As expected, Eureka High graduate Maurice Purify is still on the road to playing football in the National Football League. And typical of his collegiate football career, he’s taking the scenic route.
Purify, a wide receiver out of the University of Nebraska who was not selected by a team during the 2008 NFL Draft on Saturday and Sunday, will pack his bags for Cincinnati, Ohio, for next weekend’s rookie mini-camps with the Bengals.
However, Purify has not signed a free-agent contract with Cincinnati because three other teams — the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans — have expressed interest. A player can attend training camps with more than one team before signing, so at this point, Purify is keeping his options open.
“I’m just trying to go in there, and do what I have to do to make a team,” Purify said. “It would have been great to have my name called, but the most important part, I was just looking to get a chance. Now I’ve got one and it’s just up to me.”
Purify will leave Eureka on Wednesday and attend three workout sessions with the Bengals, two of which will be double days.
At any time he could sign a contract with a team, but, according to Purify’s agent Gary Glick, the receiver might not make it out of Cincinnati.
“I’ve talked to the (general manager) of the Bengals, and I’m very excited about the prospect,” Glick said. “I hope that’s a team everything works out. They’ve had their problems at wide receiver, and they’ve shown a lot of interest.”
Purify, who watched the draft with a large group of close friends at his mother’s house in Eureka, was surprised he was not selected during the weekend, but will use it to his advantage the next few days in the form of motivation.
“It was hard,” Purify said. “I was just thinking, ‘Hey, I’m better than that guy. I trained with him. But, I don’t know, I didn’t get picked. That’s life. All my life I’ve had to work for everything I’ve gotten, so why should it stop now? I just have to go in there and prove I should have been up there in the second or third round.”
Glick is hoping Purify will gain additional interest after working out in Cincinnati, and hopes the receiver will sign a contract shortly after.
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The Reporter has been updating Maurice Purify's situation on a daily basis leading up to the draft.
Even when he didn't get drafted.
But the boys at the Times-Standard beat you on this one.
Their story on Purify flying to Cincinnati went up at about 4:30 p.m. on their website.
Jackie Christiansen's story didn't go up until 5:30 p.m.
They got you Reporter boys on this one.
But lets all hope Maurice lands on an NFL roster somewhere.
Hey, Vince Young needs some weapons, send him to Tennessee baby!
-Music City Miracle
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What this story should tell every single young athlete on the North Coast is that no matter what a great athlete you are, it matters not if your character is not.
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Mo,
I grew up with your mother and your uncles, but have only had the chance to congratulate you a few times after your high school games.
I've watched you progress through college and have bumped into your mom a few times along the way for first hand updates.
All I can say is, now is your time, make the most of it... You are one gifted young man and a pleasure to watch doing what you do best.
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as i see it his dumb mistakes cost him millions.$$$$...so sad
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I hope partying and going to the bars was worth it Maurice. If it weren't for the red flags all over your character, you'd be on an NFL roster as we speak. Too bad having fun was more important than your future. Just remember that when you're in the Canadian Football League or worse yet, the Arena Football League.
Cheers mate!
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Mo,
As a fellow native Eurekan, I have had my fill of what many write, people still kickin' yaa in the dirt for your past mistakes off the field. About all I can say is, "Use it to your advantage and silence them once and for all!"
Not only do you have the ability to be a star in the NFL, you also have what it takes to be a shinning example off the field as well.
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YO MO!,WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE HATERS DOUBT YOU?...YOU "DO SOM BOUT IT" BA-BIE!!!
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MO,
Good Luck in your quest to play NFL. I know you will make it. You have had to overcome more things at your young age than many of us do in a lifetime.I know you have and will continue to learn from your mistakes.You deserve to go to the top.
And as for the Times Standard putting this news up before the Reporter, at least the Reporter has been following him and keeping us updated all along.We surely can't say that for the Times Standard, now, can we? Great job, Reporter!!
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Love your haters, they're your biggest fans.
Being a wideout at Nebraska hurt you more than the off the field stuff. Oregon State may have been a better choice, but you ended up in Cincinatti anyway.
I'm a 49er fan but the Cowboys is the place to go if you want a chance at a ring.
Tennessee is the place to be if you want to start.
Green Bay has a new QB, another California Boy, and if you get in good with him you have a chance to be the #3.
Lastly, I wouldn't even line my bird cage with that rag, the Sub-Standard.
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I believe the reporter jinksed' him from getting drafted
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Good Luck.
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Haters are a good thing Mo. remember, listen and never forget what thier saying.We've all made mistakes,but none of US have made them while breaking records as a WR at the University of Nebraska. The bandwagon is officially closed. Go get 'em cousin!!
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This is much ado about nothing.
No mo.
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He pretty much sums up his situation -- “It was hard ... I was just thinking, ‘Hey, I’m better than that guy. I trained with him. But, I don’t know, I didn’t get picked. That’s life. All my life I’ve had to work for everything I’ve gotten, so why should it stop now? I just have to go in there and prove I should have been up there in the second or third round.”
Sounds like he's resigned to having a very short career.
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His "short" career will be longer than mine, how bout yours?
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Whats done is done. let's give Mo some support and hopefully some day we will see him and Rey playing in the NFL representing little ole Eureka
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Mo,
I believe that there is a definite need for you in Tennessee, San Francisco or Miami (if you can get it), and maybe Cincy (if you worked for it) but not in Green Bay or Dallas. Tennessee once again did themselves no good by drafting a RB in the first round and left themselves open to get ridiculed for not picking up a much needed WR. Cincy drafted 2-3 WR's to replace the mouthy Johnson but when game time comes around, he'll be back in a jersey cause they already said they're not going to trade him. It's gonna take you a lot of hard work to get in that lineup because they will eventually need to get rid of some WR's. San Francisco and Miami are minor teams right now just waiting for a break out star to show his face. These teams offer an opportunity to become somebody everyone never knew existed. You do good there, you'll stand out like a soar thumb and lots of teams will want you (ex. Chris Chambers). Just remember, don't go to Cincy and turn into another Chris Henry (where you're off the field antics will lead to your NFL career's demise). I'm not knocking you for your mistakes because I have made some myself. It's just that your mistakes will be all over ESPN, the Times-Standard, or the Eureka Reporter and you will eventually be swimming in your past errors rather than basking in your own glory. Keep your head on your shoulders, put your past behind you, and look ahead to the future. Good luck Mo
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another young man with talent to run and jump but no skills in the social world and no degree
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He will be persuing his dergree in Criminal Justice just as he has been doing. Only now he'll probally do it during the Summer.
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I'm glad the Times-Standard wasn't following Purify so religiously as the Eureka Reporter.
Christiansen, a Eureka alum/homer, has been all over Purify's jock like an estranged lover.
Looks like Standard was the only publication in town that knew Purify wasn't going to hit the big time right away.
And the Reporter made it seem like this kid was an all-pro even before he hit the field.
Congrats for jinxing the kid, Reporter.
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LOL, the comment above is dead on.
Christiansen's stories on Purify leading up to and after the draft were ridiculous.
He was portraying Purify as the next big thing, when in reality, he isn't.
Jackie played him up to be this outstanding, budding and future superstar receiver and look what happens?
Hey, were Purify and his agents giving you something extra there Mr. Reporter?
Looks like Jackie did everything but kiss the ground Purify has been walking on.
Get off his 'jock' as the commenter above so eloquently put it.
Stop being a homer, sensationalizing, one-sided reporter.
Where's the other side hmm?
The people who feel there are issues that detract from Purify?
No where to be seen.
Homer.
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You guys are unbelievable!Who else do you know in the last 20 years that has done the things Mo has at the Division 1 level? I'll wait... all the haters seem to be on his jock now, including those of you who have chosen to attack Jackie for reporting all of Maurices transgressions and his accomplishments. You guys sound like bitter ex DB's from the Big 5. You were torched then and you'll be torched now. NEXT!
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"You guys are unbelievable! Who else do you know in the last 20 years that has done the things Mo has at the Division 1 level?"
Rey Maualuga, Purify's former teammate.
Its interesting that Sean Quincey at the Times-Standard, Jackie's former co-worker, got some analysts and sports writers from across the nation to talk about Purify's upside and downside.
Jackie just wrote about all the good of Purify from Mo and his agent. He didn't get a third-party opinion on purify. He only did 1/2 his work.
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Rey, of course because they both worked hard. They are the only 2 from the Northcoast. I just didn't expect this reaction from his and my hometown. It's a little disheartening. PS I wrote an editorial to the LA Times in support of Rey when he had that fight on Halloween. He was having trouble adjusting to his environment just as Mo did. This afternon Mel Kiper had Rey getting drafted #2 McShay had him at #1. Are you going to hate on him to, or jump on his bandwagon? They need our support, no mor negativity. NEXT!
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I ain't hatin' on no body but the reporter that only did half his job by talking to only Mo and his agent.
He could have taken a different angle like this: McFadden has the same or even more character issues than Purify and still, homie gets drafted No. 4 overall by the Raiders.
Goes to show you that even if you have character issues, as long as you got the skills to pay the bills, you'll get drafted.
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No question, but the only diffrence is that Mcfadden was the #1 RB on most boards and Maurice was removed from most boards right away,because of said charactor issues. Besides that, no GM worth their salt would waist(no offense Mo) a pick on a guy the can get for close to nothing. This scenario was a given to the NFL, but a dissappointment to Mo still.NEXT!
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You haters are lame... Cant you just congratulate a Hometown kid for his success. We all live our lives and I wish I made a few better decisions in my life. You guys who are dissing him for his mistakes, You wish you were packing your bags for Cinnci period. You guys who say everyone who made it to the NFL was a saint are dead wrong. I congratulate MO PURE and his family for making it out of EUREKA california... a town who has Losers like the Haters on this forum! Guys who think they EVER had a chance at any thing close to packing their bags for a un-drafted oportunity at the NFL!
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Like it or not his history follows him. The NFL and the new commissioner are not going to tolerate any buh$hit.
He should have thought about draft day the nights he wanted to be the juke joint big shot. You pay for your past and he paid richly on NFL draft day.
It's clear he is a mediocre talent with monstrous dreams. We'll see.
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I think the last local pro football player was Ferndale's Rob Nairn (Broncos & Saints)like 30 years ago. Fortuna's Mike Bettiga was invited to camp with the 49ers but I think that was before Nairn maybe?
Remember, Mo set records at Nebraska!!! They ran the option until around five years ago. That's like setting recieving records at Ferndale High.
Furthermore, only about half the wideouts that entered the draft actually got drafted. That means there are about 30 guys in the same boat as Mo. Plus, the current guys on scout teams and a few from other leagues and off PUP lists make the odds he's going to make a team slim.
That being said, why the hell not pull for the guy? Is your life so bad you have to tear into a guy trying to succeed in what he loves? And home town reporters are suposed to be Homers!!! That's their job!!!
Eureka has a kid that will be drafted next year, probably early on the first day. Rey Maualuga will be an All-American next year and likely to win the Butkus and Lombardi Award. Will you rip on him too? He had some off the field issues as well. Right? Is he any better or worse of a person? Probably not.
I didn't go to Eureks High, hell, I don't even live in Northern California anymore, but I still want a kid from Humboldt County to make it big.
I don't even like NASCAR, but pull for Juan Carlos Montoya simply because his crew chief, or whatever you call it, is from Humboldt County.
Lastly, have a little pride in where you are from and stop being jelous of others strive to success.
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he made his choices. big deal. nobody cares. this town is going downhill, so should find more important subjects for articles.
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Just say that you don't care, because it's obvious there are a few people, friends, family and foes who do. Positive comments like the ones previous to this one are exactly what Mo needs. As I said in the LA editorial about Rey," he is Humboldt Countys son" we should all be proud.!!
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For as many people who wanted to hate on Mo, its funny cause they obviously are jock riders to sit here and take the time to read the article and all past articles from what it sounds like, and then comment also....? Mo is a hard working kid trying to make his dream come true. Lets see, being in trouble twice out of 22 years is pretty good. What college kid doesnt get into trouble..? But for people who arent blessed to know him dont really know what happened, and they dont know him. He is one of the most caring, sensetive, positive people you could know. He has a lot more talent then a lot of the WR that were drafted, and like they said all WR this year had on and off the field issues. Like the WR who had repeated issues with marijuana....
Whatever....Things will work out best for him, and then we'll all laugh in the haters faces :)
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That is the same argument pit bull owners give about their killer dogs. WEAK!!!!
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mo, whats going on man. I played with you back in your junior year. I was number #65. I wanted you to know how proud and honored I was to play with you on the same team. people don't realize what a gifted athlete you are and look at all the dumb stuff that happened. we all make mistakes and i think that you will be playing on sundays and you can look back at the people who doubted you, and you u know the rest. I wish the best for your grandmother and your family. Good luck in Cincy this next week. Show them what being a Eureka Logger is all about. Take them back to the roots!
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the hell with the press and all the doubters. you are hands down the most unappreciated wide receiver out there. only if they could see the highlight tapes. Napa High school 2003 on the last play of the game. thats all i have to say.........
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Ted Sillanpaa....
David Harper from Eureka High was a LB for the Cowboys in the 1990s...only about 25 years after Fortuna/CR/HSU star Mike Bettiga was a wide receiver for the 49ers. Max Hooper was a Eureka High lineman who played for the Denver Broncos in the 1980s...Rob Harrison was a Eureka High running back who played for the Raiders about the same time...Eureka's Gary Thompson played at CR and then wound up with the Bills as a DB in the NFL in the 1990s...It's not the NFL, but Del Norte's Buck Pierce is a big star as a QB in the Canadian Football League ...
So, I don't guess it's fair to rip the Reporter writer when, really, nobody knows much about the North Coast's contributions to the NFL to start with. And, if anyone knows why a player agent would pay a Eureka Reporter writer to write about one of the greatest football players in Eureka history ... please explain.
Finally...whatever some of you know or claim to know about Mo...that alone leads you to the sudden realization that the NFL doesn't draft choir boys and Boy Scouts? You think whatever trouble Mo's been in is even a blip on a radar screen when compared to the bad actors who are starring (and we're all cheering for them) in the NFL?
If Mo can play, and he sure seemed to play well and show NFL skill in college, he'll make it and all of you who want to drag him back to Eureka will be wind up saying, "Yeah, Mo Purify! I knew him...really well! I saw him play in high school. Great guy!" If he falls short, you'll be able to celebrate silently at someone else's failure, I guess.
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one week before the draft MO WAS AT THE FIGHTS AT THE CASINO IN TRINIDAD.MORE THAN ONCE SECURITY HAD TO SURROUND HIM,HE WAS DRINKING,ACTING VERY ARROGANT.MOST PEOPLE WERE SHAKING THERE HEADS AT HIM AND HIS POSSE HE HAD WITH HIM.WHY WOULD HE EVEN PUT HIMSELF IN THAT ATMOSPHERE ONE WEEK BEFORE THE DRAFT. THE REASON IS SADLY MO HAS NOT CHANGED AND SEEMS HE STILL HAS A LOT OF GROWING UP TO DO.
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