Matt Leniart's draft demise is bad for college football

[footballfanatic]

While so many college football fans have enjoyed seeing a USC player humbled in some way, his misery will not help the game. Any outstanding junior will think twice about staying for his senior year (Peterson?) and losing ground on draft day. The lesson is clear to the players--go while your stock is soaring, or risk seeing it plummet, even if you have another outstanding year. What was forgotten in the aftermath of the RB game was that Leinart had one of his best games ever. Still, he was upstaged by Young and Bush, and he fell from being a shoo-in #1 to #10 and losing 10 million smackers. If anything, he was a better player this year--his arm was healed, and he had a year of experience under his belt. Half of the top twenty picks were juniors. The last thing any of us want to see is football going the way of college basketball, where players leave after one year, or skip the game altogether. While current rules prohibit players doing that, they could change. Agree?

[Octavian]

Any outstanding junior will think twice about staying for his senior year (Peterson?) and losing ground on draft day. The lesson is clear to the players--go while your stock is soaring, or risk seeing it plummet, even if you have another outstanding year.

Most people realize its only smart to go while their stock is highest. ML stayed b/c he wanted to bum around another year and enjoy being the toast of LA and live college life - he just assumed he'd probably win another Heisman and a MNC.

I dont think anything will change in the minds of younger players b/c of Leinart's decision last year b/c ML was really the exception to the rule. Its well established for kids to take the money when they can and run w/ it. If Adrian is gonna be the #1 pick and receive tens of millions of dollars, then I wish him well.

As for the rules changing, thats not gonna happen. (crosses fingers)

[caphorns]

Given his status a year ago, Leinart was a fool. All this so he could have another year of Hollywood puntang at his disposal. And in the end, he ends up with the most pathetically available skank in town and says something as stupid as this: "I'm so happy to be out of L.A., you do not even understand it," said Leinart, a native of Orange County. "I've dealt with everything you possibly can in that city." I assume that includes ghonnoria and ghey-ness?

Lesson No. 1 - DON'T GO TO USC!!!

[Desert Sapper]

Lesson No. 1 - DON'T GO TO USC!!!

Smartest thing you've ever said.:D

[Fugue]

I'm not sure they will ever change that for football. There is a health/safety factor in football that most of the other sports don't have. I just think an 18 year old's body is ready to get lit up by a mature 28 year old NFL'r.

[XingTheRubicon]

Yeah, because when you're 65, and you've made 53 million dollars in your lifetime, it's that 10 million extra that you could have made that will be all the difference.

Ask an NFL vet that came out early what he thinks about his decision now.

[Taxman71]

Agreed that Lienart was the exception, not the rule, by staying for his senior year and turning down the guaranteed cash. You have to think 90% of juniors who are all but guaranteed top 10 picks will go pro early.

Regardless of what it does to college football (or OU), I am ALWAYS in favor of a kid leaving early when he is guaranteed enough cash to secure himself and his family for life (obviously avoiding drugs, bad investments, etc.). Those opportunities are so rare, only a fool would turn it down. That being said, I was happy for Tommie Harris and I will be happy for AD. If it were up to me, I would hav let AD go to the NFL after his freshman year rather than risk injury. As much as I enjoy him being in Norman, the kid should already have the $10mil in the bank they were willing to give him a year ago.

On the downside, Ryan Minor also cost himself serious jack (and a possible NBA career) by staying.

[SoonerStormchaser]

So what does your arguement say about Charles Gordon, who would've been a sure fire top 3 round pick next year had he stayed at Kansas. Instead, he went undrafted.

[sooner94]

I think it depends on the player. A guy like AD will be coveted by any team, whether they have a good RB or not.

Leinart's arm is a question, as is his ability to avoid the rush. A guy with weaknesses can fall in the draft.

Although, if Leinart could hold an 80 pound dumbell in each hand and jump onto a box 33 inches off the ground, he would have been the #1 pick.

;)

[Taxman71]

My argument only applies when a player is all-but-guaranteed to be a top 10 pick and, therefore, looking at a first year haul of around $10mil between the signing bonus and the first year's salary. Beyond that, and the risk-reward sways toward staying another year since a player can make $5 to $10mil extra by moving from a mid to late 1st rounder to top 10 pick.

[caphorns]

If I were guaranteed Top 10 money, you couldn't keep me out of the draft. That's pretty much a guaranteed lifetime of not having to toil a regular day job (while posting on Soonerfans) :)

[soonerinabilene]

peyton turned out ok after he stayed his senior year. leinart may have stayed so he wouldnt have to go to a team like san fran. in my opinion, he really lucked out- instead of going to a crap team with no qb to learn under, he went to a steadily improving arizona where he can learn from kurt warner and be eased into the job instead of thrown to the lions like alex smith was. he is still gonna get more money than all of us combined, and will have a lot better career than if he would have come out early last year.

[Taxman71]

Yes, but Lienart got lucky, very lucky. He was a Titans-brainfart away from going to the Saints, which is worse than any other NFL team combined. Not to mention the injury risk factor. Lienart has much to be thankful for.

[JohnnyMack]

Mebbe he'll have more longevity behind a better O-line than he would have in San Fran. Alex Smith spent more time on his back last year than Paris Hilton.

[Sooner95]

Tho, I won't argue he lost some $$ by getting drafted this yr and not last, Was anyone really supirsed to see him drop to #10? I certainly wasnt. Once Houston did their stupid stunt, and hand N'orleans a gift, you knew TN would snag VY. Jets did the smart thing buy grabbing the best OL int he draft, and teams like GB, SF & Buff were not taking QB's. A small chance Oaktown would have takin him, but they usually stay away from QB's in the draft.

The Lions could have taken him, but I wasnt suprised. The Cards were going to take him, he will fit that system pretty well. Has loads of weapons to throw too, and EJ in the backfield, tho on a downslide, will keep the Def honest.

So a demise of the draft? no way, I will agree with others, he was an exception, not the rule these days. A Peterson is gone after this yr, and we know it. Only a staggering injury will keep him in Norman next yr.

[Octavian]

only cause Paris likes to ride ;)

[Sooner95]

Mebbe he'll have more longevity behind a better O-line than he would have in San Fran. Alex Smith spent more time on his back last year than Paris Hilton.

according to the video, she spends alot of time on her hands and knees... :D

[JohnnyMack]

you knew TN would snag VY.

Why? What was it about Leinart that Chow didn't like? Or were they that enamored of VY? That's what I can't figure out.

[JohnnyMack]

according to the video, she spends alot of time on her hands and knees... :D

That's the devils business and I'll have no part of watching that filth.

[TexasLidig8r]

That's the devils business and I'll have no part of watching that filth.

And who is that in your avie there homeslice?

Irony..thou name is Mack.. Johnny Mack... :D

[critical_phil]

My argument only applies when a player is all-but-guaranteed to be a top 10 pick and, therefore, looking at a first year haul of around $10mil between the signing bonus and the first year's salary. Beyond that, and the risk-reward sways toward staying another year since a player can make $5 to $10mil extra by moving from a mid to late 1st rounder to top 10 pick.

taxman always thinking about the $$$$.


5M? 10M? .......can you really put a price on one years worth of college-age trim?

[footballfanatic]

I think the comments about Arizona over last year San Fran are interesting. It's true, good QB's get eaten alive by bad teams. Still, they may have potential, but never underestimate the Cardinals ability to stink, regardless of the situation. Remember, this is a team who hasn't been in a PLAYOFF game since the 70's! The Bidwells are the WORST family in football. They always find a way to make any contender fall apart. San Fran had one of the best drafts, and they could turn around first.

[footballfanatic]

I suppose I can't complain about players going pro--it's their life, for cryin' out loud.
Still, I feel something is being lost in the college game. Back in the 70's, no one ever left early. Players stayed and played for four years. I feel like the game is getting too transient--teams don't have time to develop their identity, and players feel like they can't wait to leave. is it just me, or is the game feeling diminished to others? Leinart stayed--maybe because, heck, college is FUN. Isn't that why we love the game?

[sooner94]

Why? What was it about Leinart that Chow didn't like? Or were they that enamored of VY? That's what I can't figure out.

Chow really wanted to take Leinart. Fisher and the General Manager wanted VY because of his running threat (just like McNair had before the injuries).

Chow lost that argument.

[Taxman71]

taxman always thinking about the $$$$.


5M? 10M? .......can you really put a price on one years worth of college-age trim?

At age 22, I did not value the college-age tail 1/100th that I did at age 32. Besides, I would think $10mil in one's pocket would only increase the quality and quantity of such trim. Goodbye frigid retentive cheerleader and hello porn stars.

[picasso]

it's nothing new. Tyrone Wheatly anyone?

[westcoast_sooner]

Nothing would make me happier than to see Leinart go as yet another NFL bust from a Pac-10 school. However, I have to agree that he should have gone when his stock was high, like Bush did, like Young did, and like many others have.

There are those who think that a kid should be able to jump to the NFL as soon as they think they are "ready". But for some, that would be right out of HS, wouldn't mean that they are ready or could make an NFL roster at 18 or 19, and take the pounding of an NFL season.

College football allows kids to grow, mature and get experience at another level before moving on. And while AD is "likely" to go after next season, because of the NFL rules, suppose his stock in college is never as high as after his Freshman year? Should someone be allowed to jump after one season? That would make the college football game more like the college basketball game - which in a lot of cases doesn't help the game, and does hurt the players.

I think the nice thing about the NFL rule is that it gives kids two shots at going rather than only one. If their draft stock is high after a junior season, go. If not, then stay and work hard to make it better. While Leinart gave away some of his mega-$$$ in order to hang out with Hollywood stars, I don't feel sorry for him a bit. He knew the risks and took his chances.

[TheGodfather889]

Given his status a year ago, Leinart was a fool. All this so he could have another year of Hollywood puntang at his disposal. And in the end, he ends up with the most pathetically available skank in town and says something as stupid as this: "I'm so happy to be out of L.A., you do not even understand it," said Leinart, a native of Orange County. "I've dealt with everything you possibly can in that city." I assume that includes ghonnoria and ghey-ness?

Lesson No. 1 - DON'T GO TO USC!!!
All the guys here that left early like Roy Williams,Jimmy Wilkerson,Tommie Harris and Brodney Pool all say to the players they should stay. The NFL can be difficult and college is fun.

[Harry Beanbag]

I think the comments about Arizona over last year San Fran are interesting. It's true, good QB's get eaten alive by bad teams. Still, they may have potential, but never underestimate the Cardinals ability to stink, regardless of the situation. Remember, this is a team who hasn't been in a PLAYOFF game since the 70's! The Bidwells are the WORST family in football. They always find a way to make any contender fall apart. San Fran had one of the best drafts, and they could turn around first.


Not that it really matters, but the Cardinals beat Dallas in the first round in 1998.

[Sooner95]

Not that it really matters, but the Cardinals beat Dallas in the first round in 1998.

Yep, Jake Plummer was QB..



Anyhow.. the last thing the NFL needs to do is to allow these HS players to head to the NFL. They would get slaughtered. HS FB does not prepare you for what the NFL brings. I can see some of these TOP HS hoos players making it work, but its just a different game in the NFL.

[footballfanatic]

Not that it really matters, but the Cardinals beat Dallas in the first round in 1998.

You are correct. I forgot about that game. Still, that game aside, is there any other pro franchise that can compare with the Cardinals for sheer ineptitude? I spend time in Phoenix--in-laws are there. You have to be there to appreciate the derision for the owning family.

[Sooner in Tampa]

You are correct. I forgot about that game. Still, that game aside, is there any other pro franchise that can compare with the Cardinals for sheer ineptitude? I spend time in Phoenix--in-laws are there. You have to be there to appreciate the derision for the owning family.Longtime Tampa fans can appreciate the Cardinals situation. When Culverhouse owned the team, they were BAD!!! Once the Glazers took over things have changed for the better...better uniforms, better teams, better stadium, and a Super Bowl Trophy.

The Cardinals seem to be loaded up for run this year though...with Edge, and the receiving corps they have, they should be good this year. Should be.

[JohnnyMack]

As a huge college football fan, I really appreciated the fact that Matt Leinart decided to stay for his senior year. The guy had absolutely nothing left to prove in college. He had done it all and knew that if he went to the draft he'd likely be the No. 1 overall pick. But he stayed because he loved the game. He loved his school and he wanted one more year to try and accomplish something truly remarkable, truly special. After he was drafted he said there were no regrets about his decisions. For that I applaud him.

He's going to Arizona where he'll a brand new stadium to play in, he'll be mentored by Kurt Warner, has Edgerrin James to take the pressure off and with Boldin and Fitz. at receiver it's not like the cupboard is bare. He gets a year to learn and get settled and then he can take over. By that point Alex Smith will probably be in traction or an assisted living facility as bad as he's getting knocked around.

I don't think in the long term what Leinart did was foolish. I still think he made the right choice. And in a few years when the Cardinals reach the playoffs and VY is getting carted off the field after shredding his knee because he ran the ball too much, then Leinart can give Norm Chow and the rest of the world the finger.

Now as far as his choice in women is concerned......

[CtheB]

While so many college football fans have enjoyed seeing a USC player humbled in some way, his misery will not help the game. Any outstanding junior will think twice about staying for his senior year (Peterson?) and losing ground on draft day. The lesson is clear to the players--go while your stock is soaring, or risk seeing it plummet, even if you have another outstanding year. What was forgotten in the aftermath of the RB game was that Leinart had one of his best games ever. Still, he was upstaged by Young and Bush, and he fell from being a shoo-in #1 to #10 and losing 10 million smackers. If anything, he was a better player this year--his arm was healed, and he had a year of experience under his belt. Half of the top twenty picks were juniors. The last thing any of us want to see is football going the way of college basketball, where players leave after one year, or skip the game altogether. While current rules prohibit players doing that, they could change. Agree?

He's not the first, he won't be the last, and certainly, the game of college football will survive this atrocity.

[Sooner in Tampa]

To hell with Matt Lionfart...enough already.

[Soonerwolf]

All the guys here that left early like Roy Williams,Jimmy Wilkerson,Tommie Harris and Brodney Pool all say to the players they should stay. The NFL can be difficult and college is fun.

Even before Lienart's fall in this year's draft, good talented players leave early. OU lost TRRW and Tommie Harris as juniors. Lienart's fall was his fault in that he wanted to stay around the "Hollywood scene" an extra year and believed that he would repeat the Heisman.

Even though Pete Carroll is a defensive coach at heart, last year's SUC defense really did suck!!!! They gave up 42 points to Fresno State at home and had the fortune of catching Oregon early in the season.

Maybe he was getting ready to audition for Dancing with the Stars, but he will not be debuting on Broadway as he gave the PROs more time to analyze his arm strength and was even passed up by his former offensive coordinator (Chow) who took Young!!!!

Hook 'em

[Taxman71]

All the guys here that left early like Roy Williams,Jimmy Wilkerson,Tommie Harris and Brodney Pool all say to the players they should stay. The NFL can be difficult and college is fun.
It is easy to hold "fun" as a top priority when you are rollin' in a paid-for Escalade in a paid-for 5,000 sq. ft. house with 7 figures sitting in the savings account. I bet there are about 25,000 students in Norman that would trade all four years of fun for the cash and security those guys have. Sadly, I didn't have that much fun during college and don't have two commas in my savings account balance right now.

The smartest two things Vince Young has done are (1) tuck and run rather than pass and (2) go pro after the Rose Bowl.

[SoCal]

While so many college football fans have enjoyed seeing a USC player humbled in some way, his misery will not help the game. Any outstanding junior will think twice about staying for his senior year (Peterson?) and losing ground on draft day. The lesson is clear to the players--go while your stock is soaring, or risk seeing it plummet, even if you have another outstanding year. What was forgotten in the aftermath of the RB game was that Leinart had one of his best games ever. Still, he was upstaged by Young and Bush, and he fell from being a shoo-in #1 to #10 and losing 10 million smackers. If anything, he was a better player this year--his arm was healed, and he had a year of experience under his belt. Half of the top twenty picks were juniors. The last thing any of us want to see is football going the way of college basketball, where players leave after one year, or skip the game altogether. While current rules prohibit players doing that, they could change. Agree?

One of the factors you are forgetting is that Leinart had such a weak arm during the 2004 season, due to what some say was an injury. There were rumors, and I believe this board had them posted, that he was so juiced up by the time the season was over he would'nt passed the phyical (drug test) at last years combine. He would have nose-dived in the draft. If the rumors are true, Leinart came out smelling like a rose by being picked 10th overall.

[Taxman71]

If true, it was a good decision. As it played out, Lienart's decision turned out fine, it was just risky.

[footballfanatic]

One of the factors you are forgetting is that Leinart had such a weak arm during the 2004 season, due to what some say was an injury. There were rumors, and I believe this board had them posted, that he was so juiced up by the time the season was over he would'nt passed the phyical (drug test) at last years combine. He would have nose-dived in the draft. If the rumors are true, Leinart came out smelling like a rose by being picked 10th overall.

If you re-read my post, you'll see that I mentioned that he had hurt his arm in '94.

[footballfanatic]

It is easy to hold "fun" as a top priority when you are rollin' in a paid-for Escalade in a paid-for 5,000 sq. ft. house with 7 figures sitting in the savings account. I bet there are about 25,000 students in Norman that would trade all four years of fun for the cash and security those guys have. Sadly, I didn't have that much fun during college and don't have two commas in my savings account balance right now.

The smartest two things Vince Young has done are (1) tuck and run rather than pass and (2) go pro after the Rose Bowl.

VY: 3000 yds passing, 1000 yds running.