The other big event was the start of the college season, where one player in particular stood out, Greg Paulus. Most know the story of Paulus, the 2004 Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, choosing to play basketball at Duke instead of football at University of Miami or Notre Dame. Now he is the starting QB at Syracuse and is playing competitive football for the first time in four years.
It did not look like Paulus had much rust, and were it not for a costly interception that ended his team’s drive in overtime, he would have had the dream start to what will be a short-lived college career. Paulus only has this year of eligibility left, and then his college sports days are truly over.
What impressed me most about Paulus’s play was his intelligence and poise. He looked as though he were going into his senior season having redshirted his freshmen year before starting the next three. But this was his first college game… It was surprising to see him throw the pick in OT, but having done that once, I do not see him doing anything like that again. He is just too smart not to learn from his mistakes.
While Paulus went 19 of 31 with a TD and an INT, the former cream of the collegiate QB crop were being cut by NFL franchises. And yet, I think Paulus has a chance to make it in the NFL. I know he doesn’t come from a premier program, and cant throw 65 yards from his butt like JaMarcus Russell, but there is something about his smarts and awareness that make him a candidate to succeed.
Unlike the post-penitentiary Michael Vick, Paulus is aware of his physical limitations and did not try to break big runs against superior athletes. Paulus did not try to make throws he couldn’t complete. In fact, his stats would have been even better had his receivers not dropped some very easy balls. Paulus has a scrappiness that reminds me of Doug Flutie. He is clearly a strong leader having been handed the starting job at Cuse after less than a week into practice.
And we know he is a competitor and a winner, as we saw during his time at Duke. His play isn’t always pretty, but neither is Shaun Hill's. He doesn’t come from a good program, but neither does Ben Roethlisberger. He doesn’t have much experience, but neither does Mark Sanchez. But this kid is going to destroy the Wonderlic, and I am sure will blow away any coach or GM he meets with his personality and leadership qualities. The real question is, will he even give pro football a shot? From what I hear, Paulus wants to be a basketball coach. - Matthew Aibel
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