Beanie Wells: Showmanship Or Setting Us Up?
If you caught any of yesterday’s New Years BCS Bowl action, one of the news blurbs that you saw run across the bottom of your screen nearly every two minutes was the recent Associated Press report issued on Ohio State running back Chris Beanie Wells.
For many of us, it was a forgone conclusion that Wells would head to the NFL draft after this season. Though many of his teammates came back for their Senior year thanks to some “unfinished business” (read: winning a championship), Wells was thought to simply enter the Heisman race, possibly win, hopefully get a ring and then be well on his way to Mel Kiper’s “big board.”
‘Tis the season for BCS Bowl Games, but also the season for the NCAA studs to declare eligibility. Iowa’s Shonn Greene wasted zero time in declaring his eligibility – though this is not surprising given his academic history. The guy went from sitting out all of 2007 to winning this year’s Big Ten MVP award. But when it comes to his conference peer in Wells, Beanie is “undecided” on his future.
Asked if that meant he was leaning toward staying at Ohio State for another season, Wells said: “I don’t want to say I’m leaning toward staying or I’m leaning toward going. All I’m saying is I do want to be the best Buckeye to ever come through here.”
While his future is yet to be determined in terms of accomplishments, I think we can all agree that Beanie would be down a few pegs from his predecessors. Archie Griffin and Eddie George come to mind. Heck, if we’re going on career stats, Mo Clarrett would get at least some recognition despite his eventual destiny. What I’m getting at is that we all know that Wells’ Junior season was a bit of a disappointment thanks to an early-season injury and the fact that Ohio State did not even make a Rose Bowl bid let alone a National Championship appearance – deserved or not. And Wells knows that too.
“I really haven’t sat down and thought about it yet,” Wells said. “I’m really just enjoying the moment right now, whether it’s, you know, a last game or not. I’m just enjoying it and focused on Texas.”
“I wanted to be the best to ever come through Ohio State,” Wells said. “I definitely feel like I haven’t accomplished that yet.”
But if you ask anyone associated with the NFL, or even his own coach Jim Tressel, it appears that this may just be a case of “saying the right things” as the Buckeyes still have a game to prepare for.
“If it were me, it wouldn’t be tough,” Tressel said Dec. 17 of Wells’ impending decision. “In my opinion, he ought to be one of the first five guys picked.”
Obviously, this is a decision that has to be discussed with friends and family and perhaps that discussion has been put off until after the game. I’m not about to get my hopes up for a second dose of Wells-Pryor, but you can bet that I wouldn’t mind if Chris did decide to come back for a senior season. Plus, if he does stay, it will postpone all of the WKNR callers who think the Browns should take Wells in the first round this season. That should be worth it all on it’s own.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:12 am
Book it, Wells enters the draft. Typical pre-bowl talk.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 am
Nice post Scott. Looks like we were on the same wavelength this morning.
I agree with RandyOSU — Wells will be in the draft. And he would be absolutely foolish not to do so. Running backs can only hurt themselves and add more wear and tear if they stay an extra season.
For the Browns though, Wells going pro when the team has such a high pick may not be ideal. The Browns need a RB, but I doubt they want to take one in the top-5. That is a very risky move, and while I think Wells is fantastic, I don’t think he is an Adrian Peterson-type back that should be a top 5 or top 10 pick.
Hopefully if Wells comes out and the Browns pass on him, fans will realize that taking running backs at the top of the draft has not proven to be a great decision, overall, in the past. You can get very productive running backs later in the draft and usually get more value out of a top-10 pick by choosing positions like defensive line, linebacker, or offensive line.
If they can trade down and get Wells, and add more picks later in the draft, I think that would be great. Otherwise, I think the Browns should resist the temptation to appease their fans, and make the tough decision to pass on Wells. He has proven to be a great back, but one who is slightly injury prone and who lacks NFL breakaway speed. For a top draft pick, those are two pretty big question marks you would be buying into.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am
As much as i would love for him to be back next year, he would be dumb not to enter the Draft. When you consider the shelf life of an NFL running back, he only has a few years to make his mark. I say if you’re a RB projected in round 1 – GO!
The same rule does not apply for a QB…the more college playing time you get, the more prepared you are for the NFL (usually). but a RB? 5-6 years of full-time NFL production, and that’s it! why not add another year onto that?
Thanks Beanie, for saying the right things, but we all understand if you leave.
January 2nd, 2009 at 11:53 am
Doesn’t he have 10 brothers and sisters?
Sure, I’d like to see him at OSU for my own selfish reasons, but he’s gone.
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
i wouldnt mind taking jenkins this year and beanie next year.
i wouldnt mind that at all.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:14 pm
“I really haven’t sat down and thought about it yet,” Wells said. “I’m really just enjoying the moment right now, whether it’s, you know, a last game or not. I’m just enjoying it and focused on Texas.”
While I don’t believe that, Tressel sure prepares these guys to handle the media and be professional.
He shouldn’t stay. I’d love to see him here next year as much as everyone else because the USC game will not have the same outcome as this past one. But I would hate to see him get hurt next season and jeopardize all of that. He is one of 12 kids in the family. Like frickin gremlins. 12? Anyway, look out for your rather large family first.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I have to say that it is great, at least in this small sample, to see so many OSU fans wanting what is best for Beanie. And I agree…good for him for saying the right things, and good for Tressel also for saying Beanie should go. I am not an OSU fan per se, but many of my friends are. The class of Jim Tressel and his players have always impressed me.
And while I don’t think taking Wells in the top 5 is smart for the Browns from a “value” perspective, he certainly would not be a bad addition to any team. Great team player, tough runner, and comes from a great college program. You could do a heck of a lot worse.
I hope he runs all over Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I was pleasantly surprised to read this yesterday. That being said, he ought to go. I don’t think the Browns should take him, as there are much more glaring needs (anywhere on defense) but I do think he’ll be a quality NFL back.
He came to OSU with the stated goal of winning a Heisman, and although that hasn’t happened he’s definitely the most NFL-ready back there is (Knowshon = Reggie Bush 2.0) in this year’s draft. I’d love to see him back with the intention of winning the Heisman, but he’s gotta stay healthy for a full year and compete with guys named Tebow (if Florida doesn’t win the BCS title game), McCoy, Bradford, etc. for the award. I say he goes and does what he do at the next level.
January 8th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
[...] mentioned last week that Ohio State’s Chris “Beanie” Wells may have simply been delaying the ineveitable with his “undecided” answers. Not even 72 hours after the end of the 2009 Fiesta [...]