No Risk, No Reward: Darren McFadden is Worth the Baggage

140 rushing yards per game, 1,830 yards rushing for the season, six yards per carry, 21 total touchdowns (five of which he threw), First Team All-American, and a defeat of the eventual National Champions, LSU, which he seemed to do single-handedly. Risk? What Risk?

If there’s a risk, please show me. What player isn’t a risk when they will eventually be worth boat-loads of money? Hell, life is a risk. Anyone in the spotlight will be targeted. If they are involved in an altercation, no matter how minimal, it will be all over the six o’clock news.

It comes with the responsibility of being a superstar. Michael Jordan liked to gamble. He was rich enough to place $100,000 bets and not think twice. What’s a hundred grand to a guy with a hundred mil? I have around 100 dollars in my bank account right now, and no one will say a word if I bet one dollar on a ball game.

McFadden's risk factor stems from a different situation than M.J.’s. "Run DMC", as he’s known by most of the country, is from Little Rock, Arkansas, the capital city of a state that is, and has been, stricken by gang activity since the late 1980s. Gang violence inspired HBO to do a special on the city, "Gang Bangin in Little Rock", which was seen by every gangster in America.

Little Rock is not an easy place to grow up. His mother struggled with a drug problem throughout Darren’s life, and his family members, at times, have been known to get him into trouble in night clubs and other social scenes.

But what star athlete doesn't deal with these things?

Kobe Bryant was acquitted of a rape charge two years ago. Do you think NBA general managers wouldn’t tear down a brick wall to sign him?

LeBron was under investigation for accepting illegal gifts when he was in high school. That pick seemed to work out pretty well for the Cavs.

Randy Moss was a "trouble maker" during his days at Marshall. He then fell to pick number 21, and all he’ll do is go down in history as the best receiver of all-time.  And oh yeah, he's probably been worth the "trouble."

Yet many people still see McFadden as too big of a risk for anyone to waste a pick on.

One Dallas reporter went as far as to call his mother, who has been clean for sometime now, a crack addict and criticized McFadden for being one of twelve children born to her.

"McFadden, like Pacman, comes from a hellish home life. He grew up in gang-infested Little Rock, one of crack addict Mini Muhammad’s 12 kids. One of the biggest concerns about McFadden is that the bad influences in his life are his flesh and blood." Tim MacMahon, Dallas Morning News.

When did the amount of children a mother has become a negative against those children?

On June 26, McFadden was drafted third overall by the Oakland Raiders. Not shocking, considering Raiders owner Al Davis’ love of high-profile, and sometimes "high-risk", stars.

He took Moss off of the Vikings’ hands when he had overstayed his welcome in Minnesota. Shortly after, he snagged quarterback Donte’ Culpepper from the Vikings as well. He brought in an aging Jerry Rice when no one else would sign him, and took a chance on defensive tackle Warren Sapp .

And that’s just in the last eight years. Darren will be far away from Little Rock, for what will presumably end up being the rest of his adult life. But chances are his family will be right beside of him.

Maybe the sunshine, beaches, and palm trees in Oakland will be enough to distract the 20-year old from the troubles and situations that will surround him. Maybe the love for his two toddlers will do the trick. Maybe the millions upon millions in signing bonuses and endorsement deals will do it. Or maybe, just maybe, there’s nothing that needs to be done at all.

He’s young. We all have growing pains. And for pro athletes, those pains are worse. No one is perfect, especially not in the National Football League. Coaches, GMs, owners, and players all have their flaws, imperfections, and weak points.

Darren does too, but one thing's for sure: None of his are on the field.