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I honestly wish I had been wrong a few months ago when I expressed frustration when McNeal quit school to enter the draft. The truth is that with my experience in scouting I saw elements of Shawnbrey's game which most likely caused today.

The best thing for him to do now is take a deep breath, adjust his attitude a little, and head to team that really wants and needs him. It won't be easy, but he can do it.

I also hope that the other Mustangs were paying close attention today. When you are ready for the NFL, you are ready. If you are not ready,don't talk yourself into believeing you are.

With that said, fight for it #8. You can do it.

If he has indeed signed with the Chargers (as has been reported here and on www.thenflforums.com), then I believe he stands a good chance of making the opening day roster as a special teamer. If he shows enough, he may even push Darren Sproles out. That's not to say that McNeil is the equal of Sproles, but just that Sproles costs too much money for an offense that just spend a high first rounder on a running back.

Texasscout96,

For having "experience in scouting", you have less insightful comments than 2/3rds of the posters on this board, and that ain't saying much. You also are a queen of the knee jerk reaction (although that doesn't apply in this situation). Just get tired of hearing your bullsh*t that is really all complete fluff.

McNeal didn't enter the draft bc he was ready, he entered bc he wouldn't be qualified academically and had family circumstances that necessitated him making a living. Novices thought he was a longshot to get drafted. No “experience in scouting” needed.

He had no choice. Other then maybe studying a little - but that horse left the stall awhile back.

McNeal did not run a good 40 time at the combine. That's what really hurt him, because he's not that big so he at least needs to be fast.

What hurt Shawnbrey was that he tried to put on a good amount of weigh and caused his 40 time to drop to low. Whoever his agent was gave him some not so good advice in that area. Had he keep his normal weigh I believe he would have run a good 40 and been drafted. He was bigger that Dexter McCluster and faster before he decided to try and out on the muscle. He could be a good 3rd down back that can catch. But his 40 time is what hurt him and that could have been avoided. Best wishes with the Chargers Shawnbrey, you have done a lot for SMU and it will not be forgotten.

MustangIcon...I'm glad you think you know so much that you put me in my place.

Good luck with thinking you know everything. Oh yeah, how many years did you spend scouting in the NFL??

Maybe you should spend more time being realistic and less time attacking me for being honest. Of course, you'd have to be mature and secure in yourself for that.

Texasscout96 wrote:MustangIcon...I'm glad you think you know so much that you put me in my place.

Good luck with thinking you know everything. Oh yeah, how many years did you spend scouting in the NFL??

Maybe you should spend more time being realistic and less time attacking me for being honest. Of course, you'd have to be mature and secure in yourself for that.

I don't know so much. Never claimed to. It is just painfully obvious that you are in the same boat.

We know about your "experience scouting"- you recite your "resume" in probably 1/3rd of your weak [deleted] posts on this board and another 1/3rd you spend b*tching about not getting enough value from Mustang Club and the required donations for tickets. By the way, you always say the number of years you spent working in the SMU recruiting office and working for an NFL recruiting staff. Were you a scout? Or did you answer the phones and get coffee in these positions. Recruiting staffs need admin people too- no shame in that.

Basically, I grow tired of your scouting shtick being that you never give any insightful information that would indicate that you know the first damn thing about scouting. I've seen numerous posts where you go head to head here against FORMER SMU PLAYERS with your "scouting knowledge" and you get blown up every time. I can't recall one post that you'ver made that made me think you actually know your stuff or were a scout. But, go ahead and read off that "resume" again for us. We're waiting.

A friend of mine is "friends" with Shawnbrey on Facebook, and just e-mailed this to me:

Shawnbrey McNeal - Thank you Fans for all of your support! God has blessed me to carry out my dream of making it to the NFL. I am excited to be a part of a great team...San Diego Chargers!

If true, he has a shot. He needs to show it in preseason and hope that he catches on with the team and can earn enough of a living to care for his family. Good luck Shawnbrey.

I don't like that he is going to the same team that took the first running back in the draft. I am hoping Ryan Matthews holds out through training camp.

You figure they'll carry what, four RBs?

Matthews is a lock, and chances are Sproles is, too (although there was talk in the spring that the team was having second thoughts about paying a guy that size that much money). Who else will Shawnbrey have to beat out?

Either way ... CONGRATULATIONS, Shawnbrey! Thanks for a fantastic season on the Hilltop. All PonyFans are rooting for you.

He has got to beat out either Curtis Brinkley (UFA 2009) or Marcus Mason (UFA 2007) or prove himself to be a utility/special teams guy. Best of luck, Shawnbrey! Go Chargers!

SMUer wrote:He has got to beat out either Curtis Brinkley (UFA 2009) or Marcus Mason (UFA 2007) or prove himself to be a utility/special teams guy. Best of luck, Shawnbrey! Go Chargers!

The departure of Pro-Bowl special teamer Kasim Osgood leaves an opening for a Gunner. I hope Shawnbrey has a nose for the ball carrier

Beyond that, he looks ideally suited to be the 3rd down back to spell Mathews. It's really just a matter of establishing himself while they figure out what to do with Sproles.

-CoS

San Diego has no proven backs right now. Matthews is a rookie too and who knows if he'll remain good in the pros (a lot of experts called that pick a reach) and Sproles proved he cannot handle the load on his own, so Shawnbrey could make the team as a practice teamer at the very worst.