Sports: HSers May Be Able to Enter NFL Draft

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by LB1914
People tend to forget that many contracts in the NFL are not guaranteed, especially not for benchwarmers or those on the practice squad. If Lebron James tears his ACL tomorrow he will still get paid. However, many NFL players do not have that luxury.

You also have to remember that many NFLers try to keep up with a certain lifestyle. There are more broke or average former NFL players out there than people realize. A person can make $300,000 one year and get cut from the team the next. Meanwhile, that person probably bought cars, clothes, houses, and other stuff while they were making that $300,000. A lot of people that only played a year or two in the pros just end up getting regular jobs, so although they may have a "unique" experience in many cases they are not going to end up set for life. Every now and then you may get those that invested their money wisely, but if all of your teammates are wearing new suits every day, switching up cars, taking trips, and stuff like that you are more likely to fall into that trap. Pro athletes have bills too, they are just much higher than most of ours. Hell, a couple of NBA players were talking about being broke back when they had the strike going and we know most of them making substantial amounts of money each year.

So true. I know personally of a young guy who has been in and out of the NFL. Just because you get a contract does not mean you will play or stay with them throughout the whole season. You have to watch your money and have a alternative plan. After one season, my friend ended up moving back into his mother's home with his girlfriend and their kids.

[lovelyivy84]

Nice points LB1914

I doubt that most high school graduates will have anything approaching the maturity needed to save their money and spend wisely. The few who make it will be ok, but those who don't will end up with bad credit and a hell of a time getting any loans for college.

I don't think that high school children should be in the major/national leagues, point blank.

[Rollergirl2001]

Those players need to keep their butts in school for a couple of years. What happens if the player ended up having a career ending injury? What's next for him?

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Originally posted by Rollergirl2001
Those players need to keep their butts in school for a couple of years. What happens if the player ended up having a career ending injury? What's next for him?

College.

[LB1914]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
College.

That's assuming that individual wishes to start or complete their college education. A lot of people start college, leave, and never return for various reasons, so I do not think that former professional athletes would be exempt from that either.

All in all, the whole system is flawed and there are no guarantees either way, which is why we need to stress to athletes that they need to have a backup plan just in case things do not work out. It would be great if everyone that didn't pan out in the pros went back to college, but we all know that will not always happen.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Originally posted by LB1914
That's assuming that individual wishes to start or complete their college education. A lot of people start college, leave, and never return for various reasons, so I do not think that former professional athletes would be exempt from that either.

All in all, the whole system is flawed and there are no guarantees either way, which is why we need to stress to athletes that they need to have a backup plan just in case things do not work out. It would be great if everyone that didn't pan out in the pros went back to college, but we all know that will not always happen.

That being said, it would be great if EVERYBODY went to college, but that isn't the issue. People are making it seem like if an athlete skips college and goes to the pros that they are UNABLE TO return to college if it doesn't pan out. People always say "what if they have a career ending injury?" as if now they have to go work at McDonald's. My point is that if college is AVAILABLE to them before a football career, it will still be available to them AFTER the the football career. It may not work the other way around. A football career may not be available to them after college, so take it while it is being offered.
Additionally, some argue "all athlete's don't make millions". While that is true, if they are being offered contracts right out of high school (like Kobe and LeBron) they aren't doing too shabby. So, for the small population that we are referring to, the above statement generally does not apply.
LB 1914- we are actually in agreement on most of this. I think we are arguing different issues.

[LB1914]

Originally posted by SKEEphistAKAte
That being said, it would be great if EVERYBODY went to college, but that isn't the issue. People are making it seem like if an athlete skips college and goes to the pros that they are UNABLE TO return to college if it doesn't pan out. People always say "what if they have a career ending injury?" as if now they have to go work at McDonald's. My point is that if college is AVAILABLE to them before a football career, it will still be available to them AFTER the the football career. It may not work the other way around. A football career may not be available to them after college, so take it while it is being offered.
Additionally, some argue "all athlete's don't make millions". While that is true, if they are being offered contracts right out of high school (like Kobe and LeBron) they aren't doing too shabby. So, for the small population that we are referring to, the above statement generally does not apply.
LB 1914- we are actually in agreement on most of this. I think we are arguing different issues.

SKEEphistAKAte-

That is true because we are on the same page on most of these issues. I also believe that college will still be there, but of course that person would have to want to go. Actually, that shouldn't even have a bearing on whether or not an athlete declares for the draft because a person would be foolish to pass up a chance to play pro ball. The main issue I have with this is the conspiracy theorists(you are not one of them of course, but I know you have ran into a few as well).

One fool once said that he felt that the reason why a lot of people were against the NBA drafting high schoolers was because "it is making too many young Black millionaires". That was one of the goofiest statements that I have heard concerning this phenomenon. Personally, as a Black man my only issue with some early entrants is that some really aren't ready and as far as the NBA is concerned the overall talent level has gone down in my opinion. However, as I said before a person would be foolish to pass up the chance to play pro ball, so I guess we really can't blame these athletes. If someone came by my house and told me that I could make x amount of dollars for the next few years to do something that I love then I would jump at the chance also. This is pretty much how it is going to be unless the NBA enforces an age limit or the NFL is able to stick with the one that they already had in place. I personally don't mind someone leaving for the pros after a year or two of college ball, but outside of a couple of current stars there really shouldn't be anyone skipping college ball altogether. People tend to forget that players like LeBron James and Kevin Garnett are exceptions and not the rule. Does anyone here remember Leon Smith or Korleone Young?