Report: Jets Draft Pick Scotty McKnight Authored Threats To HS Teacher
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- The Jets selected Colorado wide receiver Scotty McKnight, a childhood friend of quarterback Mark Sanchez, with their final pick of the NFL draft in the seventh round Saturday.
According to the New York Post, McKnight wrote "some chilling, gruesome passages" while attending High School, in which he described "gluing (his English teacher) naked to a wall, cutting off her feet and killing her family while she watches."
According to McKnight, the journal wasn't serious and was supposed to be kept private.
"It was an error in judgment that led to a huge consequence," McKnight told the paper. "Me and (teammate Sam Smith) wrote some crazy stuff, Tarantino-like movie type stuff and were trying to one-up each other, figuring no one was ever going to read it. It was a lack of judgment for sure, but we were 17 years old and not thinking — clearly."
"I am planning on coming in your room late one night while you're still working," one entry read. "I will smother you in gasoline and light your head on fire ... "
McKnight is Colorado's career leader in receptions (215) and receiving touchdowns (22) and is third in receiving yards. He's also the 10th player in NCAA history to catch at least one pass in every game he appeared.
McKnight says he has been friends with Sanchez since he was 8 years old, and their two families were together watching the draft when McKnight was taken by New York. He will participate in Sanchez's "Jets West" camp in Southern California next week — and said he had already planned to do so even if he hadn't been drafted.
"People that know me know that's not me. I was 17 years old and had never been in trouble. I come from a family of police officers. My father is a lieutenant in Newport Beach and my grandfather and uncle are in the LAPD," he said. "You really see how one small error in judgment can affect your whole life."
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