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News Article: Farewell Andre

Tide Rev said:
I wish Andre the best in his NFL endeavors and hope he does well. But here is the problem I have with whatever happened. Whether Andre knew or did not know does not matter. What bothers me is he let the team down. A team player would have done everything possible to help the team. It seems to me that Andre and his future became more important than the team. He would have turned over the phone records or done whatever was asked of him. Yes, he deserves credit for coming to Bama at the time he did. Yes, I probably would go pro if I were in his shoes but I would have waited until after the bowl game and I would have played. What would happen if the whole team took that attitude? We would have been playing Utah with less than what we did. Why could he not wait until after the bowl game to make this decision? At the core, it was a selfish decision no matter the reasons.
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And what if it was you who was this close to an eight figure payday who was injured on a play instead of Mike Johnson? What if that injury caused you to drop from #1 to #21 or what if it ended your career? Saying you would do different sounds good but faced with a real life changing predicament there is no telling what you would do.
 
The bad thing about Andre is that he is almost certain to be drafted by an absolutely terrible team. Five of first seven picks this year will be held by teams that really need a left tackle in the worst way -- the Lions, Rams, Seahawks, Bengals, and Raiders -- and the only two teams that really won't consider Andre are the Chiefs and the Browns (they have recently drafted Brandon Albert and Joe Thomas, respectively).

I'll be glad to see him make the mega-millions and get us some publicity, but I'm afraid he's going to be playing on a truly terrible football for a few years.

bayoutider said:
What if that injury caused you to drop from #1 to #21...?
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I know that's a bit of a hypothetical, but just to give some concrete terms to it...

The number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft will probably command somewhere in the neighborhood of 36-40 million dollars in guaranteed money. On the other hand, the #21 overall pick will probably command only about eight or nine million dollars in guaranteed money. In other words, the difference between those two will ultimately boil down to around a 27-31 million dollar difference.

I'd go. And that's why. Even if you stay healthy, if your NFL stock drops just slightly, that alone can cost you tens of millions of dollars, and that is money you'll never get back.
 
I know a OL recruit personally and the coaches told him he would have a chance to start at left tackle next year. They knew dre was leaving before the iron bowl. He will be missed but his "legacy" will be a little tarnshed.
 
Bayou...to answer your question, I have never been influenced by money in a situation like that. I have been in a life changing situation where money was involved. I was a basketball player and blew my knee out my freshman year in college (before arthroscopic surgery). My doctor performed 2 operations just to get me back where I would have a chance to play. At the end of the rehab, he gave me a question I needed to answer...given the situation, I could continue to play ball and risk another injury where the consequence would be I may not be able to walk normally again. No promises but possibilities. The other option was to stop playing and I was promised to be able to walk and play with my kids when 40. Those were the 2 options. While praying through this and trying to come to a decision, I got an offer to play ball somewhere else for pay making more money at that time than I had ever seen. Factor that in and I have a life changing situation and decision to make. I chose to quit playing giving up all my dreams to play NBA eventually and being able to play with my kids when I had some. At 19 years old and your life in front of you, that was tough. Now at the age of 47, I made a wise decision. There is not enough money in the world to take the place of what God has blessed me with since that point.

So, I respectfully disagree with your opinion because I have been there. With all that said, I would do anything almost to be able to run up and down the court one more time and give it all I have for the team. I have not been able to do that and Andre could have Friday night...so to me that was a selfish decision. Money does not bring happiness.
 
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I think the "Andre Smith got suspended on purpose" talk is ridiculous. That's not to say he didn't screw up, but the conspiracy theories are insane.

bayoutider said:
I'm with you, I'm pretty sure I would have taken any advice someone might have given me not to risk getting rolled up on in a bowl game that isn't the NC game. It may not be what we all expected or wanted but like Coach Saban says "It is what it is". I'll still smile when I see Big Andre on TV or in the media and say "He played for Alabama" leaving off any sour notes some follow with.
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Winning a National Championship doesn't benefit you as an individual any more than winning the Independence Bowl. Andre's stock couldn't get any higher. That kind of mentality disturbs me--what would have kept Andre or his family from pulling the same stunt had we made it to the MNC game? I would say that injuries would be more likely in the National Championship game given the stakes and that both teams would be playing their hearts out. It seems like greed is going to lead to every school running into these kinds of issues over and over unless there is real punishment of the agents in the form of disassociation with the NFL and punishment of the players in the form of some sort of temporary ban from the league for breaking rules and letting down their school.
 
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Tide n True said:
I think the "Andre Smith got suspended on purpose" talk is ridiculous. That's not to say he didn't screw up, but the conspiracy theories are insane.



Winning a National Championship doesn't benefit you as an individual any more than winning the Independence Bowl. Andre's stock couldn't get any higher. That kind of mentality disturbs me--what would have kept Andre or his family from pulling the same stunt had we made it to the MNC game? I would say that injuries would be more likely in the National Championship game given the stakes and that both teams would be playing their hearts out. It seems like greed is going to lead to every school running into these kinds of issues over and over unless there is real punishment of the agents in the form of disassociation with the NFL and punishment of the players in the form of some sort of temporary ban from the league for breaking rules and letting down their school.
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Even Coach Bryant said he would rather have a player quit before a game than during a game. That's paraphrasing but it fits. The actual quote was more like quit in practice than during a game, about the same thing though.
 
Dre,

Best of luck to you in the NFL! I was a little disappointed about how it all went down but I harbor no ill feelings now - after watching you 4 years in high school and then at Alabama, I knew you were a great one. You've worked hard and deserve your rewards but what I ammmm disappointed about.........I won't ever get to see you and Mount Cody do that high body bump again! :biggrin: It always made me laugh and was such a sight to see! I swear I felt the stadium move after one of those in BD! Don't let the "big boys" change you and stay true to your heart! Roll Tide Roll!
 
bayoutider said:
And what if it was you who was this close to an eight figure payday who was injured on a play instead of Mike Johnson? What if that injury caused you to drop from #1 to #21 or what if it ended your career? Saying you would do different sounds good but faced with a real life changing predicament there is no telling what you would do.
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I'd still make more in one year than anybody on this board probably makes in a lifetime and I wouldn't let my team down.
As far as a career ending injury, that's what insurance is for.
I'm not saying this is what he did, just answering your hypothetical.
 
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I don't know exactly what happened here, but I do know that agents are some of the shadiest characters ever. I believe that if the investigation ever reveals an agent did something wrong, then try and convict that agent as a reminder to the others! I agree that Andre probably was going to go no matter what, considering where he's most likely to get drafted. I hate seeing him go out this way though.
 
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