10 Athletes Right Now That No One Can Figure Out
For coaches and scouts, assessing athletes has become a science. Maybe it’s not an absolute science, but a science nonetheless. When billions of dollars are at stake, knowing everything possible about every man on your roster is essential.
Always on the outside looking in, the media and fans do their share of evaluating, too. Most teams only get one chance to evaluate a player’s prospects, while the media and fans often have the benefit of years of hindsight.
For most athletes, deciding if they’re good or bad or if we like them or don’t is easy enough, at least from an outsider’s perspective. Sometimes the impression is immediate, while other times it forms over years, but eventually we get there.
That being said, even with all the time and effort we put into ‘figuring out’ players, there are some that will never quite fit the mold. Let’s take a look at 10 that, for a variety of reasons, nobody can figure out right now.
Matt Stafford, Detroit Lions
1 of 10
What can’t we figure out about Lions quarterback Matt Stafford?
Is the guy any good?
Sure, he looks like a quarterback—6’3”, 234 pounds, laser, rocket arm. After two injury-plagued seasons out of Georgia, Stafford started piling on the yards, but his completion percentage is up and down, and he has maintained a penchant for crippling interceptions.
Plus, there’s no getting around the fact that he is 0-18 on the road against teams with winning records and has yet to win a playoff game.
Austin Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers
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What can’t we figure out about Clippers guard Austin Rivers?
Can he ever escape the nepotism cloud while playing for his dad?
Drafted out of Duke No. 10 overall by New Orleans in 2012, Austin Rivers is the son of Clippers coach Doc Rivers. Mediocre at best with the Pelicans, in January 2015 the Clips made the stunning decision to trade Reggie Bullock, Chris Douglas-Roberts and a draft pick for Austin—stunning in that the Pelicans had decided not to pick up his option for the 2015-16 season and it’s hard to imagine there would’ve been high demand for his services as a free agent.
Austin claimed he was going to have to “earn everything” in Los Angeles, but apparently that started right after the unnecessary trade—a trade, by the way, which was made three months after he threatened to make New Orleans “pay” for declining his option. Although Austin contributed in at least one game down the stretch, he’s going to be fighting the nepotism thing for quite a while.
Mario Balotelli, Liverpool FC
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What can’t we figure out about Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli?
Why won’t this guy stop wasting his talent and just grow up already?
Since turning pro in 2006, 24-year-old Mario Balotelli, of Italy, has played for five different teams. One after the other, none of them have been sorry to see him go. In fact, he’s only been with Liverpool since the summer of 2014, a situation that had already begun to curdle for the bombastic Balotelli by January and certainly hasn’t improved in the months since.
Despite his well-known penchant for rabble-rousing, which is the understatement of the century, Balotelli had long been considered an untapped resource with superstar talent, but even that seems to be in question now—a former AC Milan teammate went so far as to call him “ordinary” in December. Balotelli is anything but ordinary, but you can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever care enough to bother proving it.
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Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
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What can’t we figure out about Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch?
What’s his problem?!
Lynch hasn’t always been as…eccentric…as he is now. His repeated threats to retire over the last two years actually paid off, literally, but his ridiculous and ongoing media blackout is just tiresome.
And the fact that Lynch just “hates” the chore isn’t really a solid excuse.
Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees
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What can’t we figure out about Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez?
So everyone’s just good with this guy again?
For the last couple of seasons, Yankees (now) 39-year-old steroid enthusiast/liar Alex Rodriguez has been the biggest pariah in MLB. He was digging in his heels and ready to sue anyone and everyone, including his own union, to overturn a suspension for something he has admitted to doing on more than one occasion.
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
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What can’t we figure out about Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers?
Seriously, is he elite?
Drafted out of NC State No. 4 overall in 2004, there are so many things we know about Philip Rivers. Stuff like...he doesn’t like Jay Cutler, he wears terrible bolo ties, he has lots of children and his face is perfect for Photoshopping mouths onto.
But is he elite? Rivers’ performance improved in 2013 and 2014 after dipping from the standard he set in years prior, but the fact remains that as of last year, there were still plenty of questions being asked about his inability to get himself, or the Chargers, to the next step.
And at age 33, does Rivers have enough time left to get there?
David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
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What can’t we figure out about Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz?
What about the Hall of Fame?
A few years ago, Boston’s David Ortiz was deemed as washed up and over the hill. Boston.com set that notion to rest in August 2014, noting that Ortiz had tied Red Sox great Ted Williams for the most 30-home run seasons with the club—although he may be close, as they also noted he was the oldest of the 30-home run hitters last season.
The real bones of contention when it comes to Big Papi are if he ever “knowingly took steroids” and/or if his DH status disqualifies him from the Hall of Fame. Like many, Ortiz believes he belongs in the HOF, while many others respectfully disagree.
Rajon Rondo, Dallas Mavericks
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What can’t we figure out about soon-to-be free-agent point guard Rajon Rondo?
Why is this dude so surly?
Is it possible there simply is not any right situation for Rondo’s personality problems? Once among the most promising young players in the NBA, perennial problem child Rajon Rondo hasn’t made a lot of friends in the league since being drafted No. 21 overall out of Kentucky in 2006.
Subjected to trade speculation rumors for years in Boston, and running Doc Rivers out of town, the Celtics finally pulled the trigger in December. Rondo is a smart and talented guy, but he’s got terrible people skills and problems with authority. After spending the second half of the season in Dallas, coach Rick Carlisle promised Rondo wouldn’t be back in a Mavs uniform next season.
His talent is undeniable, but it’s been a while since it seemed he was doing less harm than good.
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
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What can’t we figure out about Capitals franchise winger Alex Ovechkin?
Will he ever lead his team to something beyond postseason potential?
Chosen No. 1 overall by Washington in the 2004 NHL draft, Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin has been one of the more prolific goalscorers in the league over the last decade. Topping the century mark four times in that time, Ovi is generally mentioned among the best players in the world.
But despite having made it to the playoffs in seven of his 10 seasons with the Caps, Ovi has led them to just as many coaching pink slips (he’s currently on his fifth head coach) as postseason series wins (which currently stands at four). In April, the Washington Post asked if Ovechkin could finally back up his regular-season warrior status in the playoffs.
A few weeks later, Ovi made a Joe Namath/Mark Messier-style guarantee, promising victory over the Rangers in a first-round series that stretched seven games. Ovechkin contributed one assist in yet another losing effort.
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
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What can’t we figure out about Patriots quarterback Tom Brady?
How does he pass himself off as an underdog, and why’s he gotta be so shady?
Love ’em or hate ’em, there is simply no denying the success the Patriots organization has enjoyed with Tom Brady behind center (and Bill Belichick on the sideline). In 13 years (minus the 2008 season he was lost to injury) as the starter in New England, Brady has won four Super Bowls and led the Pats to two others.
So his beautiful face has been present at nearly 50 percent of all championship games over that period. Speaking of his beautiful face, there’s also his beautiful wife and otherwise beautiful life. Dropping to the sixth round of the draft is no longer enough to qualify him as an underdog.
Brady has also been there for Spygate and Deflategate, two major scandals that have cast a lingering cloud of suspicion over the franchise. Which is actually a shame, because anyone who has ever seen this guy play know he’s at least among the greatest of all time. And since Belichick reportedly didn't even believe his recent Deflategate story, Brady would be better just playing it straight from now on.
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