'Lame Story!': NFL Stars Come To QB C.J. Stroud's Defense After Draft Criticism

Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud was a projected No. 1 overall pick, but has slid in recent mock drafts.

When the Carolina Panthers traded with the Chicago Bears for the No. 1 overall pick, they followed that up with 11 representatives making the trip to Columbus for Ohio State's Pro Day.

All indications point to former Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud being the first-overall selection, but in the last few weeks, former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi said league representatives told him Stroud was "not an easy guy to coach" and former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn said the Inland Empire, CA. native "ghosted" the Manning Passing Academy after making a commitment the night before the event.

Report: CJ Stroud made a commitment to the Manning Passing Academy but “the night before he ghosted them and didn’t show up”, per @Brady_Quinn

"When you do that, that's gonna set up alarms for people."

Quinn noted that as one of three concerns with Stroud (h/t @PanthersAnalyst) pic.twitter.com/z2Y9gAPbFe

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 19, 2023

As of Thursday, former Alabama former quarterback Bryce Young is considered the clear-cut, slam-dunk No. 1 pick, according to SI Sportsbook, at -1205.

However, despite the criticisms of Stroud's character one week from the 2023 NFL Draft, multiple current and former NFL players are coming to the quarterback prospect's defense.

Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey commented under a Sports Illustrated Instagram post about Stroud allegedly blowing off the Manning Passing Academy telling Quinn to "shut up" and that he "was a bust."

"He don't owe them folks nothing!" Ramsey said. "This is a lame a** story to try and break somebody down before the draft! SMH!"

Also in the same comments section were former NFL wide receiver Torrey Smith and tight end, Zach Miller.

"This is some bs," Smith commented.

Miller, who played three seasons each with both the Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears, echoed Ramsey's sentiment and said it was a "lame" story.

"OMG what an accusation!!!" Miller said. "I hope he can bounce back."

However, Instagram wasn't the only platform in which the story was being discredited. On Twitter, former NFL quarterback and ESPN color commentator Robert Griffin III said Quinn's attempt to "tear down" Stroud's character was "bogus."

Brady Quinn’s attempt to tear down CJ Strouds’ character was BOGUS. CJ DID NOT no-show at the Manning Passing Academy without warning because he DID NOT COMMIT TO GOING. I know because I did the research. @Brady_Quinn said he simply repeated something he was told, but it is…

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 20, 2023

"@Brady_Quinn said he simply repeated something he was told, but it is STILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to vet character damaging information yourself before echoing it to millions of people," Griffin said in a tweet. "Too often lies are reported and used to hurt players. THAT AIN’T RIGHT."

Ramsey also followed suit, blasting Quinn yet again in defense of Stroud. 

"Fake story! Tryna beak a kid down before the draft is lame, especially for not going to a camp that I’m sure he wasn’t getting paid for & instead working with his teammates," Ramsey tweeted. "Plus @Brady_Quinn, you was a bust, shut up! You shoulda went to a passing academy or 2! God bless tho."

Quinn replied to Griffin's tweet and the former Notre Dame quarterback said his information was "vetted."

"It’s also not my opinion of him which if you watched the podcast you would have heard," Quinn tweeted. "Looking forward to your book coming out!!"

Stroud is still a projected first-round pick in the NFL draft on April 27.

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