he is without a doubt a once-in-a generation player.
"Obviously, he is an incredible talent with wild upside," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "He's going to be a very big contributor on a football team from day one. We all know that. The league knows that. He has the potential to be one of the marquee-type pass-rushers."
Clowney says that he wouldn't mind if the Falcons traded up and selected him, in fact he wants to be playing in Atlanta next season.
"I wish they could trade up for me," Clowney told ESPN.com. "I hope I don't fall to No. 6. I like Atlanta -- a lot. They're pretty good. They've got some guys from South Carolina on the team, also. And it's close to home."
The Falcons recently had Clowney come in for his second workout for Atlanta.
"It doesn't offend me because I know JD, and I know all this talk about JD being lazy and all this talk about him not playing hard, I know all that is motivating him," Ward told ESPN.com in reference to Clowney. "And I know JD because I coached the kid and I recruited him, and that's not who he is. JD plays hard all the time."
"Anytime you're as highly regarded as JD is, most people are going to try to find out something that's wrong with you. And that's what the NFL's job is: They're going to try and bring his grade down because it's about paying him. I understand it. I coached in the league [as an Oakland assistant in 2006]. I know how it works."
Even if the Hendrick award (ESPY award given to the best defensive end in Division I college football) winner has a work ethic issue, it CAN be fixed. Some notable examples of that would be Michael Vick (who has played for the Falcons), Dez Bryant etc.
"I think I work just as hard as anybody," Clowney told The Associated Press. "If you pick me and pair me with guys, I'm going to try and outwork them also."
Although many people are questioning his work ethic from a season ago, which many teams (including the Falcons) will factor into the decision on whether they should trade up or not, he is without a doubt a once-in-a generation player.
"Obviously, he is an incredible talent with wild upside," Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "He's going to be a very big contributor on a football team from day one. We all know that. The league knows that. He has the potential to be one of the marquee-type pass-rushers."
Clowney says that he wouldn't mind if the Falcons traded up and selected him, in fact he wants to be playing in Atlanta next season.
"I wish they could trade up for me," Clowney told ESPN.com. "I hope I don't fall to No. 6. I like Atlanta -- a lot. They're pretty good. They've got some guys from South Carolina on the team, also. And it's close to home."
The Falcons recently had Clowney come in for his second workout for Atlanta.
"It doesn't offend me because I know JD, and I know all this talk about JD being lazy and all this talk about him not playing hard, I know all that is motivating him," Ward told ESPN.com in reference to Clowney. "And I know JD because I coached the kid and I recruited him, and that's not who he is. JD plays hard all the time."
"Anytime you're as highly regarded as JD is, most people are going to try to find out something that's wrong with you. And that's what the NFL's job is: They're going to try and bring his grade down because it's about paying him. I understand it. I coached in the league [as an Oakland assistant in 2006]. I know how it works."
Even if the Hendrick award (ESPY award given to the best defensive end in Division I college football) winner has a work ethic issue, it CAN be fixed. Some notable examples of that would be Michael Vick (who has played for the Falcons), Dez Bryant etc.
"I think I work just as hard as anybody," Clowney told The Associated Press. "If you pick me and pair me with guys, I'm going to try and outwork them also."