Shane Beamer Defends Spencer Rattler Against Criticism During Fifth Round NFL Draft Slide

Shane Beamer defended Spencer Rattler against criticism during his NFL Draft slide to the fifth round, calling it a “lazy narrative” surrounding his work ethic and attitude. Prior to being drafted by the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, ESPN’s Pete Thamel had criticized Rattler for his leadership abilities after starring in a reality TV show as a teenager made him look “unbelievable[ly] bad.” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that several teams considered it to be an enormous red flag during their draft preparations, describing the image of Rattler from the program as something they couldn’t shake out of their minds. When fans ask South Carolina’s coach where things went wrong for Rattler after being a highly-rated recruit at Oklahoma and having potential to become college football’s top overall pick just a few years ago, Beamer replies that “some team is getting a future starter today.” Rapoport also noted that the show did not make him look great. While teams had questions about Rattler during their draft preparations, it remains to be seen what happens next for the 23-year-old quarterback after falling in the fifth round of this year’s NFL Draft. Beamer still believes in his former player despite doubts from others.