not so fast (1 Viewer)

[Jackal]

from http://www.draftdaddy.com/blog/blog.cfm

Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson is being told by those closest to him to stay in school and finish his education.

DD.com Comment: We (DD.com editors) have talked about this a lot in recent weeks and we agreed this "could be" the D'Brickashaw Ferguson story all over again. Back in early 2005 we wrote Ferguson -- then an All-American junior left tackle at Virginia -- would not leave school early for the N.F.L. (99.9 percent of the media thought he would leave) because we knew he never cared much about pro football growing up in New York and just loved being in school -- hanging out with friends, taking classes.

We've linked dozens of stories regarding Johnson in this blog since he was a freshman star and have always known he came from a background were academics were stressed real hard. But, for whatever reason, the mainstream media that widely refers to Johnson as the "anti-Terrell Owens", just assumes Calvin is a young man bidding his time in silly courses, waiting to leave school early, because fans on football message boards want him to. Looks like it might not happen.

If Calvin does stay in school, it would be a tremendous career boost for his good friend Taylor Bennett, a rifle-armed quarterback, who could have a monster junior season throwing the ball to the best player in college football.

*****

 

[oukurt]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

 

[mcintyre1]

If he truly values his education, he would be smart and declare now, rather than next year. There is too much to lose just to stay in school one more year. He can always go back and finish his degree after he is done with the NFL and has made his millions.

 

[billyjoe]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also. It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

 

[jeter23]

 

[billyjoe]

If he truly values his education, he would be smart and declare now, rather than next year. There is too much to lose just to stay in school one more year. He can always go back and finish his degree after he is done with the NFL and has made his millions.

If he values education, why is it smart declaring now?Maybe he doesn't want to take summer school. Maybe he doesn't want to graduate a year or two late. Maybe he wants to graduate with his class. Maybe he doesn't want to play for the Raiders? It's not a lock everyone who's highly ranked decalres. Brick did this in 2005. He would have been a top 5 pick then. Braylon Edwards? He was probably a top 10 pick when he came back.

 

[Colin Dowling]

No reason to stay. NONE. Then again, Manning stayed even though he would have been the #1 to the Jets (Parcells was going to offer the entire draft to San Fran for the #1). Hm...

 

[oukurt]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also. It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

Link for these "number of reports"? Lay off the crack pipe. Leinart would have gone 1.01. He was white hot after dissecting my Sooners in the Orange Bowl to win the NC.

 

[EBF]

Braylon Edwards? He was probably a top 10 pick when he came back.

That's not how I remember it. Edwards was considered a mid-to-late first rounder after his junior season. He was at best the WR5 behind Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, Reggie Williams, and Lee Evans. There's also a very real chance that Clayton would've been chosen ahead of him.He only became a top 10 prospect after his big senior year.

 

[Chaos Commish]

No reason to stay. NONE. Then again, Manning stayed even though he would have been the #1 to the Jets (Parcells was going to offer the entire draft to San Fran for the #1). Hm...

Yeah, there's a much better article on this topic out there somewhere. It was before the bowl game and mostly delving into the relationship between him and his roommate the new starting QB. I don't know how much of what I read to post as this is a fantasy football site and I spend ample time at draft only sites too. Maybe a master thread of draft news or something?

 

[massraider]

Good. Stay in school, Calvin. I don't want Al Davis to be tempted.

 

[loxoscel]

No reason to stay. NONE. Then again, Manning stayed even though he would have been the #1 to the Jets (Parcells was going to offer the entire draft to San Fran for the #1). Hm...

You say he has no incentive for staying in school? Currently he's working on a significant waste treatment project in his Major that would provide his name on a patent and a share of royalties for the rest of his natural life...that would be a significant motivation for me to stay.

 

[One]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also.

It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.

Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

where were you? Leinert was Godlike and easily slated to be #1 at that point.

 

[mcintyre1]

If he truly values his education, he would be smart and declare now, rather than next year. There is too much to lose just to stay in school one more year. He can always go back and finish his degree after he is done with the NFL and has made his millions.

If he values education, why is it smart declaring now?Maybe he doesn't want to take summer school. Maybe he doesn't want to graduate a year or two late. Maybe he wants to graduate with his class. Maybe he doesn't want to play for the Raiders? It's not a lock everyone who's highly ranked decalres. Brick did this in 2005. He would have been a top 5 pick then. Braylon Edwards? He was probably a top 10 pick when he came back.

He has to understand that, economically, it is worse for him to stay in college that last year. What if he has a career ending injury? What if he just plain sucks his last year? He could lose millions of dollars. I like my classmates too, but if I have millions in guaranteed money offered to me that theoretically might not be available next year, I take it and run. You can always keep in contact with your friends. Think college parties are good? Imagine a party funded by your new NFL paycheck.

 

[billyjoe]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also.

It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.

Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

Link for these "number of reports"? Lay off the crack pipe. Leinart would have gone 1.01. He was white hot after dissecting my Sooners in the Orange Bowl to win the NC.

Like VY was hot?http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:WYCRF...t=clnk&cd=3

Not so fast

We have written about Arizona rookie quarterback Matt Leinart and his Hollywood friends, from Paris Hilton to Nick Lachey. We can't help that some NFL teams interpreted Leinart's association with the stars as "going Hollywood." However, some national writers have incorrectly mentioned that Leinart should have opted out of USC after his junior season, the year he won the Heisman Trophy. The opinion is that he would have been the first overall choice, ahead of Utah's Alex Smith. What everyone is forgetting is that Leinart needed surgery on his throwing elbow and he never would have been ready for any NFL mini-camps last season. With all that doubt, Leinart likely wouldn't have been the first choice and he made the correct decision in returning to USC. It is this elbow injury that caused some teams to claim that Leinart didn't have the strongest arm anymore.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:B-GLO...t=clnk&cd=6

The reality was that the Niners’ decision makers had identified and settled on Smith as the draft’s top quarterback very early in the process. An added caveat is that team sources maintain that they would have still selected Smith even if Leinart had been available because of Smith's intelligence and better athletic ability. That refutes the widespread public sentiment that Leinart would have been the top quarterback drafted in 2005 had he declared a year ago.

Again you should have watched the NFL Networks draft coverage. They actually had NFL reporting, unlike Michael Irvin screaming for 3 years.

Carroll continued: "Matt's the freakin' king of L.A. right now. He's not leaving. Plus, he's got the tendinitis thing in his elbow, and he's not going to throw a football for three months. If he'd have come out into the draft this year, he'd have to be working out for the NFL teams and I'm not sure that thing ever would have gotten fixed. Now he can give it the time he needs, without pressure, to heal for our season.

And the final nail in your coffin...http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache:FqEeO...=clnk&cd=60

It is a common misconception that Leinart would have been the number one overall pick if he had come out last year. At the time he was suffering from rotator cuff tendonitis and would not have been able to throw until late in the spring. Instead he passed on the draft and had surgery on the shoulder. Additionally he enjoyed another year of being the big man on campus at USC and dating B-List actresses.

 

[oukurt]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also.

It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.

Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

Link for these "number of reports"? Lay off the crack pipe. Leinart would have gone 1.01. He was white hot after dissecting my Sooners in the Orange Bowl to win the NC.

Like VY was hot?http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:WYCRF...t=clnk&cd=3

Not so fast

We have written about Arizona rookie quarterback Matt Leinart and his Hollywood friends, from Paris Hilton to Nick Lachey. We can't help that some NFL teams interpreted Leinart's association with the stars as "going Hollywood." However, some national writers have incorrectly mentioned that Leinart should have opted out of USC after his junior season, the year he won the Heisman Trophy. The opinion is that he would have been the first overall choice, ahead of Utah's Alex Smith. What everyone is forgetting is that Leinart needed surgery on his throwing elbow and he never would have been ready for any NFL mini-camps last season. With all that doubt, Leinart likely wouldn't have been the first choice and he made the correct decision in returning to USC. It is this elbow injury that caused some teams to claim that Leinart didn't have the strongest arm anymore.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:B-GLO...t=clnk&cd=6

The reality was that the Niners’ decision makers had identified and settled on Smith as the draft’s top quarterback very early in the process. An added caveat is that team sources maintain that they would have still selected Smith even if Leinart had been available because of Smith's intelligence and better athletic ability. That refutes the widespread public sentiment that Leinart would have been the top quarterback drafted in 2005 had he declared a year ago.

Again you should have watched the NFL Networks draft coverage. They actually had NFL reporting, unlike Michael Irvin screaming for 3 years.

So you are stating that you believe Matt Leinart would not have been drafted 1.01 and did not cost himself money by staying a year too long?

 

[whoisjohngalt]

Braylon Edwards? He was probably a top 10 pick when he came back.

That's not how I remember it. Edwards was considered a mid-to-late first rounder after his junior season. He was at best the WR5 behind Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, Reggie Williams, and Lee Evans. There's also a very real chance that Clayton would've been chosen ahead of him.He only became a top 10 prospect after his big senior year.

Yep, Edwards needed his huge senior year to move up as high as he did.

 

[billyjoe]

Braylon Edwards? He was probably a top 10 pick when he came back.

That's not how I remember it. Edwards was considered a mid-to-late first rounder after his junior season. He was at best the WR5 behind Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, Reggie Williams, and Lee Evans. There's also a very real chance that Clayton would've been chosen ahead of him.He only became a top 10 prospect after his big senior year.

Yep, Edwards needed his huge senior year to move up as high as he did.

I still think Edwards would have gone to JAX at 9. He was in the mix with Roy who had a disappointing year.

 

[billyjoe]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also.

It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.

Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

Link for these "number of reports"? Lay off the crack pipe. Leinart would have gone 1.01. He was white hot after dissecting my Sooners in the Orange Bowl to win the NC.

Like VY was hot?http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:WYCRF...t=clnk&cd=3

Not so fast

We have written about Arizona rookie quarterback Matt Leinart and his Hollywood friends, from Paris Hilton to Nick Lachey. We can't help that some NFL teams interpreted Leinart's association with the stars as "going Hollywood." However, some national writers have incorrectly mentioned that Leinart should have opted out of USC after his junior season, the year he won the Heisman Trophy. The opinion is that he would have been the first overall choice, ahead of Utah's Alex Smith. What everyone is forgetting is that Leinart needed surgery on his throwing elbow and he never would have been ready for any NFL mini-camps last season. With all that doubt, Leinart likely wouldn't have been the first choice and he made the correct decision in returning to USC. It is this elbow injury that caused some teams to claim that Leinart didn't have the strongest arm anymore.

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:B-GLO...t=clnk&cd=6

The reality was that the Niners’ decision makers had identified and settled on Smith as the draft’s top quarterback very early in the process. An added caveat is that team sources maintain that they would have still selected Smith even if Leinart had been available because of Smith's intelligence and better athletic ability. That refutes the widespread public sentiment that Leinart would have been the top quarterback drafted in 2005 had he declared a year ago.

Again you should have watched the NFL Networks draft coverage. They actually had NFL reporting, unlike Michael Irvin screaming for 3 years.

So you are stating that you believe Matt Leinart would not have been drafted 1.01 and did not cost himself money by staying a year too long?

Google is your friend.

It is a common misconception that Leinart would have been the number one overall pick if he had come out last year. At the time he was suffering from rotator cuff tendonitis and would not have been able to throw until late in the spring. Instead he passed on the draft and had surgery on the shoulder. Additionally he enjoyed another year of being the big man on campus at USC and dating B-List actresses.

A QB with a below average arm, with rotator cuff problems, who couldn't work out (see White) yeah that SCREAMS 1st overall NFL pick.

 

[billyjoe]

After seeing Leinart's stock drop when he stayed the extra year, I can't see a top 5 pick staying in school. Factor in injury risk and CJ will be drafted in 07.

Not sure why people keep saying this.There were a number of reports on draft day 2006, that Leinart would not have ranked higher then Alex Smith on most boards, and that he would have dropped just like Rodgers did. I remember Adam Schefter talking about how some GMs said he might have made more money, but more then likely he would have been a 8-14 pick in 2005 also.

It wasn't a lock Leinart was going #1 to SF. And it isn't a lock he lost money. It's a cute thing to laugh about, but on the NFL Network draft coverage, this was largely debunked. Sure ESPN was playing up the “OMFG LEINART LOSING MONEY BY THE SECOND!!>!>!>!” angle, but on the NFL Network pretty much said he got drafted where he would of the year before.

Also add in the Raiders factor. Not exactly a dream landing spot for an elite rookie.

where were you? Leinert was Godlike and easily slated to be #1 at that point.

Wrong. He was INJURED, and would have been unable to work out at the combine. Toss in below average arm strength, yeah that screams 1st overall.So where were YOU?

 

[CalBear]

Wrong. He was INJURED, and would have been unable to work out at the combine. Toss in below average arm strength, yeah that screams 1st overall.So where were YOU?

I was right here in the Bay Area, and there is zero chance the Niners would have taken Alex Smith over Matt Leinart if Leinart were available. None.

 

[juveduke]

Decision looms for Calvin

Johnson has until Jan. 15 to decide on NFL draft

By MIKE KNOBLER

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 01/03/07

Calvin Johnson spent his junior season at Georgia Tech telling anyone who asked he was busy playing football and going to school, not thinking about whether to turn professional in 2007 or return for his senior season.

That's the way he was raised.

"My advice is to stay in the present," said Arica Johnson, Calvin's mother. "Do everything you need to do, and everything will fit together like the pieces of a puzzle."

Those pieces have to come together by Jan. 15, the deadline for juniors to declare for the NFL draft.

One thing that probably won't be a factor is the teams at the top of the draft order. Arica Johnson said Calvin Johnson doesn't care where he plays.

Johnson is projected to be a top-three pick, which would bring a contract worth millions of dollars.

This isn't the first time Johnson has had to make a decision between taking money or continuing his education. Johnson could have been earning a living catching fly balls the last three summers instead of receiving tuition and room and board for catching footballs the last three falls.

"I don't think people realize how good a baseball player he was," Calvin Johnson Sr. said, adding that scouts said his son would have been drafted had he been interested in signing a contract.

That was never a consideration.

"The college experience is very important," Arica Johnson said. "You don't want to send your children straight out into the world."

As a junior, Calvin Johnson set Georgia Tech records of 1,202 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns. He also set the Tech career records of 2,927 receiving yards and 28 receiving touchdowns. He caught nine passes for two touchdowns and a career-high 186 yards on Monday in the Gator Bowl and was named Tech's MVP.

About 20 family members attended the game in Jacksonville. Grandparents, great uncles, an aunt and cousins traveled from as far as Massachusetts and Ohio to join Johnson's father, mother, sister and brothers in the Alltel Stadium crowd.

Many are involved in education. Arica Johnson, who got her doctorate last year, works in the Atlanta Public Schools model teacher program. Erica Johnson, Calvin's sister, is a Morehouse medical student. A great uncle is a retired principal; an uncle a retired administrator.

For the past 2-1/2 years, getting a college education was part of Calvin Johnson's present. By Jan. 15, he has to decide if he's ready to put that in the past.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

If you believe that the main purpose of college is to improve yourself and your future, then there is no better way of taking care of your future than getting a nice fat signing bonus from an NFL team.

The ONLY reason to stay is not physical improvement or continuing an education, but for social aspects. If CJ (or any player) decides to stay in the college environment and/or to mature as a person for another year, that's about all I can see. A man has to become a true man in a new world with tons of distractions and people wanting his attention. If someone cannot handle that or doesn't have the support network to handle that transition, then stay in school.

A stud prospect (first round) should come out if he has the support of friends and family and is emotionally mature enough to enter the real world, or whatever that "real world" is for a professional athlete. He's achieved all he can on the collegiate level - now reap the rewards.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

No reason to stay. NONE. Then again, Manning stayed even though he would have been the #1 to the Jets (Parcells was going to offer the entire draft to San Fran for the #1). Hm...

You say he has no incentive for staying in school? Currently he's working on a significant waste treatment project in his Major that would provide his name on a patent and a share of royalties for the rest of his natural life...that would be a significant motivation for me to stay.

I fully expect Johnson to come out. But this cannot be ignored. Unlike almost every other elite athletic talent, Johnson in seemingly involved in some cutting edge research. I say seemingly, because the TV piece might have been not have been accurately portraying the facts. If it is true and this is important to him, he can't simply pick it up later. He has to finish this research now, because it will be solved ten years from now.This isn't Leinart taking ballroom dance classes or Manning coming back for another year. This is a serious student surrouned by gifted peers and quality faculty in his field. There really isn't a parallel of a player of his calibre being in a situation like this.