re: The early defections' sobering moment approaching: the Draft

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I sense some of these guys have overvalued themselves. It could be a learning situation for underclass men in the future.

Not hating at all, but if their expectations hold true, they will go down as the most prized junior crew in NCAA history. While talented, they are not historical.

Again, not hating and I am wondering what's driving the impatient bandwagon......

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Not hating, but I agree. And just saying, I wish the NCAA and the NFL would come to some kind of understanding that will prevent underclassmen from declaring early. It can decimate a team. But as long as greedy agents can entice gullible underclassmen with promises of $$$, it's going to be hard to slow down the exodus. I do think more than a few of our LSU jumpers jumped too soon.

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You are missing 2 important points 1) some players are unlikely to improve their draft position. Having a blanket rule like if you are not 1st round you should go back is silly.

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I totally agree. but, as a rule of thumb, if you are projected as a 3rd round pick, you should go back to school unless there is some other factor forcing you to go pro. I don't believe in hard and fast rules either, but it is a place to start the analysis. I think a guy like Ware should go pro because once Blue comes back, he's 3rd or 4th on the depth chart and he's unlikely to help his draft prospects. Get out now.

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The next point you are missing is that guys on their rookie contract work cheap.

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Indeed they do. But they also get shuffled off the roster pretty quickly. You are not valued by your organization and its pretty much produce now or get buried on the depth chart before eventually getting cut. You are depth, and likely not to get that big money second contract without, let's face it, a good deal of luck.

I pretty much think all running backs should leave early for wear and tear reasons. They are the NFL's fungible good right now.

I don't have much problem with Minter going pro, as I don't think he'll slide to the third and his position is not highly valued. It's not like he can have a better year to boost his stock, and he'll likely go in the 2nd anyway (the Ravens have an opening at MLB). But I think a guy like Faulk considering it is playing with fire. If he can't produce right away, he'll be a first round talent spit out of the NFL meat grinder in three years. And that would suck for him.

If you think Mingo doesn't go in the first round you're an idiot.

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Why this isn't a bigger deal to some o you is beyond me.

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It should be a monumental deal. It is further indication of the death of LSU football which started when Miles didn't play Lee in every game. Perhaps it started when Jefferson stepped foot on campus, thereby setting in motion the collapse. If there had been no Jefferson, then Miles would have been force to play Lee all of the time and LSU would have won at least 2 national championships.


There. Does that make you feel all bettah?

You gonna stop now? I hope so because we all want you to feel bettah cuz we love you

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But I think a guy like Faulk considering it is playing with fire

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That I do agree with, if he won't be fully healed in time to work out, he would be taking a huge risk. Though Bradford and another OU player who's name is escaping missed an entire season and were drafted in the first. But Faulk does play a high value position, so he could boost his draft stock and unlike RB's, LB's and DB's there is not much he can contribute on special teams.

Otherwise it sounds like we are basically on the same page.

Ive posted this before, all these guys have played 3 seasons at LSU. Not many guys play for 3 seasons and stick around. Hell some guys only play for one and it is their sr year.

No one should be surprised these guys are leaving, they all played as frosh except for montgomery because he got hurt.

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I wish the NCAA and the NFL would come to some kind of understanding that will prevent underclassmen from declaring early. It can decimate a team. But as long as greedy agents can entice gullible underclassmen with promises of $$$, it's going to be hard to slow down the exodus

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what an incredibily selfish statement. I'm sorry the team you root for might not have the services of some players for an extra year, making millions for schools and coaches and getting far below market value in return. But it is not your life. Even 5th roound picks get 6 figure salaries. Some of these "early" defectors have already been here 4 years and in at least 1 case has already graduated.

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Simple rule: if you grade 3rd or lower, you stay.....

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That was 10 years ago. Now the new rule is get paid ASAP because your career will probably be short. Senior year just syphons earning potential you will never recover.

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Except for Simon, who could really improve their stock?

Minter is discussed as a possible late first rounder, he probably goes 2nd, but he could not have a better season next year. He won't get taller or faster in one year, what could he do to improve his position? Same with Ware, he is what he is and it's not that he won't get enough carries to post big numbers. Montee Ball from Wisconsin did and he probably goes 3rd round at best.

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I agree.

I think Sam could slip a bit, but should be well within what it would take to leave.

Now, Faulk would make a mistake, too, if he left.

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Otherwise it sounds like we are basically on the same page.

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Basically.

I do think this is an absurd number of people leaving early. Hell, most of the time, a school doesn't even have this many people DRAFTED, much less leave early. We're talking about Simon going in the 3rd round, but that's best case. Plenty of guys who are supposed to go in the 3rd instead go in the 5th or 6th. And now you're hoping to not get cut by the end of preseason.

Sam and Mingo can't make a wrong choice. I think Minter could've gone either way. There was a chance he could've been a 1st round pick had he stayed and been the #1 MLB on the board, but I don't think he's losing a lot by going. At best, had he stayed, he could have just cracked the 1st round.

Strangely, the guy I think making a wrong call is Reid. I think he really needs another year in college to learn. He didn't play all that well this year, and the NFL is not a place you want to do on the job training. they want a finished product, and his reputation will mean nothing.

Wing's probably gonna get drafted late, but he's a guy who just doesn't like school, apparently. And it's not like a punter is getting to the 1st round.