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Oregon RB LeGarrette Blount began the season carrying some character baggage thanks to a suspension last season for failing to live up to team obligations and the fact he came into spring practice overweight and out of shape, and his sucker punch of Boise State LB Byron Hout on Thursday night took those minor concerns and made them massive.

We talked last night to a college scouting director from an NFL team who said, "In the matter of five minutes, Blount just went from second- or third-rounder to completely undraftable." Yes, he was egged on a bit by Hout, but big-name players deal with that kind of trash talk all the time without throwing punches in return ...

Reportedly, Blount was a no show for classes and at several team meetings before he was suspended. Then, add the fact he didn't take it upon himself to make sure he remained in shape during the time off and it sent up a red flag about his character and maturity. It isn't all about what the player does on the field. Teams are watching his every move off the field as well. They will be a little more leery about a prospect who doesn't shows the signs of being mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with being a pro.

One of the hardest aspects of the NFL scouting process is predicting how a player will act when you start cutting him handsome paychecks. There is more to professional football than just what happens between the lines. It's a full time job. There are meetings after meetings. Players take film home and study extra on their own so they can succeed. Blount has shown little of the desired drive or will to succeed in the past. Now add in a sucker punch, followed by disregard for coaches and teammates trying to calm him down. It shows a lack of respect for his opponents, but more importantly, his own coaches and his program.

In an NFL climate in which commissioner Roger Goodell has placed a huge emphasis on behavior and accountability, teams are simply not willing to invest money in players who behave like this, unless you're talking about a Michael Vick or some other player with similarly freakish talents. Blount does not have that kind of skill set and has effectively cost himself a lot of money in the NFL ...

Really, the shaking hands before the game didn't have anything to do with the punch after the game. If anything, shaking hands after the game is worse than shaking before the game, as afterward, one team is mad at the other, while before, they both think they are going to win.