Seems like a simple of enough question right, well apparently not anymore. For most anyone who’s played football at any level the NFL is always a fantasy. For most of us that fantasy ends when we take a cross section of our family and realize that we’re destined to be 5’11” 180 lbs and barely the lung capacity to finish a 6th grade shuttle drill. That might just be me though. My point however is that for a select few the fantasy is real. It used to be that a football player went to college to get ready for the NFL and when either he deemed himself worthy or the scouts did that was it (I acknowledge this is not the case with every $tudent athlete) see ya later college hello NFL riches. An athlete would error on the side of leaving too early before risking one more year and possible injury.
It has happened from time to time, but never has it taken place it seems like the last couple of years. When Peyton Manning came back instead of entering the 1997 draft many were surprised but I don’t remember any talk of it becoming a trend. Now I wonder if that is indeed the case. Of course it worked out for Manning and the Colts but that’s not the point I am trying to make. The end result is not the issue, rather the short term effect (money left on the table) is. The new CBA will most likely put a rookie wage scale into effect so the money left on the table is not necessarily Sam Bradford money, but money is still being left. Players are opting for one more year as a $tudent athlete rather than making 1st round NFL money (as opposed to BMOC $) and the ability to be one year closer to their second NFL contract. Different money, but still money.
The movement started small but seems to be gaining steam. In recent years we’ve had some high profile players and “sure things” say no to the NFL. Which no one does anymore…are you listening ESPN and your $1.whateverBillion you’re about to hand over. I am looking at how they were regarded coming out of college, not how they have performed in the NFL. This is only a sampling but since 2005 Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow and Jake Locker all passed on leaving early for the NFL (of course Manning a QB as well). Not one of them fell out of the 1st round by coming back or had his draft status impacted by an injury, see #1 overall pick Sam Bradford.
Maybe this is what gives confidence to this years’ crop of $tudent athletes. What started as one here and there (Manning), turned in to a few (Bradford, Tebow, Locker…) is now a serious thing and not just limited to QB’s. Notable absentees from Roger Goodell’s role call this year will be QB’s-Andrew Luck & Terrell Pryor, WR’s- Justin Blackmon, Ryan Broyles & Michael Floyd, and RB LaMichael James. Now whether this is a one year spike in top talent returning to school or a sign of what is to come remains to be seen. Two things I take from this. One; Next years’ CFB season should be a fun one, and Two; All those players who just moved up the draft boards because of what this group decided to do are just fine with that choice.
