Fansided

Why isn’t Marcus Mariota at NFL Draft?

By Patrick Schmidt

Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota throws a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota throws a pass during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Why isn’t former Oregon Ducks and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota isn’t at the NFL Draft in Chicago to hear his name called?

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner is skipping the NFL Draft.

Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota is not attending the NFL Draft in Chicago because he wants to spend the day with his family and the community that helped support him as a youth in Hawaii.

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If you watched Mariota’s Heisman speech last December you know how important and how close he is with his family so this is a commendable decision by Mariota and shouldn’t be perceived as him ducking the spotlight.

Mariota will have both ESPN and the NFL Network into his home to document his draft day experience, so any thoughts that he isn’t equipped to handle the big city or the attention that comes with the draft should be put to bed.

The decision from Mariota to skip the draft came on the heels of 2013 Heisman winner, Jameis Winston, announcing his intentions to skip the draft in favor of spending the day with his family, including his grandmother who can’t travel due to complications from type 2 diabetes.

This is a blow for the city of Chicago not to have the potential (likely) top two picks in the draft not in town for the mega event, but can you fault either of these players for wanting to spend the day with their entire families in the comforts of their home?

How dare someone want to be with their family instead of being propped up by the NFL for a bro hug with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and nonstop photos and interview requests.

For Mariota and Winston alike, this is a chance to have control over a situation while their futures are laid out in front of them as they find out where their professional career will begin. This may be the last time they have control over anything related to their NFL careers, so I applaud them both for the decision they make.

It’s not like those watching the draft on ESPN and the NFL Network will suffer from a lack of coverage for Mariota or Winston either. Plus, Goodell will have 28 other draft prospects in attendance for the draft so he will have his fill of bro hugs.

Do you think Mariota and Winston will start a trend of top picks skipping the draft and celebrating the day in a controlled environment in the comfort of their home?

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