The news out of Boston that New England Patriots Tight End Aaron Hernandez was arrested on first-degree murder charges is nothing short of shocking. The victim of this alleged crime is Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro linebacker for the Boston Bandits. In the aftermath of this scandal, the usual outpouring of questions are asked. One example of this is, “Who could have predicted this devastating crime?”
Is it possible that the NFL could have?
Draft Screenings
As part of the NFL draft process, soon-to-be-draftees subject themselves to a variety of tests. Although the physical examinations receive the most press, the draftees also undergo several psychological assessments. Aaron Hernandez was no exception to this process. In fact, his participation yielded some interesting results.
Dr. Mike Sanders, a professor of psychology and partner in a scouting company, helped to invent one such mental profile. Eighteen NFL teams utilize the information that Sanders’ company produces. While Hernandez dominated the many physical tests that were given to him, he only scored a one out of ten on the category of social maturity personality test.
The same report found that he was extremely qualified to play football, and it suggested that he would be successful at it. He even received ten out of ten rating in the categories of focus and self-efficacy. Under the segment of mental ability, Hernandez also received a ten out of ten for mental quickness.
The Wonderlic Test, another mental examination that tests problem recognition and solving, gave Hernandez a score of seventeen out of forty. This score is obviously on the low end of the spectrum. However, it is still above the minimum for the position of tight end.
Interpreting the Data
The findings were not unanimously indicative of a major flaw in Hernandez’s psychology. It is not as though Hernandez fit the profile of a Hannibal Lector-esque candidate. Still, some teams recognized Hernandez’s character issues and kept their distance. This explains why Hernandez was not drafted in the early rounds. He was a fourth-round pick, which is abnormally low considering he won the John Mackey Award. This is college football’s honor for the most outstanding tight end, and by way of comparison, last year’s winner was drafted in the first round.
Therefore, it seems unlikely that the Patriots, or any NFL team, could have accurately predicted that only a little over three years after the draft, he would be the subject of murder charges. His physical talent overshadowed his character flaws, and by the time he had slipped into the fourth round, he would have been a steal for any team.
The NFL is a volatile atmosphere. It is this way for the front office, who routinely needs to favor playing ability over any other player trait, and it is this way for the players. For some players, a career in the NFL makes them better, and for others it makes them worse. Hernandez, like Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Javon Belcher, is the product of his own bad decisions, and it’s tragic.
Image Credit: Not enough megapixels
