Vikings Draft: Tre Mason Denies Needing Wrist Surgery

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Auburn Tigers running back Tre Mason (21) scores a touchdown against the Florida State Seminoles during the second half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Having an injury red flag pop up just two weeks before the draft is never good news for a prospect. But this is just what’s happened to Auburn running back Tre Mason, a player who has been connected to the Vikings a time or two as a mid-round draft target.

If the Vikings ever did have interest in Mason, they may now be forced to re-assess.

According to Ian Rapoport, a medical exam has uncovered a problem with Tre Mason’s wrist that will require surgery. The running back should be ready for preseason, says Rapoport, but he won’t be able to participate in any offseason activities or the first part of training camp.

Here’s the kicker though: Mason himself is denying the report.

In a wonderful example of how social media is changing the whole landscape of sports reporting, Mason took to Twitter moments after Rapoport’s report to refute the whole thing.

Mason went on to accuse the media of painting a “false picture” of his medical situation. But he doesn’t explain why he thinks the media would engage in a smear campaign against him.

Certainly there are people in the media willing to engage in ethically dubious behavior at the behest of teams whom they owe a favor, but when that stuff happens it usually serves a definite purpose.

What exact purpose could be served by spreading false reports about a mid-round running back’s medical situation?

None that I can see. Tre Mason obviously thinks differently. It doesn’t really matter though: either he has a problem with his wrist and teams have been informed, or he doesn’t and they haven’t.

It matters exactly zilch what Tre Mason says about his own situation on Twitter. Teams will make their determination based on independent information obtained via medical people.

Mason is a helpless bystander in this whole process. Why he thinks pleading his case on Twitter would help anything? Hard to say.

If fully healthy, the 5-9, 209 pound Mason projects as a third or fourth round pick who could have value to the Vikings as a third down back with receiving skills.

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