Russell Street Report Lombardi's Way DGB Apparently Off Ravens Draft Board

“We can teach players how to be better football players but we can’t teach character.” ~ Baltimore Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti

Steve Bisciotti once shared this opinion with us on the set of Ravens Rap in Ocean City, Maryland. It’s a belief that has merit yet it is debatable.

People can change. Players can change.

Perhaps character can’t be taught per se, but through experience and maturation players can become better people and consequently better teammates who are less disruptive. In some cases once troubled players can develop into a positive influence in the locker room and even in the community.

Players like Michael Irvin, Cris Carter and Brandon Marshall come to mind.

That said, Bisciotti’s opinions on character will certainly influence future Ravens’ personnel moves, particularly on the heels of the Ray Rice fiasco.

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome confirmed as much during the State of the Ravens presser on Tuesday.

“Steve [Bisciotti] said this back during the season: The one area we will definitely take a hard look – and it will be tough for us to bring a player to Baltimore – is someone who has domestic abuse in their background.”

Enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

On the Ravens draft wish list is a playmaker at wide receiver. One player with Top-10 talent, who is likely to slip down the draft board and into the Ravens laps, assuming they want him, is Dorial Green-Beckham.

Green-Beckham has been compared to Detroit’s Calvin Johnson.

He’s also been accused of forcing his way into the Missouri campus apartment of an 18-year old girl at 2:30 a.m. and knocking a girl down four stairs while trying to get to his girlfriend.

Although an arrest was never made the accusation has substance and it clearly reeks of domestic violence.

The talented yet troubled wide receiver is expected to go as early as the mid-late first round or even slip late into round two. But regardless of his athletic skills and potential fit for the Ravens offense, Ozzie has thrown down the gauntlet.

If the Ravens call Green-Beckham’s name during the 2015 NFL Draft, they’ll have some explaining to do.