CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joe Horn was dissatisfied Friday morning, not as a former Professional Bowl extensive receiver who as soon as was fined for hiding a cellphone in a goalpost pad, however because the mum or dad of one of many 32 gamers chosen within the first spherical of the 2021 NFL draft.
Horn had needed the remainder of the world to see the enjoyment his son, South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn, skilled when the Carolina Panthers used the eighth choose to make him the primary defensive participant chosen Thursday evening.
As an alternative, he watched as broadcasts and different retailers targeted on quarterback Aaron Rodgers wanting out of Inexperienced Bay and the 5 quarterbacks chosen within the prime 15 picks.
“Let me say this, I am an enormous Aaron Rodgers fan,” Horn instructed ESPN. “However final evening once I noticed that he was not proud of Inexperienced Bay … once I noticed nothing in any respect was talked about my son, it type of upset me, and I used to be dissatisfied.
“To get up this morning, I used to be anticipating all people to be saying, ‘Look, no one thought Jaycee Horn was going to go prime 10. No one anticipated he was going to be the primary defensive participant off the board.’ I believed it might be given slightly extra consideration, and there was none. It was very disappointing as a father.”
Initially, Horn was so upset that he referred to Rodgers as being “egocentric” for saying he did not need to return to Inexperienced Bay on the day of the draft. However after studying that Rodgers merely was the topic of a narrative damaged by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and did not publicly do one thing to spoil the evening of the draft picks, he admitted, “I jumped the gun.”
Nonetheless, the frustration nonetheless was there for Horn as a result of his son and others chosen within the first spherical weren’t celebrated in the way in which he felt was applicable.
Horn laughed and added that Jaycee by no means even knew he was upset.
“I by no means let my feelings take over my ideas, however this morning in any case that point, the fatherly intuition, love, got here out of me,” Horn mentioned by telephone as he drove to Charlotte to see his son formally launched. “I am simply very completely happy he is proud of the Panthers.”
Jayce additionally laughed about the entire thing, saying later Friday that his dad requested him if he’d been watching ESPN.
“I mentioned, ‘Nah, I have not had the time,'” Jaycee mentioned after arriving at Financial institution of America Stadium for his introductory information convention. “I am certain he was watching, and it most likely [did] upset him slightly bit.
“It is only a dad being a dad. My dad would not say a lot. If that is how he feels, that is how he feels. Me, I am simply able to play soccer.”
Jaycee was chosen one choose forward of Alabama cornerback Patrick Surtain II, one other second-generation NFL participant, as they shook up the primary spherical by ending the string of offensive gamers. Surtain is the son of Patrick Surtain Sr., a three-time Professional Bowl choice as a cornerback for the Miami Dolphins.
The New Orleans Saints have been making an attempt to commerce up from the 28th choose for one of many prime two corners however could not get a deal completed. Dallas traded again two spots from 10 when Horn and Surtain went forward of them.
That, too, did not get a lot consideration Thursday evening.
“I perceive they did not have [Jaycee] being drafted first [among defensive players],” Horn mentioned of the way in which the draft went towards many analysts who had mentioned the highest 9 gamers taken can be on offense. “I perceive it makes them look unhealthy, nevertheless it’s simply disappointing. ”
Horn wasn’t talking because the flamboyant NFL participant who in a 2003 prime-time sport with New Orleans celebrated a landing by making a name on flip telephone he’d hidden pregame. He was talking as a father who needed to see his son get the identical sort of protection as Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who went No. 1 to Jacksonville.
“Jaycee hasn’t mentioned a phrase,” Horn mentioned. “He is completely happy as ever to be even drafted, however I’ve sat again and heard all of the totally different opinions, and now he would not even get talked about as a result of their choose was mistaken.
“I am saying they do not even present him celebrating.”
Some analysts mentioned the Panthers ought to have taken a quarterback at No. eight to compete with Sam Darnold, the No. three choose of the 2018 draft who lately was acquired in a commerce with the New York Jets.
Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields and Alabama QB Mac Jones have been nonetheless on the board at No. eight, however the Panthers went with Horn as a result of he fills a necessity as a shutdown press nook. That can permit defensive coordinator Phil Snow to play extra man-to-man on vital downs.
That Jaycee realized from a father who performed with the identical edge the Panthers see within the son was one other issue.
“He is a uncommon bodily specimen who additionally has the pedigree that is laborious to search out,” Panthers coach Matt Rhule mentioned.
Horn would not consider it is a coincidence that his son and Surtain have been taken so extremely. He mentioned each have seen the blueprint for NFL success.
A 3rd second-generation participant is anticipated to go within the second or third spherical tonight in Florida State cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., the son of the four-time Professional Bowl nook and two-time Tremendous Bowl champion.
“You have to perceive, while you’re elevating a son and that son is aware of you have been a reasonably good participant within the NFL, a son at all times desires to outdo their dad,” Horn mentioned. “They do. And it brings one other coaching side of their thoughts and physique.”
The flip aspect is that the previous NFL participant thinks extra like a father on draft evening.
“It was laborious sitting again,” Horn mentioned. “Everyone has their very own opinion, however I needed to reply as a result of I do know what I raised.
“Final evening was Jaycee’s evening.”