There was the very reasonable article on Sunday from Cook that I wanted to get to, suggesting what everyone already thought. That LeSean McCoy almost had to turn pro after this year.
McCoy apparently has a different view.
“Everyone keeps trying to push that idea, that this is my last game at Heinz Field. I’m not going anywhere,” McCoy said. “There is a lot of stuff I have to prove and the thing is, I don’t think I’ve done enouhg here at this university and there is a lot of stuff I have to achieve here.
“It is something I want to squash and get it over with and not have to talk about it because I am kind of getting a little fed up with it. When you look at the [NFL] them guys, that’s what they do, that is their job. When you play college football, you just come out to have fun and play ball but to those guys, it is their job.
“I feel I am not ready yet. Right now, I’m in school, I’m enjoying myself, I’m not pushing to go anywhere.”
This is great news. It’s very responsible and makes you proud that he’s at Pitt. To say nothing of what it could mean for Pitt next season.
At the same time, I’m not even holding him to that. There is still plenty of time between now and when he has to decide. He should still do some due diligence.
A major reason, not mentioned often is that the NFL labor peace is nearing an end. It is likely that by 2010 it could be a capless year and a lockout in 2011. There’s a big risk of money to being left on the table, and a more restrictive rookie salary structure. That is one of the reasons that there could be a record number of juniors coming out this year.
Still, that’s a concern for another day.
I’m not so sure I buy the “he could be hurting himself” due to the labor situation. If the owners lock-out players in 2011, it will affect him either way. Being drafted out of college in 2010, if it were indeed capless, would also be even better because there wouldn’t be limits on how much rookies can make.
I can’t see the NFL system being any more owner-friendly to be honest. It’s the only pro league where you can sign a player today and cut him tomorrow without any penalty other than paying the full signing bonus. It has allowed the NFL to be the most successful and well balanced pro league, but I see the players winning some major concessions at the bargaining table this time around.
I’m so happy McCoy is staying…but I’ll temper that excitement until the NFL draft has come and gone and McCoy is still on Pitt’s roster!
I agree that his stock is high & he only sits behind Georgia’s Moreno and OSU’s Wells. However, I don’t see a potential labor issue in the NFL factoring into the kid’s decision. I just don’t believe the NFL will lockout in 2011.
Obviously, his emotion likely makes him lean towards returning to Pitt right now and that may change…but attempting to read through the lines of what he’s said…he wants to acheive more at Pitt, wants to break some Dorsett records & go down as the BEST in Pitt history. In addition, his family is not strapped for money…while his brother isn’t necessarily a long term pro, he did have a signing bonus & did make $453,000 with the Texans this year.
As far as the possibility that he changes his mind?
It’s a whole other argument, but the NFL kills its golden goose if it ever gets to a capless season. Once the players get one capless year, they’ll never agree to another one in any CBA. And while there are a handful of owners who don’t like the existing revenue sharing system, the cap controls costs for most of the owners who don’t have the resources to compete with the Jerry Joneses, Dan Snyders and Bob McNairs – owners who are fully capable and likely willing to hit $200-250M payrolls. I think there are still too many owners who don’t want to have to compete with that.
On top of everything mentioned by everyone else, Wannstedt was on yesterday with Stan & Guy on ESPN Radio and was asked about McCoy’s future. He said that he and McCoy have already had some discussions about McCoy’s future.
Given Wannstedt’s existing connections with the NFL, I’d be fairly certain that this pending labor situation has already been brought up to McCoy and that he’s aware of it.
The league has had unprecedented success under the current system, and such a drastic change to the structure can’t be viewed as a good thing. Nobody wants to kill the goose that’s laying the golden eggs.
Although if there were a capless year it would probably cause Daneil Snyder to lock himself in his bathrooom for a couple hours and do nasty things with himself.
Ok, off color jokes aside now, Shady could still change his mind when he sees the dollar signs, and I won’t blame him one bit.
But maybe he thinks he can get better. Maybe he wants a Heisman and a Big East championship. And maybe he just likes it at Pitt and doesn’t want to leave yet. There’s more to life than money I guess.
Of course there are no guarantees. Injury is always a risk…that being said, I think there is also tremendous upside (to McCoy) staying. While he is one of the top running backs in the game there is still room for him to improve. Picking up blitzes/blocking and holding onto the football are just a few that come to mind.
Another year would give him a chance to improve in those areas while continuing to mature both physically and mentally. Most importantly, to him however, will be the fact that he would likely be the best running back in the country with the departure of Wells and Moreno. This could mean the difference between being a top 5 pick and falling to somewhere in the mid 20’s or so should he leave this year. Obviously, being the premiere RB in the 2010 draft would mean a huge payout (significantly bigger than what he would likely receive this year).
Anyway, I wish him the best of luck. He seems like a great kid and we all know that he is a tremendous player.
I would take him over any RB in college football, but that doesn’t mean a hill of beans to an NFL scout. They know that RBs are a commodity in their league……..90% of them get bruised and beaten out of the league in a few years and they can find plenty of cheaper bodies in lower rounds.
Chances are none of us are even very aware right now of some of the RBs that will be starters for NFL teams next year. Guys like Hightower or Matt Forte……
NFL teams rarely waste early picks on RBs and when they do, they do it for back with Shady’s speed AND more size.
I love the kid and I hope it’s true that he just enjoys school. He should enjoy it as long as he can, because he’s going to be one in a crowd on the next level.
It’s great to see a kid with such a sense of self-reflection. It’s clear he’s a talent, but there’s still much to improve upon–like carrying the ball in the correct arm!
I YEEEELLLLEED Cheek’s name about 3 or 4 different times when it got quiet. He would look over, and I’d grin and point at him, and he would just snicker. hahaha
It’s too bad that he came for this game, as the Zoo wasn’t full at all (because of Thanksgiving). It seemed like he enjoyed it though.
Hahahah… At one point one of the white-board kids went behind the cheerleaders and wrote, “Dom, if you come here, they will do you!!”
Let’s cross our fingers that he makes the “right” choice!
Bad: Blair’s injury, terrible rebounding, free throw shooting, Belmont’s PG going coast to coast, Gilbert Brown missing at least 3 flashy dunk attempts
Good: Young unloading 9 straight points en route to 33, lots of PT for Dixon and the freshmen, Fields stepping up early
Regarding Cheek:
I sat about two rows behind him. He was giving very mixed signals. He spent the majority of the game on his phone texting while the man he was with (too young to be his father or coach…maybe a friend?) paid very close attention. The Zoo tried the same schtick that worked with Shady. They had a poster that said “LOI” and a dotted line and brought it over to him. After a long conversation, Cheek eventually signed it. He didn’t seem very enthusiastic about it though. He also signed the picture of himself wearing a Pitt uniform. After the game, Cheek walked into Pitt’s locker room with his arm around Travon Woodall. I’d say that things look good, but are far from guaranteed.
And, at second glance the financial reason may not be that compelling really. The NCAA offers a $3M disability insurance policy for kids in McCoy’s position. That’s $3M tax and agent free should he get hurt. Laying on the standard 4% agent fee and, let’s say, 55% Federal, State and local taxes, McCoy would have to make about $10M to equal the insurance payout.
Factor in that he most probably will not be a upper first round draft choice this year and the decision is a bit easier. Given another year in college, growing bigger & stronger and having a better shot at awards, records, etc and it may be highly beneficial in the financial sense for him to stick around for 2009.
I’ll believe it when I see it though, but won’t be too surprised if he does stay.
