Column: Virgen’s View: Chad Kelly makes for an interesting Mr. Irrelevant

Forget what you’ve heard about Chad Kelly. Don’t pay attention to the quarterback’s past. It’s unfortunate, but irrelevant when it comes to his future, he believes. The latter description is coincidentally his new moniker, as he is Mr. Irrelevant XLII.

He might also be thought of as Mr. Controversy or Mr. Comeback QB.

Just don’t bring up his past.

“Unfortunate events happened, but you can’t control things that happen in the past,” Kelly told me during a phone interview after being selected by the Denver Broncos at pick No. 253, the dead-last pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. “You gotta keep going toward the future. I’m a different person, completely different than I was a couple of years ago. I’m ready to work. I’m ready to lead. I’m going to work extremely hard.”

There are reasons Kelly’s draft stock tumbled and fell to the final round of the draft.

He has the notoriety of being the nephew and godson of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly, but Chad Kelly also has the talent. He assuredly showed that in 2015.

However he also showed Bad Chad before that.

Don’t bring it up, but Chad Kelly went through a roller-coaster-type of a college career. In 2014, Clemson dismissed him from the team after multiple confrontations with coaches. After a year in junior college football, he committed to play for Ole Miss.

But he got into some real big trouble then, when he allegedly threatened to fire an assault rifle at a Buffalo bar after fighting with bouncers and being escorted from the club, the Buffalo News reported.

He threatened to “spray this place.”

And so after the Broncos picked him on Saturday, there was an awkward moment when the NFL Network referred to Kelly as a fearless gunslinger.

He did go on to have a huge year in 2015 for the Rebels with wins over Alabama, Auburn and LSU. He threw for 4,042 yards, and 31 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 500 yards and 10 TDs on his way to first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors.

Some analysts on Twitter referred to Kelly as the biggest name to ever wear the Mr. Irrelevant title.

Kelly made headlines again in 2016, when he ran out onto the field during a high school football game, as he was there during an Ole Miss bye week to watch his brother play. A video shows a brawl on the field that included his brother, so giving Kelly the benefit of the doubt he was protecting his brother. But it still looked like Bad Chad.

Alas, Kelly suffered a torn right ACL and lateral meniscus in November. But the question marks of his past were the cause of Kelly’s tumble in the draft.

An ESPN camera showed him slumped over on his couch, appeared to have fallen asleep during the draft.

“I didn’t fall asleep,” Kelly said. “I was just on the couch with my mom. I was anxious. It had been a long waiting game. My name finally got called. I’m so excited.”

Kelly’s eyes are now wide open when he thinks about the future and landing with the Denver Broncos.

His uncle certainly believes in him.

Jim Kelly sent a text to Rich Eisen of the NFL Network that read: “I will tell you one thing for sure, [Chad] is going to prove a lot of teams wrong. I can’t wait to see it happen. His work ethic is unmatched, he’s a team leader and his teammates all loved him. He will be back stronger than ever.”

Chad Kelly was aware of the text and is eager for his future with the Broncos, he said.

“I want to have the last laugh,” Chad Kelly said. “I want to just work extremely hard and prove everyone wrong.”

Amid his preparation for the NFL, Chad Kelly will be the center of attention during Irrelevant Week in Newport Beach. The 42^nd edition of Irrelevant Week is sure to be memorable, at the very least: interesting.

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Twitter: @SteveVirgen