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blueslover 
New Orleans Saints Fan
soon to be south of zero
Member since Sep 2007
18292 posts
| Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:12 am)
Canada heating up the talent. Cameron Wake, Tom Johnson, Hicks, Armond Armstead, Jason Vega, etc- certainly a growing trend
The towering Regina Rams defensive lineman can certainly dream big these days considering he's garnering plenty of interest south of the border leading up to the 2013 NFL draft in April. He's hoping to follow in the footsteps of former teammate Akiem Hicks, who was selected in the third round last year by the New Orleans Saints.
"When I played next to Akiem (in 2011) I didn't feel there really was much of a difference between us," said Charles, who has declared for this year's NFL draft. "Any team that takes me is going to get a player who will work hard and always want to be the best.
"I'm always looking at what I need to do to improve and get better."
Over three seasons at Regina, the six-foot-five, 310-pound Charles had 56.5 tackles and 10.5 sacks in 22 career games. By comparison, Hicks, an American who was once a top prospect at LSU, had 56 tackles and eight sacks in 16 CIS contests.
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I haven't looked into it. Can someone answer this- Why are some of these guys just signed outright anytime with a NFL team (like Wake or Armstead) and others are drafted like Hicks?
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SaintEB
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Jul 2008
13711 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:14 am to blueslover)
quote:
Can someone answer this- Why are some of these guys just signed outright anytime with a NFL team (like Wake or Armstead) and others are drafted like Hicks?
I was about to ask this question. I'll standby for an answer.
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Tigerfan53 
LSU Fan
Death Valley
Member since Nov 2010
1681 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:16 am to blueslover)
Hicks was in college. Wake was a Canadian pro player
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Sophandros
New Orleans Saints Fan
R'Lyeh
Member since Feb 2005
40275 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:16 am to SaintEB)
I thought Wake and Armstead were playing in the CFL, which makes them the same as street free agents as far as the league is concerned.
Hicks was playing college ball in Canada.
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Chad504boy
New Orleans Saints Fan
Five Oh Four
Member since Feb 2005
64901 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:16 am to blueslover)
quote:
Why are some of these guys just signed outright anytime with a NFL team (like Wake or Armstead) and others are drafted like Hicks?
Those guys were all eligible for a draft and went undrafted.
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SaintEB
New Orleans Saints Fan
Member since Jul 2008
13711 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:19 am to Sophandros)
quote:
I thought Wake and Armstead were playing in the CFL, which makes them the same as street free agents as far as the league is concerned.
Hicks was playing college ball in Canada.
That makes a whole heck of a lot of sense....and, now that its pointed out, fairly obvious.
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Chad504boy
New Orleans Saints Fan
Five Oh Four
Member since Feb 2005
64901 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:20 am to SaintEB)
quote:
That makes a whole heck of a lot of sense....and, now that its pointed out, fairly obvious.
You have to be eligible for an nfl draft, then you are classified as an undrafted free agent.
cameron wake, tom johnson were undrafted in the 2005 nfl draft.
This post was edited on 2/7 at 11:22 am
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GeauxAggie972
LSU Fan
CDUB71323 lives on
Member since Aug 2009
11085 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:44 am to blueslover)
blues, you think we take a late-round flyer on this guy also or is one Hicks enough?
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blueslover
New Orleans Saints Fan
soon to be south of zero
Member since Sep 2007
18292 posts
| re: Akiem Hicks Team Mate Stefan Charles (Posted on 2/7/13 at 11:59 am to Chad504boy)
there ya go
I gotta a beef...
That is, the NFL desperately needs a minor league for developing players. With the harsh limitations of a 53 man roster and the rate of injuries in the NFL having game experienced guys would be a huge plus.
NFLE provided this launch for a helluva lot of stars like Delhome & Warner. The UFL would have been good for this.
You would only need 6-8 teams. Every NFL team could have retaining rights to 10-12 players. They could be mixed across the different rosters. Then when ya get demolished at a position like the Saints at RB in 2010 or RT last year, you wouldn't have to get guys off the street like Ladell Betts or Bill Robinson. You could call up your guy playing for the Omaha Nighthawks.
Rookie minimum pay last year was $390K. A year long Practice Squad player made $96.9K. Arena Leaguers average $85K. CFL $100Kish. So you could pay a little less knowing you're in line to move up to a Practice Squad or NFL roster.
This is one of the best things that could be done to improve the game. Unfortunately since that would entail more salaries to be paid it doesn't even get mentioned.
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