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Manti Te'o | Linebacker

Team: San Diego Chargers
Age / DOB:  (22) / 1/26/1991
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 241
College: Notre Dame
Contract: view contract details
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Chargers coach Mike McCoy expects second-round ILB Manti Te'o to be an every-down player as a rookie.
"Our plan is for him to play three downs, and when we scouted him, we believed that's what he'd be,'' McCoy said. "But he'll have to earn that, obviously. If he's the best guy on all three downs, he'll be in there.'' McCoy's comments come after GM Tom Telesco said Te'o may not play many passing downs as a rookie. Although Te'o views his instincts and play diagnosis as strengths — keys for linebackers dropping into coverage — his suspect athleticism could still end up sending him to the pine more often than not on third down. May 13 - 9:38 AM
Source: Sports Illustrated

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Date:
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

Chargers second-round ILB Manti Te'o admits he's "not the fastest (or strongest)."

"I knew my work ethic was going to be the thing that pulls me through," Te'o said. It's an interesting comment from a player who originally blamed his slow 40-yard dash (4.82) on exhaustion. Te'o also believes he shines in the film room. "A lot of this game is played mentally. Little of it is played physically. Your mind makes your body move. I try to get my preparation that way." Te'o is admitting what's evident on tape — he relies on "feel" and awareness more than his athleticism to make plays.
Source: Union-Tribune San Diego
May 13 - 8:40 AM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

Chargers agreed to terms with No. 38 overall pick ILB Manti Te'o on a four-year contract.

Te'o will slot in next to Donald Butler as a starter at inside linebacker in the Chargers' 3-4 defense, but we suspect he will not be a three-down defender from the get-go. D.J. Smith could also give Te'o a run for his money.
May 9 - 8:26 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

GM Tom Telesco conceded that second-round ILB Manti Te'o may not play on passing downs as a rookie.

"Third down is a very complicated down. So we'll see how that plays out," Telesco said. "If it's this year, it's this year. If it's next year, it's next year." Te'o did show rapid improvement on third downs at Notre Dame, but that came mostly via feel and football awareness. Hiding a lack of elite athleticism at the NFL level will be much more difficult. IDP owners need to keep expectations in check as Takeo Spikes managed just 79 tackles, 0.5 sacks and zero interceptions as a two-down inside 'backer for the Chargers last season.
Source: chargers.com
May 2 - 8:24 AM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

Chargers traded up to select Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o with the No. 38 overall pick, sending the Nos. 45 and 110 picks to the Cardinals.

Te'o (6-foot-1 1/4, 241) racked up triple-digit tackles in each of his final three seasons, playing inside linebacker in Notre Dame's 3-4. His playmaking in pass coverage reached new heights as a senior with seven interceptions, although six came on tipped balls. Te'o managed a 4.82 forty at the Combine and isn't an explosive athlete, relying on instincts and "feel" to make plays. He struggles to shed blocks when left unprotected by defensive tackles, which most notably showed up in the BCS title game. In San Diego, Te'o will slot in as an immediate starter adjacent to Donald Butler. The Chargers appear to be giving up on former A.J. Smith second-rounder Jonas Mouton.
Related: Cardinals, Jonas Mouton
Apr 26 - 7:03 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Bears and Vikings are both "in play" for Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o, beginning at pick No. 20.

Chicago selects at 20. Minnesota holds the Nos. 23 and 25 picks. We have it on good authority the Bears aren't considering Te'o -- and are looking more toward Arthur Brown and Alec Ogletree -- but it's always difficult to predict the draft with any semblance of accuracy. ESPN's Chris Mortensen believes in a "worst case scenario" the Ravens would draft Te'o at No. 32 to succeed Ray Lewis. Most likely, the Vikings will select him at the 25th overall pick.
Related: Ravens, Bears, Vikings
Apr 25 - 7:51 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

Both Ian Rapoport and Stacey Dales of NFL Network report the Bears will take Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o if he's available at the No. 20 pick.

We have a bit of information on this same topic and would insist vehemently that the Bears aren't drafting Te'o at No. 20 overall, but there isn't a more uncertain time of year. At least based on game tape and upside, Kansas State's Arthur Brown and Georgia's Alec Ogletree are both superior prospects to Te'o. Most signs do point toward Chicago selecting a linebacker in round one.
Related: Bears
Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter
Apr 25 - 3:21 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

According to ESPN's John Clayton, the Vikings "would like to find a way" to take Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o in first round.

Middle linebacker is a glaring position of need for the Vikings, where they're trying to cram in weak-side 'backer Erin Henderson. However, it's possible Te'o won't be around when the Vikings pick at No. 23 overall. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Bears -- who hold the No. 20 pick -- also "love" Te'o. The Vikes are a candidate to trade up on Thursday night.
Related: Vikings
Source: John Clayton on Twitter
Apr 25 - 11:35 AM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

After tape study, NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o will be "a solid NFL player" but never approach stardom.

We feel the same. There are a lot of inside linebackers like Te'o, which will make him a first-round reach even if he seems likely to go there. You can get these types of guys in the mid to late rounds. "Luke Kuechly and Patrick Willis -- Manti Te’o is not even in their class," wrote Cosell. "I think he’ll end up having a very nice NFL career and he’ll be a solid, good player. However, I do not think he’ll ever be spoken about as an impact defender."
Source: Greg Cosell on Twitter
Apr 24 - 1:38 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

The Daily News believes the Giants may have interest in Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o.

"I think there's people with a lot more issues than this," GM Jerry Reese said when asked about Te'o's character questions. The Giants have a clear middle linebacker need, where Mark Herzlich is currently penciled in. Te'o will almost certainly be available when the Giants are on the clock at No. 19 overall.
Related: Giants
Source: New York Daily News
Apr 24 - 9:05 AM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

An anonymous scout tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel his team has removed Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o from its draft board.

"We've kind of taken him off the board," the scout said. "He doesn't have enough ability to put up with all (his off-the-field issues). Why fool with it? ... This was the first year he's really gotten himself in shape. Some of his teammates think he's kind of a phony." Another scout called Te'o a pretty good player in the "grand scheme" of things, but believes he's a second-round talent. Te'o is a fringe first-round prospect, but will undoubtedly be talked up as one of the most important prospects of the past decade during ESPN and NFL Network's draft coverage.
Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
Apr 23 - 3:57 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

Lions GM Martin Mayhew says he "couldn't find anybody to say anything negative about" Manti Te'o when he visited Notre Dame.

"Just a great leader in their program and a great football player for them over the years," Mayhew said. "They have so much respect for him, and I do too after meeting with him. He's just a great young man." Mayhew also insisted Te'o is "very smart" despite his infamous internet duping. Whereas the Lennay Kekua hoax once appeared destined to define Te'o's draft stock, it's now little more than an absurd footnote.
Related: Lions
Source: MLive.com
Apr 19 - 12:07 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported on SportsCenter Wednesday that Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o is widely viewed as a first-round pick inside the NFL.

Mort also mentioned that Te'o "aced" his team interviews at the Combine. "At least half the teams in this league have solid first-round grades on Te'o," stated Mortensen. "I have heard 'undersized' a bit. (But) most teams do see that he's going to go somewhere in the first round." ESPN's Mel Kiper listed the Bears, Vikings, and Giants as Te'o's likeliest three landing spots on day one.
Apr 17 - 9:52 AM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

The Ravens are "comfortable" with Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o's character.

Te'o has been popularly mocked to the Ravens at No. 32. "I think he’s a quality kid," assistant GM Eric DeCosta said. "I think he’s very, very intelligent. I think he’s a heck of a football player and I think he’s going to make some team extremely happy." Coach John Harbaugh was equally effusive in his praise. "You look at his body of work, what he has accomplished, who he is as a person, where he comes from. We feel good about Manti." A borderline first-round prospect, Te'o would likely draw at least a second look from the Ravens if he falls to No. 32, even with their recent signing of Rolando McClain.
Related: Ravens
Source: Baltimore Sun
Apr 16 - 9:53 PM
Manti Te'o - LB - Chargers

One NFC personnel man tells ESPN Chicago that the No. 20 overall pick would be "a tad rich" for Notre Dame ILB Manti Te'o.

The Bears could really use a long-term solution at linebacker with James Anderson and D.J. Williams on one-year deals and Lance Briggs only signed through 2014, but Te'o would be a reach at their first-round selection. It's why we wouldn't consider the Giants at No. 19 a probable landing spot for Te'o, either.
Related: Bears, Giants
Source: ESPN Chicago
Apr 5 - 5:57 PM

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