re: nevermind

I don’t begrudge players for leaving early to get paid.

At the same time, I don’t like the idea of seniors, juniors and draft eligible sophomores checking out before the season is really over.

I’d almost rather them not play at all than play but not be “all in” for their last season in college. But, I’m a fan and not in their position. Might feel differently otherwise.

I don't give a shite. I pretty much check out for bowl games too.

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He played weak all year.

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. What?

Posted this on page 2 and it got skipped over.


Go back all the way to JaMarcus and start thinking about the draft eligible players that mentally checked out their junior years. How many are we talking about?

2006 JaMarcus Russell QB 1st (1) Oakland Raiders

2008 Ricky Jean-Francois DT 7th (244) San Francisco 49ers

2009 Chad Jones S 3rd (76) New York Giants

2010 Patrick Peterson CB 1st (5) Arizona Cardinals
Stevan Ridley RB 3rd (73) New England Patriots

2011 Morris Claiborne CB 1st (6) Dallas Cowboys
Michael Brockers DT 1st (12) St. Louis Rams
Rueben Randle WR 2nd (63) New York Giants

2012 Barkevious Mingo DE 1st (6) Cleveland Browns
Eric Reid S 1st (18) San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Minter LB 2nd (45) Arizona Cardinals
Bennie Logan DT 3rd (67) Philadelphia Eagles
Tyrann Mathieu DB 3rd (69) Arizona Cardinals
Sam Montgomery DE 3rd (95) Houston Texans
Tharold Simon CB 5th (138) Seattle Seahawks
Spencer Ware RB 6th (194) Seattle Seahawks
Chris Faulk OT Undrafted
Michael Ford RB Undrafted
Brad Wing P Undrafted

2013 Odell Beckham Jr. WR 1st (12) New York Giants
Ego Ferguson DT 2nd (51) Chicago Bears
Jeremy Hill RB 2nd (55) Cincinnati Bengals
Jarvis Landry WR 2nd (63) Miami Dolphins
Trai Turner OG 3rd (92) Carolina Panthers
Anthony Johnson DT Undrafted

2014 Jalen Collins CB 2nd (42) Atlanta Falcons
Danielle Hunter DE 3rd (88) Minnesota Vikings
Kwon Alexander LB 4th (124) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2015 Jerald Hawkins OT 4th (123) Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashard Robinson ** CB 4th (133) San Francisco 49ers.

Honestly...who on that list called it in their final year at LSU trying not to get hurt or something? Who are you referring to, and I'm not talking about a guy that maybe didn't have the best junior year, but a guy that pulled Jadeveon Clowney.

Is this thread going to keep going before the OP or someone else will highlight all the guys on this list they feel took their junior year's off in prep for the draft, or are we going to keep complaining about a thing which no one will actually quantify?

Unless I'm missing the point of the OP's thread and he really means juniors leaving early but who played the hardest being an issue, too, it seems like this thread is an indictment on juniors with their mind's made up to go pro after year three who half-arse it all year long...correct? If so, it would seem like there ought to be a group of guys in the past you or others could point out that did this.

Really?

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Perhaps this culture isnt great for future playoff chances... Just a thought

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Please explain this "culture". If this culture existed like you say it does, wouldn't they have mailed it in after the Troy loss?

Like you said, just a thought.

I've definitely got an issue with it. The school gave these players a huge opportunity, and to check out of the bowl game is essentially giving up on your team. Also, with Key's issues this year I think it would be a huge boost for him for the scouts to see him dominate against the two first round lineman Notre Dame has. Leaving before the bowl game just sends the wrong message to the underclassmen.

Now this is totally based on the assumption on my part that Key is not participating because he doesn't want to be hurt in the bowl game. If he truly is injured, I have no problem with him sitting out.

there are 2 conversations going on simultaneously in this thread. The OP is about players who are planning to go pro after year 3 “checking out” (not playing through minor injuries) during their junior years, not players going pro after their junior year.

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LSU gets much more from players like Key and Guice than those players get from LSU.

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Very laughable. Are you talking in regards to fans paying to go see them play? Fans are gonna go see games whether there is a LF or Guice playing or not, so that theory is a joke. As for them leaving after 3 years, I could care less. But they need to play that 3rd year instead of sand bagging. I'm not saying all do it ,but it is being done. Yes their education and many other things are free because they happen to be athletic. Do you think they don't enjoy the games? What a privilege they have .