Titans need Green-Beckham to end his slide and help lift Mariota

CHICAGO – Dorial Green-Beckham knows. He's aware. He should have been picked a lot higher in the NFL draft, and a lot richer.

"I let my state down," he said Wednesday. "I apologize for that."

Green-Beckham now gets a shot in a new state, Tennessee, after the Titans took him with their second-round pick here Friday night. He fell so far that the team could afford to trade its No. 33 overall choice away to the New York Giants and still get him several picks later.

Green-Beckham's numbers say superstar: 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, 4.49 speed. His NFL.com overview, however, is full of red flags: "was dismissed from Missouri program after being subject of burglary and assault investigation by police … allegedly pushed a female down some stairs during the incident … arrested twice for marijuana-related incidents … arrested along with two other men after police found a pound of marijuana in their car … arrested along with two teammates after they were allegedly caught smoking marijuana in a campus parking lot …"

Now, to be sure, there are some unproven accusations in this laundry list. But perception is reality in the new NFL, and the perception is that Dorial Green-Beckham threatens to be an echo of Josh Gordon. That's why he was the eighth receiver taken. Green-Beckham was a known name even when he was in high school, and if he follows a disappointing college career with a forgettable pro career, he'll be considered one of the bigger busts of the era.

Titans general manager Ruston Webster wasn't shy in acknowledging the risks involved. "It'll be pointed at me if he … has off-the-field [issues], which he wouldn't be the first NFL player to have issues off the field or if he's not a good enough player the finger will be pointed at me as well," Webster told the Associated Press in Nashville.

"I accept that."

The good news, or at least hopeful news, is that Green-Beckham understands the burden of proof is solely on him. On Wednesday, while he got a shave in a room stocked with Gillette and Old Spice products, a big-screen TV showed him doing drills and getting drilled with questions about who he really is.

"What are they having me doing on there?" he deadpanned as he looked away from the screen, well aware what the storyline is.

"This whole process opened up my eyes," he said a few minutes later. "I needed to show why I was accountable, why teams could be able to trust me."

So lately he has said little in the way of justification and a lot in the way of prevention. "My job is now bigger than football," he said. "I need to be around good people – people who care about me. I need to know who to hang out with and who to turn to."

It certainly couldn't hurt to hang out with and turn to his new teammate, Marcus Mariota. The new Titans quarterback is as clean as Green-Beckham is concerning, and the two will either become a celebrated connection in a franchise that needs it or an unfortunate blend of quiet and disquieting.

It's understandable why the Titans spent a second-round pick on such a talent, but it's also unsettling. Green-Beckham is responsible now not only for himself, but in part for Mariota's success. Just like the Cleveland Browns are now depleted on offense without Gordon, the Titans now need their second-round pick to help make good on their second-overall pick.

And, taking it a step farther, Green-Beckham is now partially responsible for making the hire of Ken Whisenhunt work. The second-year head coach is known for his offensive acumen, and now he's got few excuses with a top-tier receiver, quarterback and first-round blocker in Taylor Lewan. The youth will buy the coach some added patience, but he'll be expected to take the considerable talent and compete in a relatively weak AFC South.

The first test actually comes right away, as Mariota and Green-Beckham will face Jameis Winston and Mike Evans in Week 1. Of course one game doesn't prove much of anything, but quite a few eyes will be on two very poor teams and their new offensive weapons. Green-Beckham hasn't really earned a prime spot in the Sunday conversation, but he got it anyway.

"I need to put myself in better situations," Green-Beckham said on Wednesday.

He is suddenly in a better situation. Now he has to stay there.