As I said in the earlier post, lots of unfinished loose-ends. I touched on one issue — Matt Cavanaugh. A “negative” issue. So, let’s go positive. Coach Wannstedt is saying that LeSean McCoy really is coming back.
After speaking with McCoy, McCoy’s family, and a number of NFL talent evaluators, all agreed, Wannstedt said, that it is in McCoy’s best interest — and it is his desire — to return to school for at least one more season.
“I had a good talk with his parents and several talks with LeSean,” Wannstedt said. “LeSean believes, and his mom and dad believe, that he’s excited about being here and we all believe that this next year will do nothing but enhance his opportunities for the National Football League.”
Or is it that simple? Not if you ask mom.
But McCoy’s mother said Monday that the family is awaiting a report from the NFL Draft Advisory Board before making a final decision.
“LeSean does love being there. He loves Pitt and loves the football team. I know he wants to be there,” Daphne McCoy said. “But he’s 20. At 20 years old, you don’t always know what’s good for you.
“For right now, it looks like he’ll be back next year. If the report tells us anything different, we’ll see if he should come out at this time.”
I side with mom, on this. Do I want McCoy back? You bet. Should he get all information before making a final decision and take a lot of that into account, especially the financial aspects? Oh, hell yes. Do I believe McCoy wants to come back? Yes. Should he? I think reasonable minds can differ on that.
Until I hear it from McCoy himself after he gets the NFL evaluation, it is not a done deal. I’d put it 80-20 that he stays, though.
That may not make up for a high-first round kid, but for someone that could slide into the second round (which if McCoy is projected low 1st round in 2008 could happen) then the financial hit wouldn’t be so great.
Factor in taxes and agent’s fees (combined over 50% hit), plus most draftees don’t get guaranteed contracts and I could see the reasons (financially) for staying another season.
But all those NFL player personnel depts know that RBs are just-about interchangeable in their game. In today’s pro ball you need to have at least 2 and more likely 3 backs ready to go because of the beating they take. Wasting early draft picks on the position is just plain stupid. It only takes 200+ carries for about 3 yrs for the slowing down process to start.
Shady will have a longer NFL career if he ends up as more of a Reggie Bush type or Sproles type player. He’s just not the type of RB you can send into an NFL defensive line 20 times a game for more than a year or two. Look at what’s happened to Fast Willie — 2/3 yrs of abuse takes a toll, especially on the small backs who take more punishment than they dish out.
If the NFL draft advisory board info turns out to be consistent with TD’s view then we should expect LeSean back.
On a side note–IMHO, any athlete (Football, Hoops, Baseball, etc.) who is a decent college student (passing grades) should stay at least through junior year unless offered sufficient guaranteed cash to be set for life. If a kid can get that far he should have enough credits completed to make it possible to complete a degree part time (out of season)and/or with online classes. Athletes who leave earlier than that are most likely too short of credits to ever be able to finish unless they are motivated enough to return to school full time after the end of their pro-careers.