Stop treating Southern Cal quarterback Caleb Williams like he’s covered in bubble wrap – and no more covering his ears, either.
That’s the thoughts from David Hookstead, in his column on Outkick.com (Caleb Williams Is Fair Game For Criticism). Hookstead doesn’t blast Williams whatsoever. What he does is blast a few enablers who – for whatever reason or agenda – seem to think that the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner is above criticism.
Are you listening, Colin Cowherd?
“Caleb Williams isn’t a member of a protected class that shields him from criticism, and I’m not going to pretend he should get special treatment.”
That’s the very first sentence of the column, and it only gets better from there.
For instance, there’s this little ditty:
“What we do know for sure is that Williams has worn nail paint many times in the past, including nail paint featuring vulgar messages,” Hookstead writes. “Would anyone reading this be allowed to show up to their job wearing f-bombs on their nails? My guess is no. Yet, if you even think about criticizing Williams, the sheep in the media circle the wagons and try to convince people he’s just a child having fun.”
Or this:
“After all, why can’t he just have his fun? Kyle Brandt, a guy I thought was smart, suggested that if you find Williams’ behavior weird, that you must be homophobic. Does Brandt know something the rest of us don’t? RGIII went even as far to say men should paint their nails like Williams.”
Hookstead makes his point quite succinctly. “The thing that really boils my blood here is that no other 22-year-old that I can think of gets this kind of treatment. Why is the multi-millionaire projected first overall pick allowed the protections of being a child years after turning 18 but nobody else is?”
Williams likely will be the No. 1 overall pick next month in the NFL Draft, to the Chicago Bears after the Bears’ trade with Carolina – a conditional pick that turned into the first overall selection, something the Panthers would likely give real money to undo.
Chicago traded previous starter Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago, and also picks ninth in the draft.
