re: Lance Heard & whomever is advising him are not smart.

quote:

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Some of you guys convince yourselves every time a player leaves it’s 100% about money.

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Perhaps I'm wrong, but I believe there were some LSU recruiting insiders who suggested this was completely an NIL decision. Heard played a good bit last season. Hell, he even started a game (Army). He was clearly LSU's "6th" OL already and was going to have a shot to earn a starting spot next season. But, if you are an in demand prospect at an in demand position there is a financial market for your services. He decided he wanted to try to get a new deal.

From LSU's perspective they have to be somewhat smart as to how they allocate their NIL funds. Not unlike a salary cap so to speak. They still have to pay other players. So it appears they decided giving an increased "salary" to a backup OT was not the best financial decision on the whole. LSU is returning two veteran and good tackles next season. They are also returning two veteran guards who played relatively well. Thus, there was no 100% guarantee they would need Heard to start next season. Throw in the fact they have 4 additional OL on the team and just signed 6 OL prospects, and they maybe decided upping Heard's "salary" wasn't the best move.

If there is a 6 figure market out there for a player I don't blame him for considering it. But sometimes as a coach (akin to a business owner) you have to look at the big picture and make some tough financial decisions. Kelly probably felt they were comfortable enough at the OL position to not be forced to meet the demand for a "new contract".

Like it or not, this is the college football world we live in.