Everyone was quite surprised on Thursday night when the Seattle Seahawks drafted former West Virginia linebacker/defensive end Bruce Irvin with the 15th overall pick in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll made it clear that he believes Irvin is a perfect fit for their system and can’t wait for him to hit the field.
So fired up to have Bruce Irvin on the Seahawks! Speed, motor, height… Perfect for our system! #12thMan will love him coming off the edge!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) April 27, 2012
Irvin had a rough upbringing and at one point had a hard time finding a home and ended up spending time in jail for burglary when he was known as B.J. Irvin.
In March Irvin found trouble once again when he was arrested and charged with destruction of property and disorderly conduct, for allegedly knocking a magnetic sign off a restaurant delivery car in West Virginia.
“B.J. was the one that was getting in trouble,” said Irvin, per the SeattlePI.com. “That’s two different people, man. That’s two different people. I hate when people say I got character issues, you know? I can see it if I was getting in trouble in junior college. But I’ve never been suspended, I’ve never failed a drug-testing. I had that little hiccup, but that’s it, you know?
“I’m just so happy Pete Carroll trusted in me and just believed in me. Deep down in his heart, he knew I was a changed person. He knew Bruce. Pete Carroll don’t even know B.J. He knows Bruce, so that’s all that matters now.”
At the end of the day, if Irvin can live on to his potential there won’t be a problem, but the Seahawks need him to put his past to the side and thrive in Seattle.
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I believe in Bruce Irvin.
Horrible, horrible pick. For the second year in a row the Seahawks essentially give up their first round pick. This was easy and they screwed it up. The first round pick should have been OG David DeCastro from Stanford. Then use the second round pick on Irvin. If someone else reached to pick him in the first then there would have still been a good defensive end there for you in the second round. If Irvin is picked in the first round then that would push one of the following group to the Seahawks in the second. One of these DEs would been available if Irvin is picked in the first by the Jets or someone else: Shea McClellin, Boise St./ Andre Branch, Clemson/ Nick Perry, USC / Chandler Jones, Syracuse / Quentin Coples, NC. You would have your choice of the one left from this group or Vinny Curry, Marshall. This was a horrible, horrible pick it doesn’t matter whether it was B.J. or Bruce.
An aside to the above comment. Pete Carroll would have been better served paying attention to what he was doing rather the tweeting.
I believe in Carroll and I believe in Irvin…I will NOT be the one looking like a complete and total @ss face when Irvin ends the season with 10 sacks. He’ll be deflecting passes and possibly making an interception or two. Peace out to all, and to all a good fight!