FanPost

Perrish Cox's Bargain

Something has been hanging around the back of my mind ever since Perrish Cox was taken with the 137th pick of the 2010 Draft. Why did he fall, and will this reason resurface with the Broncos?

It isn't really a big deal at this point, but the question comes up again every now and then when I read some of his comments. For example:

On what he's learned from CB Champ Bailey

"Everything. I actually go to him more than I go to Coach - every little aspect. What am I looking for on this play and that play. He helps me with everything."

Most people will recognise this, because he has said that "I actually go to [Champ] more than I go to Coach" in nearly every interview, and this is in a way a good thing. It should be commendable that a rookie wants to learn from a veteran - especially when that veteran is a possible Hall of Famer like Champ Bailey. But it's interesting that he says he listens more to a player than a coach, particularly when I read this from Mocking Dan of Mocking the Draft:

There’s just always been an undercurrent about Cox that he rubs people, particularly coaches, the wrong way.

One may wonder if the fact that he goes to Champ more than he does a coach is the reason he'd "rub coaches the wrong way". Could one also consider this to fall under the definition of "uncoachable"? No, perhaps not, but maybe coaches would see it that way.

(For fellow Stiffs out there, if you look up "uncoachable" on the Free DIctionary, this comes up:

Word not found in the Dictionary and Encyclopedia.

Some articles that match your query:

Phil Jackson Kobe Bryant

LOL.)

It's something to consider, even if it isn't a big deal, for the future. Just how much Perrish responds to his coaches' teaching.

Mocking Dan also said this:

The only thing holding Perrish Cox back is Perrish Cox. He was suspended for the Cotton Bowl after breaking curfew and tweeting about it. He was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended license in September of last year. Wasn't allowed to workout during the Oklahoma State pro day.

Some immature errors brought him down. We can only hope that he has (or will) grown up, because the Broncos don't tolerate players that go against the team's wishes (which would be a shame for both Cox and the Broncos, considering his talent). To be fair, however, here is what Perrish had to say regarding the Cotton Bowl incident:

"The Cotton Bowl mistake was a mistake on my part," Cox said. "It’s something that I learned from and something that I want to put in the past. Hopefully I can do that and move on from it."

(An intriguing bit in this article:

The Broncos put a lot of work into the draft preparation, back to when general manager Brian Xanders had the initial draft board done very soon after last season ended.

That time last year, Josh wasn't even hired, let alone had a draft board up. It's amazing that they could get some success in the '09 draft with so little time to prepare, and makes me hopeful for future drafts. Additionally, one should note the appearance of Brian Xanders' name in there.)

Dan ultimately ended his scouting report with this final sentence:

If Cox can play within himself and improve in some areas, he has the ability to be a very good starter in the NFL.

And that's where we lie right now. If. It's a minor if, of course, but an if nonetheless. Hopefully, he has moved on from these problems, because he has already shown that he can be a very good starter in the NFL, and here it is a relief that the veterans he's following are the likes of Champ and Brian Dawkins. Leaders that can keep a rookie standing upright.

But the end result is up to him. Perrish can either "live up to his end of the bargain" (as McDaniels put it) and continue his astonishing development, or let his past be an omen for the future, much like Peyton Hillis saying he only wants to run forward or the reason Brandon Marshall fell all the way to the 4th and why he's no longer a Bronco.


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