Morris Claiborne Got a 4 on the Wonderlic Test: Does It Even Matter?

LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne scored a four on the NFL's ultimate measure of intelligence, the Wonderlic test, which has to be the most unfortunate bit of hilarity to come out of this year's NFL Draft season. People will laugh and giggle and guffaw at the score, as it is somewhat unimaginable.

I mean, come on. The dude got a four, and the Wonderlic includes such brain busters along the lines of, "When rope is selling at $.10 a foot, how many feet can you buy for sixty cents?" It's not integral calculus by any means.

According to ESPN, an LSU source tried to stand up for Claiborne, but instead made him somehow seem less intelligent than before, saying Claiborne is a "visual learner." and "has a high football IQ. He just learns in a different way. He's a visual learner. He can handle playbook and scheme in the NFL."

Well, he did play at LSU, a school that employs a pro-style defense. The average NFL player scores about a 20, which signifies average intelligence, a feat too difficult for Claiborne.

There is a possibility that he has a learning disability, but even so, wouldn't Claiborne or people in his camp let the powers that be know of his potential condition? Also, what learning disability is so debilitating that a functioning athlete is that affected by it so severely? 

A score of 10 or above signifies literacy, so you can only imagine what lower than that means. Whatever. The only person who really cares about these tests is Roger Goodell, and Goodell isn't amused by Claiborne's score being leaked, therefore admitting to the world just what is going on in the latter's brain (hint):

"Disclosing this confidential information about draft-eligible players to the public can be extremely damaging to players, clubs, and the league."

Oh, chill out. These tests don't really matter. Some of the most below-average intelligent players in NFL history were also the best—Dan Marino got a 13 and Terry Bradshaw a 15, for example.

Frank Gore is the recipient of a six and Super Bowl champion Hakeem Nicks dropped an 11. Then there's the idiotic theory that players who score extremely high on the Wonderlic are "too smart", because they threaten the intelligence of the coaching staff. The theory itself is correct, but what the theory regards is just so, so stupid.

If this is true, then NFL coaches are the most insecure people on the planet. Are they really that afraid of Greg McElroy? 

The Wonderlic is meaningless. The scores don't matter. Look at this list of Wonderlic scores in reference to NFL quarterbacks. Matt Leinart has the sixth highest score, and Ben Roethlisberger the 23rd (and Tebow the 25th!).

The questions are relatively easy, but who cares. There is no evidence that a high Wonderlic score results in NFL success, or the opposite. Claiborne will still be a top five pick, and life will go on. 

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