NFL Draft In Case You Want A Dark Horse to Root For In The Draft

vailpass · 03-06-2018, 12:31 PM

A lot of good people here. Way long read but good.

The Real MVP: NFL hopeful Joe Este raises his nephews on wings and a prayer

Every morning, Joseph Este has a nanosecond when he wishes he was an average Joe.

When his cellphone alarm sounds at 5:30 a.m. in the Kenner house where he stays with a good soul he refers to as his grandmother, his fatigue urges him to sleep in.

An average Joe would skip one of Este’s grueling twice daily, six days-a-week workouts that prepare him for his pro day audition this month before stopwatch-wielding NFL scouts.

After all, who needs to flip tractor tires or shake 50-foot ropes thick enough to secure barges when you can get a few more hours of shuteye?

But as Este silences his alarm, he stares at his phone’s screensaver.

He sees the happy faces of Zackary and Christopher.

To Este, they are more than the elementary school-age children of his sister, who has lived the last half-decade in a losing battle with personal demons, her whereabouts often unknown. For the past year and a half, they have been his life.

It started when he made the courageous decision to raise his nephews as his sons and begin adoption proceedings while juggling life as a college student-athlete at a Division 1-AA program in a small northwest Tennessee town 11 miles south of the Kentucky border.

“When I see their pictures, I know I have to work as hard as I can every day,” the 23-year-old Este said. “Because if I fail, then they fail. I refuse to let them fail. A lot of people gave up on them. I refuse to give up on them.

“I don’t want them to go down the same road I’ve been through. My boys are my fuel. There’s not much more I need.”

Este’s name isn’t on on the tip of every scout’s tongue. It likely isn't on any NFL team’s draft board or free agents list.

Most pro scouts probably know little or nothing about the 5-foot, 11-inch, 200-pound former Bonnabel defensive back who transferred from Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College to University of Tennessee-Martin in 2016.

They may be unfamiliar with his two-year stats at UT-Martin of 22 starts in 23 games, 129 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, 18 pass breakups and four interceptions. They may not have broken down the film of his final three games, when he had 28 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss after injuries to his defensive backfield mates left him as the only experienced safety.

They haven’t met his mother, Candrice Este, once homeless, whom calls Joseph “my life saver.”

They have yet to contact his Marrero-based trainer, Gary Scheffler, who recently timed Este twice at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and isn’t ashamed to say, “God put Joe in my life for a reason.”

They haven’t heard UT-Martin coach Jason Simpson declare, “Joe affected my life, my family’s life, our program, our university and our entire community.”

They haven’t tracked down UT-Martin Chancellor Keith Carver, who says of Este, “I’ll be a job reference for Joe the rest of his life, he’s an incredible kid.”

They haven’t charted his grades, irrefutable evidence of Este’s rise from an academic nonqualifier out of high school to a 2015 junior college graduate with a 3.7 grade point average to a UT-Martin graduate in December earning a bachelor’s degree with a 3.5 grade-point average.

A couple of things pro football talent evaluators will never discover about Este unless they invite him to mini-camp are his enormous heart and unwavering will.

“I used to feel I never had anybody reach out and help me,” Este said of his relentless drive to succeed. “I always had to go and do it all myself. From the time I was 13, I felt I was basically on my own.”

In every step of Este’s fight to rise above the odds of a hardscrabble childhood, family naysayers and alleged friends told him “you can’t” and “you won’t.”

His response has been “I can” and “I will.”

Continued Here:
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf...18_prospe.html

Eureka · 03-06-2018, 12:39 PM

I thought this was a thread about the kid who Deion Sanders said he was suprised the kid was fast.

Rudy tossed tigger's salad · 03-06-2018, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eureka

I thought this was a thread about the kid who Deion Sanders said he was suprised the kid was fast.

He's a real Light Horse

Shoes · 03-06-2018, 12:49 PM

I ****ing hate horses

vailpass · 03-06-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eureka

I thought this was a thread about the kid who Deion Sanders said he was suprised the kid was fast.

Didn't see that one. White boy was he?

Eureka · 03-06-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

Didn't see that one. White boy was he?

Correct.

It’s no longer PC to say “white boy” lol

vailpass · 03-06-2018, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eureka

Correct.

It’s no longer PC to say “white boy” lol

What? Nobody told us.

JoeyChuckles · 03-06-2018, 01:50 PM

Something about the phrase "dark horse" just sounds racist to me. Like when people from the Northeast call brown sprinkles "jimmies".

vailpass · 03-06-2018, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyChuckles

Something about the phrase "dark horse" just sounds racist to me. Like when people from the Northeast call brown sprinkles "jimmies".

What in the actual **** are you talking about?

**New World Order** · 03-06-2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeyChuckles

Something about the phrase "dark horse" just sounds racist to me. Like when people from the Northeast call brown sprinkles "jimmies".

What?

Eureka · 03-06-2018, 02:04 PM

I always heard “Jimmies” were another word for condoms.

Kiimo · 03-06-2018, 02:06 PM

Deion Sanders was 100% right.

4.3???

Simply Red · 03-06-2018, 02:25 PM

cracker ass cracker

raybec 4 · 03-06-2018, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vailpass

What? Nobody told us.

Great movie, "Nah man. it ain't white boy day"

Coochie liquor · 03-06-2018, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoes

I ****ing hate horses

Eric Berry, confirmed!!

03-06-2018, 12:31 PM
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	In Case You Want A Dark Horse to Root For In The Draft A lot of good people here. Way long read but good. The Real MVP: NFL hopeful Joe Este raises his nephews on wings and a prayer Every morning, Joseph Este has a nanosecond when he wishes he was an average Joe. When his cellphone alarm sounds at 5:30 a.m. in the Kenner house where he stays with a good soul he refers to as his grandmother, his fatigue urges him to sleep in. An average Joe would skip one of Este’s grueling twice daily, six days-a-week workouts that prepare him for his pro day audition this month before stopwatch-wielding NFL scouts. After all, who needs to flip tractor tires or shake 50-foot ropes thick enough to secure barges when you can get a few more hours of shuteye? But as Este silences his alarm, he stares at his phone’s screensaver. He sees the happy faces of Zackary and Christopher. To Este, they are more than the elementary school-age children of his sister, who has lived the last half-decade in a losing battle with personal demons, her whereabouts often unknown. For the past year and a half, they have been his life. It started when he made the courageous decision to raise his nephews as his sons and begin adoption proceedings while juggling life as a college student-athlete at a Division 1-AA program in a small northwest Tennessee town 11 miles south of the Kentucky border. “When I see their pictures, I know I have to work as hard as I can every day,” the 23-year-old Este said. “Because if I fail, then they fail. I refuse to let them fail. A lot of people gave up on them. I refuse to give up on them. “I don’t want them to go down the same road I’ve been through. My boys are my fuel. There’s not much more I need.” Este’s name isn’t on on the tip of every scout’s tongue. It likely isn't on any NFL team’s draft board or free agents list. Most pro scouts probably know little or nothing about the 5-foot, 11-inch, 200-pound former Bonnabel defensive back who transferred from Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Community College to University of Tennessee-Martin in 2016. They may be unfamiliar with his two-year stats at UT-Martin of 22 starts in 23 games, 129 tackles, 11 1/2 tackles for loss, 18 pass breakups and four interceptions. They may not have broken down the film of his final three games, when he had 28 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss after injuries to his defensive backfield mates left him as the only experienced safety. They haven’t met his mother, Candrice Este, once homeless, whom calls Joseph “my life saver.” They have yet to contact his Marrero-based trainer, Gary Scheffler, who recently timed Este twice at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash and isn’t ashamed to say, “God put Joe in my life for a reason.” They haven’t heard UT-Martin coach Jason Simpson declare, “Joe affected my life, my family’s life, our program, our university and our entire community.” They haven’t tracked down UT-Martin Chancellor Keith Carver, who says of Este, “I’ll be a job reference for Joe the rest of his life, he’s an incredible kid.” They haven’t charted his grades, irrefutable evidence of Este’s rise from an academic nonqualifier out of high school to a 2015 junior college graduate with a 3.7 grade point average to a UT-Martin graduate in December earning a bachelor’s degree with a 3.5 grade-point average. A couple of things pro football talent evaluators will never discover about Este unless they invite him to mini-camp are his enormous heart and unwavering will. “I used to feel I never had anybody reach out and help me,” Este said of his relentless drive to succeed. “I always had to go and do it all myself. From the time I was 13, I felt I was basically on my own.” In every step of Este’s fight to rise above the odds of a hardscrabble childhood, family naysayers and alleged friends told him “you can’t” and “you won’t.” His response has been “I can” and “I will.” Continued Here: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf...18_prospe.html
Posts: 69,591

03-06-2018, 12:39 PM	#2
Eureka C Chiefs once a year! Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cali Casino cash: $2336097	I thought this was a thread about the kid who Deion Sanders said he was suprised the kid was fast.
Posts: 7,507

03-06-2018, 12:49 PM	#4
Shoes Veteran Join Date: Feb 2018 Casino cash: $4629690	I ****ing hate horses
Posts: 1,466

03-06-2018, 01:50 PM	#8
JoeyChuckles Bring It Home Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Haverbrook Casino cash: $10007012	Something about the phrase "dark horse" just sounds racist to me. Like when people from the Northeast call brown sprinkles "jimmies".
Posts: 4,322

03-06-2018, 02:04 PM	#11
Eureka C Chiefs once a year! Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cali Casino cash: $2336097	I always heard “Jimmies” were another word for condoms.
Posts: 7,507

03-06-2018, 02:06 PM	#12
Kiimo MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Studio City, CA Casino cash: $3988742	Deion Sanders was 100% right. 4.3???
Posts: 12,647

03-06-2018, 02:25 PM	#13
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	cracker ass cracker
Posts: 71,691