ESPN: VINCE STAYS

Texas' Young leaning toward dodging NFL draft

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com




Vince Young hasn't studied the 2006 NFL draft nearly as much as he has the Southern California defense that he faced in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday evening.
But the University of Texas quarterback and some of the people advising him about his football future have perused the composition of the top 10 teams in the draft. And the makeup of the top 10, especially the franchises with the first five choices in April, might be enough to convince Young to return to the Longhorns for his senior season in 2006.
Young, the Heisman Trophy runner-up, indicated this week that he plans to return to school to complete his eligibility, and sources close to the Texas quarterback confirmed to ESPN.com before Wednesday's game that he is clearly leaning that way.
One reason he would return to Austin, those sources said, is the sense that, despite his enormous potential, Young might not be selected among the top five picks in the NFL lottery. Those sources spoke before Young's 467 total yard, three-touchdown performance against USC on Wednesday in Texas' 41-38 win.
Many of the teams in the top 10 of the draft order have invested heavily in quarterbacks in recent years, and they might not be ready to give up on those picks or inclined to use another high choice on the position. Of the teams in the top five, just one, the New Orleans Saints, who own the second overall pick, have a dire need at quarterback.
The New York Jets, with the No. 4 pick, are uncertain about the physical status of starter Chad Pennington, a first-round pick in 2000 who has undergone two shoulder surgeries in less than a year. But the Jets have a considerable financial investment in Pennington and likely will sign a veteran free agent as a contingency plan.
Three weeks ago, ESPN.com reported that Young and his family, working within NCAA guidelines, were determining the process by which the Texas standout would meet with potential agents and evaluate suitors seeking to represent him. Key players in the process were Houston attorney Major Adams and Young's former high school coach, Ray Seals. But the process has not moved forward much in recent weeks, primarily because it appears Young will eschew the 2006 draft.
Young has not completely decided against going into the '06 draft and could revisit the notion, sources said. Notable is that Texas coach Mack Brown has demonstrated a rare ability to keep underclass prospects from bolting early to the professional ranks. Underclass players have until Jan. 15 to petition NFL officials for inclusion in the 2006 draft.
No matter how Young performs in the Rose Bowl, he and the people counseling him feel he probably won't move ahead of Matt Leinart, his counterpart from Southern Cal, in the eyes of NFL scouts. League talent evaluators privately harbor some doubts about Leinart, especially over his arm strength, but he is still viewed at this early stage of the draft process as the top senior quarterback prospect.
For all his athleticism and playmaking skills, some scouts say there are certain areas of Young's game (like his release point) that need work, and that he would benefit from another college season. There are, however, no guarantees Young will be the top quarterback prospect in the 2007 draft, either, given the presence of Notre Dame star Brady Quinn.
Young, 22, ran for 200 yards and passed for 267 more against USC on Wednesday.
Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

 

Stupid is What Stupid Does --- I'm betting in a Few Days you will hear a Different Story.....

Still R'

 

Sean May from UNC last year.....sounded something like, "I'll be back and I'm gonna convince all these other guys to stay with me...." Uh-huh.....

 

To be fair, that article was written yesterday....for the most part. I read it yesterday at ESPN.com and I scanned it today. It's dated 1/5/06 but the only part that changed was the last line which had some of his stats from the game.

In other words, he could change his mind based on last night's performance, his rising draft stock, etc.

 

Maybe Vince is smart after all. After he doesn't meet expectations next year he'll wind up going much lower in the draft, end up on a better team, and won't have to worry about starting for a few years.

 

if you can win the Heisman in TV one game (Bush (Fresno), Leinart (UCLA, 2004)--not saying they didn't deserve it)--you can get in the top 5 with last night's performance.

 

Anybody that advises radio to come back for another year is not his friend

 

We need him to stay so that when we beat 'em in October they won't whine about breaking in three new OLs and a new QB and a new secondary...blah, blah, blah. Then they'll just be howling about their new OL and secondary...like us this year

 

Yeah that was a hastily thrown together article from a past article. Vince Young said all year that he planned to stay. But after lastnight it might be a pretty bad choice to stay. I think he would go ahead of Matt this year.

 

you are absolutely right. it's a hodge podge of quotes out of context and filler.

unfortunately, the same thing is true in most political writing in the US. i think as "citizens" we ought to recognize this type of wire feed garbage for what it is.

CNN, FOX, whoever, take your pick.

 

fixed.

he barely did anything in the UCLA game, that was the Reggie Bush show

 

My question would be, why would Vince risk coming back and getting hurt or even better, Texas getting Trounced by OU next year and Vince having a very bad year then ending up a much lower draft choice? It would make more sense to go, get the $$$ and hope he actually makes it as a QB in the NFL rather than risking it.

 

If he's not in the top 5 after the Rose Bowl, he'll never be there. I think he may have moved to #2.

 

Well, I hope he comes back, so we can whip Texas with him.

 

he can always pull the Manning Maneuver

 

thanks. that's what i meant. i've been huffing paint thinner under a bridge all day and a little out of it. the USC-ND made for TV Heisman event.

 

He can get an insurance policy, like Leinart did, from Lloyds. Not sure what his family situation is, but a second mortgage on his mother's home, and he then pays off the mortgage with either his signing bonus or the proceeds from the insurance policy next year. Premium would be in the range of 5-10% of the policy limit.

 

Houston should feel INCREDIBLE pressure to draft him. If he goes in the top 2-3, then there is no question he'd be stupid to come back.

I think he goes. He won't be any more ready next year.

 

UT will still be in Austin if he wants the degree when his career in the NFL is over. He would be a total Lienart if he chose to stay.

 

this article was here days before the NC game dude.