Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill didn’t exactly impress many people with his comments on Tuesday regarding Malik Willis. When asked about potentially mentoring the team’s new third-round pick, the 33-year-old veteran wasn’t really jumping at the prospect.
“That’s part of being in a quarterback room, in the same room. We’re competing against each other, we’re watching the same tape, we’re doing the same drills,” Tannehill said. “I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him, but if he learns from me along the way, then that’s a great thing.”
Among many critics, former NFL players then proceeded to pick apart Tannehill’s sentiment—including Kurt Warner, Charles Woodson and Ryan Clark. So, how should he have addressed the topic?
Maybe like this . . .
Cam Newton reveals his feelings on the @Panthers drafting QB Will Grier in the 3rd round …@FOX46News @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/kXOV7Py4X5
— Josh Sims (@JoshRSims) May 3, 2019
That video, taken by Fox Sports reporter Josh Sims three years ago, shows then Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Cam Newton embracing his team’s third-round selection of a quarterback. And, as most things involving Cam do, the video made its rounds.
He should be more like Cam imo https://t.co/OAWvkOLDXQ
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) May 4, 2022
THIS is how you answer the question of mentorship of a newly drafted quarterback.
Where’s the national media on their Cam Newton hot takes now??
This is the person we saw every day for the Panthers.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Will Kunkel (@WillKunkelFOX) May 4, 2022
Hey bud. Take a look. @ryantannehill1 https://t.co/3IJCEu3TO4
— Chez🛸 (@Chezm8) May 4, 2022
In 2019, the Panthers took Will Grier with the draft’s 100th overall pick out of West Virginia University. And instead of shying away from a question about the move, Newton—whose time in Carolina was beginning to wind down to that point—put on a masterclass of how to portray the role of a leader.
This, of course, is not to say Tannehill is a poor leader—nor that he was even wrong in his answer. After all, this is a business.
But sometimes, being painfully honest isn’t the best approach to take. In this particular instance, it may be good to take notes from Cam—someone who, by the way, literally mentored Willis in the past.
