Although Manti Te'o is currently not talking to the media, that didn't stop him from attending the Maxim Hot 100 party in Hollywood last week. Te'o, who's faux girlfriend captured the No. 69 ranking on the magazine's annual list, was spotted in Hollywood last week before returning to San Diego for the Chargers second open session of organized team activities on Monday.
For the second straight week, the Chargers barred the former Notre Dame standout from speaking with reporters. Maxim confirmed Monday that Te'o attended the party, despite the jab at his embarrassing ordeal, which San Diego is attempting to put behind by keeping him off-limits to the media until minicamp in mid-June.
Te'o's attending the party seemed to refresh in people's minds how the Heisman Trophy runner-up was caught in an elaborate hoax. The magazine put Te'os fake girlfriend on its list, running a picture of an "invisible" girl in a bikini superimposed over an ocean scene.
Te'o posed with several women at the Maxim party, including former Playboy playmate Kendra Wilkinson, model Courtney Caldwell and beach volleyball player Jess Gysin. Rookie head coach Mike McCoy said he was unaware that Te'o attended the event.
"He's going to make certain decisions. We'll keep that in-house with what we think and what we're doing with that," the coach said.
Te'o was selected in the second round by San Diego after his draft stock plummeted. A poor performance against Alabama in the BCS national championship game and the NFL scouting combine added to the fake girlfriend hoax made many teams skeptical of drafting the decorated linebacker early.
The Chargers, who are trying to rebuild under a new regime after missing the postseason three straight years, have taken unprecedented steps to limit Te'o's time in front of the microphones. The team refused to let reporters do customary one-on-ones with him after his introductory news conference during the draft, and has continued to refuse to set up one-on-one interviews with the linebacker.
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