Link: Oklahoma TE Gresham Out for the Season - Page 2

popechild · September 9th, 2009, 08:55 AM

	Quote:	CapstoneGrad06
	I understand that on one level, but college is just a four year experience they can never get back. They both have the talent to still make millions in the NFL, and the rest of their lives to expand beyond that. I just think it does the colllege game a great service for them to return. Posted via Mobile Device

That's the thing. It usually does a greater service to the game itself than to the individual players. You can always go back to college (if you want or need to). Isn't the whole *idea* of college to prepare you to work in the real world? If you're lucky enough to be able to get a job playing professional sports, and you're prepared to do that job after only 3 years in college, there's no reason to stick around just to get a piece of paper with your name on it. If you want to, great, but none of them should ever feel bad about leaving early if it's in their best interest.

UAME · September 9th, 2009, 10:18 AM

	Quote:	CapstoneGrad06
	I understand that on one level, but college is just a four year experience they can never get back. They both have the talent to still make millions in the NFL, and the rest of their lives to expand beyond that. I just think it does the colllege game a great service for them to return. Posted via Mobile Device

Apart from popechild's ready-for-the-real-world argument, which I agree with, here is the problem:

Right or wrong, both of these Oklahoma players would today, right at this moment, be financially set for life if they had entered the 2009 draft. Neither man would ever have to actually produce or even step on a field, and they would have more in the bank for them and their families than most of us will make in a lifetime.

But, just like NFL contracts are some of the "least-guaranteed" money in pro sports - the simple fact is that if Bradford messes up a shoulder or Gresham blows out a knee during this senior college year(just the way Marvin Constant did playing for Bama a few years ago) then they never will see a fraction of that money. No NFL team is going to draft a seriously injured player high in the first round out of the "goodness of their heart", just because they would have drafted that high as healthy juniors.

I do hate how the NBA pillages the young talent from the college game, but I think the mandatory delay in football is a nice compromise. I'm excited for players like Rolando McClain, who almost assuredly is on his way toward playing on Sundays in 2010. Saban's recruiting classes, without a doubt, have been improved by the opportunity of early playing time. This year, we have seen the first effects of a log-jam of talent: players like Kirkpatrick and Fluker (who most thought would contribute early) are still not cracking the 2-deep charts. Our best recruiting sell going forward may be more about fast-tracking players to the NFL rather than playing 4-5 years for the Tide.

crimsonaudio · September 9th, 2009, 10:27 AM

	Quote:	UAME
	But, just like NFL contracts are some of the "least-guaranteed" money in pro sports - the simple fact is that if Bradford messes up a shoulder or Gresham blows out a knee during this senior college year(just the way Marvin Constant did playing for Bama a few years ago) then they never will see a fraction of that money. No NFL team is going to draft a seriously injured player high in the first round out of the "goodness of their heart", just because they would have drafted that high as healthy juniors.

Slightly different, but a catastrophic injury nonetheless - possibly worse as it happened just before the draft: Willis McGahee...

wishbonesooner · September 9th, 2009, 11:41 AM

I believe McGahee was still taken in the 1st round, and his was one nasty looking injury.
We've PO'd the football gods I guess. These guys wanted to atone for the game against UF, says a lot about their character, maybe not so much about their business sense.

JPT4Bama · September 9th, 2009, 11:55 AM

That is a tough break. Now we'll see if Stoops can step up and salvage the season.

TideEngineer08 · September 9th, 2009, 11:55 AM

	Quote:	wishbonesooner
	I believe McGahee was still taken in the 1st round, and his was one nasty looking injury. We've PO'd the football gods I guess. These guys wanted to atone for the game against UF, says a lot about their character, maybe not so much about their business sense.

Yes, McGahee was still able to make a go of it.

Bradford and Gresham should be able to as well, it's just not going to be as likely as it would have been had the left after last year. I hope they can recover fully and be able to live their dreams.

Oklahoma went through this, what, in 2005 I think? Didn't Peterson get hurt against TCU and they lost that game. They were replacing Jason White at QB it seems they lost a few games but still played in the Cotton Bowl maybe?

The NC may not be possible this year but a good year is still likely. It happens to each team at some point.

WMack4Bama · September 9th, 2009, 10:18 PM

	Quote:	RTR91man
	Bradford would be making 8 figures. Gresham would probably be doing the same or at least 7 figures. I know what you mean though. I agree that some college players should stay for their senior season (Julio Jones and Mark Ingram are both fine examples ), but money talks and when I'm offered 7 or 8 figures for doing something I love I am gone.

Oh I know full well how much they would've been making, I was just referring to 6 figures being on the high end of my personal profession.

WMack4Bama · September 9th, 2009, 10:21 PM

Oh and by the way, OU's road just got a little more tougher to hoe. On top of Bradford and Gresham being injured, their starting center now has a broken hand.

Seems like these guys can't win for losing. Just bad stuff all the way around.