NFL.com
The punchline of most “hoax” jokes, Manti Te’o, has found a home in the NFL. On day two of the 2013 NFL Draft, the San Diego Chargers selected the former Notre Dame star with the 38th overall pick.
To snag Te’o, the Chargers swung a trade with the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for its second and fourth round selections. San Diego is a great landing spot for Te’o. New general manager Tom Telesco let quite a few veteran defensive players go during the offseason, leaving the team in need of an inside linebacker in defensive coordinator John Pagano‘s 3-4 scheme.
Te’o will likely get an opportunity to win the starting job in training camp, but a lot of his on-field success will depend on how he handles the off-the-field transition. A bigger league means a bigger media presence. While San Diego is a very small media market in comparison to a place like Chicago, the demand for his brand will increase tenfold.
One the bight side, he gets to live in Southern California, one of the nicest places in the country. Warm weather, sandy beaches, friendly people; and most importantly, he will be extremely close to his family in Hawaii.
A living environment similar to what he grew up in will go a long way in helping Te’o get comfortable in the league.
It would be great to see this kid succeed. His life shouldn’t be defined by what has happened in recent months. The NFL now gives him a chance to re-shape the narrative.
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