Big mistake in my opinion. I know he's probably not struggling for money and most importantly he wants to graduate but he's leaving millions of dollars on the table. One serious injury could ruin his whole career. He has nothing else to prove in college and he is NFL ready NOW. I think the potential lockout may be playing a big role.
I would think that student athletes would avoid this type of potential mistake after what happened to Leinart.
Exactly. Ridiculous decision in my opinion. I think he's going to regret it when the lockout doesn't happen.
I wonder how much going to the Panthers affected his decision. If next season doesn't work out Bob McNair has a chance at his hometown boy QB!
While this is technically true, to me it's akin to the risk of dying in a car crash on the way to work. Sure, it could happen. Anything could. But at some point, the risk is low enough that you don't let it dictate your life. When's the last player - a QB, no less - to have a serious injury ruin their entire career? These days, the medical technology is good enough that even blown-out knees or arms are in perfect shape (many times better than before) within 9 months, 12 tops. Teams know this. That's why Sam Bradford was the #1 pick a year ago, even after repeated injuries to his throwing shoulder, which took away virtually his entire season and led to major surgery. And none of this even mentions the sizable insurance policies that athletes in this position get. That said, is there a risk? Certainly, but it's not to injury - it's performance. Leinart slipped from consensus #1 to #10 by staying. But at some point, a prospect is good enough - and I think Luck is - to where the risk is very minimal. Also, Carolina is a very shaky organization. By all accounts, it's a cheap owner in a small market, with an aging core and almost complete lack of playmakers on offense. Coaching staff is in flux. Yes, I know all teams with a No. 1 draft pick will be bad, but there is considerably less hope in a place like Carolina than many others. I can't say for certain that it was the right choice, but the "injury" concerns are far overblown and I commend Luck for looking big picture. If he's willing to risk a few million (which isn't much of a risk, given his status) to get a degree from Stanford and potentially improve his eventual NFL destination, good for him.
Jake Locker and Matt Leinart were nowhere near the NFL prospects that Andrew Luck is. There are quarterbacks who are forced into the "potential franchise QB" status based on the lack of prospects in a given draft, and others who are franchise guys anywhere/anytime based on their talent. Luck is in the latter category. The former, not so much.
Luck has to be one of the stupidest son of a cardinal in the world...Aint no college in the world will make me pass on a 50 million dollar contract....
He might not have gotten that much if he came out this year. There's a real good chance there will be a rookie salary cap for the upcoming season.
I would think that Sam Bradford's story would be a major cautionary tale for someone like Luck. What if Bradford's injury had ended his career, or even affected him in such a way that he lost a significant portion of his athletic ability? I'd say Bradford was extremely lucky that 1) He was able to make a full recovery, and 2) The injury happened early enough that he recovered in time for the NFL draft.
Doesn't look like that bad of a choice when taking that into consideration. Either theres going to be a lockout or a new CBA with a rookie scale. Plus he wouldn't have to play in Carolina.
I don't know about that. They are a small market and might be a cheap owner, but they've had some very good season in their short existence and won 12 games just two years ago. They've also never really had much at QB ... he could go there and possibly have the same effect Bradford had in St. Louis. In Carolina, the offense could focus on that rushing machine they have with Williams (if re-signed, if not Mike Goodson looked pretty good too) and Stewart. It's not an ideal location, but for a #1 pick spot it's not bad IMO. Better than rolling the dice and ending up with a perennial loser franchise like Oakland, Washington, Buffalo, etc.
say that when he drops in next years draft and gets drafted by Indy as a Manning sucessor but have to wait 6 years....oh yeah while making chump change by todays athletic standards
What happened to guys dreams comin true playin in the NFL!!! on top of that being a No.1 pick overall......Man I would play in Montana if they drafted me No.1 overall and have a ball
and yet, he'll still be better off than all of us. if i was in his position, both financially and personally, i'd have a hard time leaving too considering the uncertainty with the labor situation. of course, i'm pretty sure having your pick co-eds in beautiful palo alto while being king of campus is a terrible thing.
