Acme Packing Company: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Fedor vs Rogers Results and Live Coverage

In defense of Tony Mandarich

Hey guys this is MasterRWayne and I am a writer for the Colts blog at www.stampedeblue.com.

I wrote an article detailing Mandarich's interview on "Inside the NFL" because he made his comeback with the Colts and started for us from 1996-1998. Now I know Mandarich is hated by you guys because he was a draft bust, but allow me to say two things.

1. Mandarich was a VERY good starting NFL lineman for the Colts. In fact, he was a bright spot on an otherwise talented, but inexperienced O-line that featured rookies at LT and LG. The bottom line is that Mandarich turned his life around, got sober and played his guts out for the Colts. In fact, he was part of the Colts 1997 victory over the Packers in which an 0-9 Colts team defeated a then 9-0 Packers team. One of my favorite Colts memories is him running down the field with his helmet off after the game winning field goal went through.

2. I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Mandarich in 1999 shortly after his retirement and he was kind, humble and respectful. I was working at Starbucks back then and I recognized him and he took time out of his day to talk football with me.

My point is that Tony Mandarich seems, both from the "Inside the NFL" and my personal experience, like a good person who made a lot of dumb mistakes when he was in his early 20's and then turned his life around. In short, Tony Mandarich as a Colt was a different player and a different person than Tony Mandarich as a Packer.

So yeah you can be upset about how Tony Mandarich was a "draft bust" for you guys, but you have to recognize that the guy fought hard to turn his life around and never gave up. You just have to respect that.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Well of course he's a nice guy

He’s Canadian.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Oct 2, 2008 4:51 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+1

"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."

by Mitchell_M on Oct 2, 2008 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Busted Packers

I’m not too critical of him, he did seem like a confused 20 something who took bad advice from all sides, such as his possible boxing career. It was the Packers that did a lousy job with their draft choices back then. The pain has subsided with the passage of time, but it was harsh that the top 5 picks from the 1989 draft featured 4 of the greatest players of the 1990s, and the Packers were the only team that struck out with their selection.

by Brandon on Oct 2, 2008 11:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Look at it this way

Several of the teams that got those players (Sanders with Lions, Thomas with Chiefs) never won championships. The Pack did. Maybe Thomas, whose life was tragically cut short, could have won one.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Oct 4, 2008 7:19 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Acme Packing Company, the SBNation blog for fans of the Green Bay Packers.
Start posting about the Packers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Stoopshead_small
The Aftermath

Recent FanPosts

Zygi_wario_solo_small
Just had to share
Tex1_small
Tex's Friday Preview - Tampa
1001_large_small
Packer fans..check out a Video History of your team VS Bucs in Orange
Seal_small
Please protect Aaron Rodgers.
Small
Status of The Packers Post Week 8
Small
Your Proverbial Conspiracy Theory...
Image_021_small
What to make of this team
Me_at_the_vikings_game_small
Interviews with Bart Starr, Jan Stenerud, and Paul Krause up now at DN
Small
Ted Thompson for president....
Sniperjesus_small
Thanks, Packer Fans!

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs Release WR Bobby Engram; RB Kolby Smith to Active Roster
Stampede Blue
Dear Bill Polian: Please sign Jack Williams ASAP
Arrowhead Pride
Chiefs RB Kolby Smith Travels with the Team to Jacksonville

Manager

Acmepackingco_small Brandon

Author

Rubberducky_small Mitchell_M

Me_working_foh-icon_small RobertArthur