In an article titled top 10 guys to root for...
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9...amps?GT1=39002
Bernard Scott, Cincinnati Bengals, running back: If you're looking for a guy working to make the most of a second chance at life, allow me to introduce Bengals rookie running back Bernard Scott.
Scott's past is as checkered as they come. The 5-10 back was kicked off his high school team in Vernon, Texas because of an off-campus fight after his junior season. After graduating from Wichita Falls High School in 2003, he secured an offer to play at Scottie Pippen's alma mater, Central Arkansas, where in the spring after winning Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year honors he was kicked off the team ... for reportedly punching his coach in the face.
The list goes on. There have been traffic-related issues, and while attending Blinn College in 2006, Scott was charged with stealing an iPod, a misdemeanor offense. Charges were eventually dropped with his participation in a pretrial diversion program, but the cloud only darkened.
In all, Scott's been arrested five times. He's been kicked off multiple teams for off-the-field behavior and was given the dreaded "character issues" red flag on most NFL teams' draft boards in April.
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But that was the past. Scott's turning it all around. Or, better yet, he already has turned it around.
During the pre-draft interviews, he stepped up to the plate and addressed his past with any NFL executive who asked. He said he'd made mistakes; he said he regretted many of the things he had done. In regards to the punching of his coach, though, Scott contends it never happened. On Draft Day he explained, "That's a rumor, but it's not true. I got into it with one of my teammates at practice. A big fight broke out. Somebody grabbed me from behind and I reacted by pushing that person away. I didn't hit anyone and I didn't strike anyone at all."
Drama-free for close to three years now, the 2008 Harlon Hill Trophy winner has made a great impression in Bengals camp this offseason. Humble, determined and committed he is in the running to out-do Kenny Watson, Brian Leonard and DeDe Dorsey for the No. 2 tailback job behind Cedric Benson. At the very least, he'll make the squad as a third-down specialist.
Scott explained in April, "My expectation is to prove it to myself and to the Bengals that they made the right choice. The mistakes that I have made are in my past. I am ready to get up there to Cincinnati. Work hard and compete for a position."
He's doing all that and more.
When Scott was drafted by the Bengals in April, the pundits and talking heads rolled their eyes. "Here we go again." The blogs made their usual round of "Bungles" jokes.
What Cincinnati may have gotten in Scott was a changed man.
They also got themselves a damn good running back."
Nice piece, I hope they are right...
"Falc, just because I respond, please dont take it to mean that I give a sh!t about you. I respond because you are the type of person that needs to be told what a whack job you are or else you will go on thinking your behavior is normal and accepted. "
