Lil Gregory Paulus

Graduating Duke senior PG, Greg Paulus, had a solid basketball career at Duke. He got significant minutes his first 3 years before being a bench player his senior year and having his minutes cut drastically in favor of a freshman PG from Memphis, TN and also another Sophomore guard. Paulus career began with promise. He distributed the ball well, made jumpers, and was a nice up and coming young leader. Despite his early great abilities, he was a poor defender at best and made a plethora of mistakes consistently. Paulus, began as a solid college PG with shortcomings and silly mistakes, but he never grew out of them. He is kinda like that kid that exhibits immature, mischievous behavior which is cute for a 4 year old, but no longer remains cute as a 16 year old. Paulus’ Duke Career is most known for being on a ton on posters with the likes of Danny Green and Va Tech, being a hated Duke PG, making dumb basketball mistakes, and getting benched…until now.



Just recently, reports emerged that the Green Bay Packers inquired about Greg Paulus…

That’s right sportynation. That short PG from Duke that didn’t have much of a college basketball career is supposedly getting a look in the NFL at QB. It’s got to be one of the more ridiculous things ever in sports. No?

I mean he has some credentials…I guess. He was 4 time all state in football, Gatorade NY state player of the year, and had offers to play football at the University of Miami and Notre Dame, and his brother is a pretty good QB at the University of North Carolina. He was the best QB in the nation according to some, but scouts.com had him at the #9 QB in the nation. And, he was allegedly the best PG in the nation as well. Great right? Yeah…4 and a half years ago that was great. As J.D. Salinger said, “That was then, this is now.”



QB is the most difficult position in American football. There is an excruciatingly large amount of studying, preparation, smarts, athleticism, arm strength, practice and attention to detail, necessary just compete (not to be successful, but to just compete). And, Greg Paulus lacks many of these things. The aforementioned deficiencies coupled with the glaring lack of experience suggests that this is a bad idea.

The NFL is a league where people question whether or not Michael Vick will be able to play QB ever again. (I am speaking from solely a football ability perspective and not a personal or social perspective regarding Vick.). Michael Vick excelled in football in highschool, college, and the NFL. He was the highest paid QB ever at the time. During his time in the NFL, he consistently made spectacular plays. He was one of the first persons ever to win AT Green Bay in the playoffs. He has now been out for two years. Is it not fair to say that he probably is better or more equipped to be an NFL QB (solely from an ability perspective) that Greg Paulus who played only in highschool 4 and a half years ago? I can go on and on about college players and NFL players who were perceived to be great players that didn’t pan out. Sporty nation, Ryan Leaf was widely regarded as being the best QB in his draft…OVER Peyton.



Next, the University of Michigan threw its hat in the Greg Paulus for QB sweepstakes. Michigan even offered him an athletic scholarship. Indeed, another head scratcher. Paulus only has one year of eligibility left in college. So, he would be effectively going to Michigan to play for like one season or 6 months. And, if he goes to Michigan, he has to actually play. No? Otherwise, why would you offer someone a scholarship to ride the bench for only one season?! That’s like $20,000+ for nothing. That being said, is it practical, to start someone who hasn’t played competitive football in more than 4 and a half years for only one year…one year only?! Most college QBs don’t play there first first year and Paulus has already missed spring practice, doesn’t know the plays, the Wolverines’ personnel, and hasn’t played a football game at a competitive level in 4 and a half years. Yeah, he played in highschool and did well, but he wasn’t playing anywhere near the talent that he will face at Michigan or on the next level. Who good college player didn’t dominate in highschool?!

To conclude, I want to congratulate Greg Paulus on having the opportunity to play football at the highest level in the NFL or college football. It is once in a lifetime opportunity that he has and he has it after playing 4 years of basketball at a major university. However, I have to discuss the ridiculous nature of this opportunity. That is, it is one of the most difficult positions to play full time and regularly (let alone without playing competitively for almost half a decade), Paulus is short at 6’-1” and a tiny 180 lbs, has zero athleticism, and lacks experience. And, I also want to thank Paulus for his work at contributions at Duke. And, lastly want to apologize to Packers fans…Brett Favre already did quite a bit of damage and now this. In addition to that, I want to wholeheartedly apologize to the University of Michigan Wolverine fans. They lost to teams from an immensely lower division AT HOME with a plethora of talent, have an unconvincing head coach, had a chance at Tyrell Pryor and now maybe have Greg Paulus for a year. Doesn’t seem like a program that is growing in the right direction. So so sorry Michigan. My heart goes out to you.

Sporty nation, this is my minority report. Take care.