A report Thursday that Florida State wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin blew off a workout with an NFL coach because “he was too tired” is being denied by his agent. NFL.com’s Gil Brandt relayed the original anecdote Thursday over Twitter. He then tweeted the agent’s response later that evening:
Kelvin Benjamin’s agent denies wide receiver blew off workout
Kelvin Benjamin’s agent denies a Gil Brandt report that the wide receiver blew off an NFL coach because “he was too tired,” but Brandt is sticking to his story.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sport
Eugene Parker, Kelvin Benjamin's agent, told me KB never blew off workout w NFL coach. I told him I'm sticking w story from my source.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) April 10, 2014 Benjamin is projected to be a first-round pick in several mock drafts, including SB Nation's most recent edition, which has him slated to go No. 28 overall to the Carolina Panthers. Missing a workout with an NFL coach could hurt his stock if organizations see the incident as an indication of his work ethic, however.
Benjamin’s stock rose after he caught 54 passes for 1,011 yards and 15 touchdowns during a national championship season with Florida State. Since, he has suffered further questions about his work ethic. Benjamin weighed in at 242 pounds at his own pro day, and though the weight is spread out well over a 6’5 frame, he told NFL.com that teams would like to see him drop another 17 pounds. He even admitted that he was occasionally “lazy” on the field in an interview with the Palm Beach Post prior to his junior year.
The 2014 wide receiver draft class may be one of the best the NFL has seen in more than five years, making competition tight for the top spots. Benjamin has one of the best combinations of size and athleticism of any player at his position, but he could slip significantly if perception persists that he isn’t willing to work as hard as his peers.
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