News-Record.com

... is apparently being asked of N.C. State defensive tackle DeMarcus "Tank" Tyler as the NFL Draft approaches.

This article from the Elgin (Ill.) Courier Journal, a su suburban Chicago paper, mentions Tyler and his issues. Apparently, as the KC Star points out as well, the Chiefs are also concerned.

While I'm certain that "character" needs to be a factor taken into account by NFL GMs, right alongside measurables like 40 times and shuttle runs, the Tyler situation gives me pause.

As someone who has covered a lot of N.C. State football for the last three years, I can honestly say that Tyler was never one of the guys who came up in conversation - both on and off the record - as a "problem player." Certainly not in the T.A. McClendon, Derek Morris mold. Was he a bit of a hot head? Perhaps. But he never seemed to be a dirty player or a cheap shot artist. The spitting incident at Southern Miss got him in trouble, although he insisted it was more a case of overemphatic enunciation than malicious intent.

The issue with the police office can't be dismissed either, but I'm still not sure we're coming anywhere close to Pac Man Jones/Chris Henry levels here.

Make no mistake folks. That's what's driving this renewed emphasis on "character." Jones and, to a lesser extent, Henry, have put a new level of fear in GMs. It's not just the bad PR they bring the league. It's the possibility of drafting a talent who might run afoul of the commish and then wind up suspended for a good chunk of the season.

It's a reasonable fear, but it's unfortunate if Tyler gets swept down the draft charts because of it. While I can't draw conclusions about his character based on our brief conversations over the years - he was always friendly, approachable and highly quotable, by the way - I also don't think NFL personnel guys should define Tyler by the two incidents that are currently dogging him.