So Eskridge went 0 for 7 rounds

[OttoinGrotto]

The have your cake and eat it too concept that you describe will make roster planning very difficult for college teams. Everyone will declare when they are 3 years out of high school, the college team will have to wait until after the draft and free agent signings to figure out next year's roster.

I'd be ok with that. Alternatively, you could increase the scholarship limit by 2 or 3.

 

[timkay99]

After the draft the player would then have to decide whether to return to college or try to catch on as a free agent. As Stern's post shows, that doesn't take very long. And the scholarship crunch isn't what it is in basketball.

Except a player, without having an agent, would need to pay their own way to the Combine (including hotel rooms, meals, etc.), any bowls and any team workouts to retain their eligibility.

Current system is not setup for that (with athletes not being able to make any money while in school). If we get to a pay for play style system, this is a side effect that will allow more kids to test the waters while being able to move forward without an agent for a period of time.

 

[Chip]

Thats a good point. That will move everyone spring ball into May. lol. I personally think he should have stayed but he needed money immediately from what I heard. Alot of analyst were given him 3rd round grades. I think he banked on that and declared. He didnt have the type of season that showed his value. He was better the year before. Im rooting for the kid. Jets may be able to mold him into something special. He is an athletic kid.

Actually, if that meant the end of spring ball, I'd be fine with that. Just ends up being a recruiting tool for schools in Ohio or Alabama where, let's be honest, hundreds of thousands of people could stand finding something better to do with their time.

 

[Bayside44]

Maybe he didn't want to be in school anymore. People should worry about themselves and their families instead of other people.
It amazes me the angst that goes on about the economic decisions of others which have no impact on the worrier' s life.

It's a Syracuse sports board. These are big decisions that affect the staff, team, the player, etc. If a guy decides to shoot 25 3 pointers a game should we not talk about it since it was his decision to shoot em?

No different than visiting a Nats board and questioning Ian Desmond or Jordan Zimmermann turning down contract extentions.

 

[TheCusian]

It's a Syracuse sports board. These are big decisions that affect the staff, team, the player, etc. If a guy decides to shoot 25 3 pointers a game should we not talk about it since it was his decision to shoot em? No different than visiting a Nats board and questioning Ian Desmond or Jordan Zimmermann turning down contract extentions.

Not really. For me - I talk about the consequences of a guy staying or leaving (relevant) vs. if he made the right choice to leave (irrelevant).

And pro-athletes are different too. It's just a line I draw. Others don't have to. I just prefer to talk about things where I have more than 20% of the info...

 

[Ringostar57]

He has been here 4 years on schedule to graduate this year. You fans forget that it's a lot harder to get into grad school to continue playing the 5th year. Not everyone can qualify. It was his time to go, he is the decider not the fans coaches ncaa or god.
We should be excited for him and excited about our next safety Blair who we should cross our fingers and hope he qualifies.

 

[SUFan44]

Not really. For me - I talk about the consequences of a guy staying or leaving (relevant) vs. if he made the right choice to leave (irrelevant).

And pro-athletes are different too. It's just a line I draw. Others don't have to. I just prefer to talk about things where I have more than 20% of the info...

And for me, I'll think that he made a bad decision for himself and his future.

Think what you want, but for you to criticize me for making comments and saying it's none of my business is frankly none of your business. I am pretty sure I'm entitled to as much of an opinion as you are.

Kid can make a decision, sure. Is it his business? Absolutely. And I'll root that he somehow makes it.

Doesn't mean I can't say I disagree with it and list reasons why.

In terms of his play this year - it was absolutely poor from the standard that it should have been if he wanted to be drafted in the top 3 rounds. Could have been due to injury, but from what I saw on the field he underperformed.

 

[TheCusian]

And for me, I'll think that he made a bad decision for himself and his future. Think what you want, but for you to criticize me for making comments and saying it's none of my business is frankly none of your business. I am pretty sure I'm entitled to as much of an opinion as you are. Kid can make a decision, sure. Is it his business? Absolutely. And I'll root that he somehow makes it. Doesn't mean I can't say I disagree with it and list reasons why. In terms of his play this year - it was absolutely poor from the standard that it should have been if he wanted to be drafted in the top 3 rounds. Could have been due to injury, but from what I saw on the field he underperformed.

Unless you are his mentor, father, shrink, pastor, or family - you frankly don't have enough info to make an opinion. But go for it - never said you don't have the right. Said I won't judge.

 

[reedny]

Poor? I wouldn't go that far. I also wouldn't fault him under any circumstance. It's his life and he should make his own choices.

Which begs the question .. was it a good choice (it obviously wasn't)?

 

[Bayside44]

Unless you are his mentor, father, shrink, pastor, or family - you frankly don't have enough info to make an opinion. But go for it - never said you don't have the right. Said I won't judge.

Watching the games helps.

 

[SWC75]

He can go back to college any time he wants. Not sure why people think undrafted kids can't return to school to finish their degrees, if they want to.

Which is not what I was talking about.

I was talking about how he should have the option of returning to school to play football for the additional year he still had the eligibility for to improve his draft position.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

It's a Syracuse sports board. These are big decisions that affect the staff, team, the player, etc. If a guy decides to shoot 25 3 pointers a game should we not talk about it since it was his decision to shoot em?

No different than visiting a Nats board and questioning Ian Desmond or Jordan Zimmermann turning down contract extentions.

Agreed. The people should worry about themselves is a bad angle. Kid made a decision to leave early, looks questionable from most looking at it. At the end of the day, I could care less but come here to talk Syracuse sports, etc. but again I'm not worried what eskridge does in grand scheme, believe me I'm not.

 

[SWC75]

As fans, our concern is wins and losses. His career is secondary to that.

That's certainly true. But we know he's making the decision and that it will be made based on his perceived self interest. If his self interest appears to us to lie in another direction, we're free to say so.

 

[SWC75]

Except a player, without having an agent, would need to pay their own way to the Combine (including hotel rooms, meals, etc.), any bowls and any team workouts to retain their eligibility.

Current system is not setup for that (with athletes not being able to make any money while in school). If we get to a pay for play style system, this is a side effect that will allow more kids to test the waters while being able to move forward without an agent for a period of time.

Maybe they should be allowed to come back even with an agent if an agent advises it. Maybe they should be a professional when the sign a contract with an NFL team. If a student can go for a job interview and still come back to school, why shouldn't player be able to get drafted or even negotiate with a team but still have the option of coming back.

 

[TheCusian]

Which begs the question .. was it a good choice (it obviously wasn't)?

Not for me to say.

 

[TheCusian]

Watching the games helps.

Yeah - purely football? Probably could have used another year. But if all the info you got is from watching the games - you've proved my point.

 

[timkay99]

Maybe they should be allowed to come back even with an agent if an agent advises it. Maybe they should be a professional when the sign a contract with an NFL team. If a student can go for a job interview and still come back to school, why shouldn't player be able to get drafted or even negotiate with a team but still have the option of coming back.

B/c they still have to pay to get to combine, NFL camps, etc. In most entry level job interviews, the applicant pays their way to the interview.

You aren't arguing with me, you are arguing with the NCAA. NCAA has determined you can not get money (or any sort of compensation) for your athletic ability. To have an agent front the costs for the combine, senior bowl, NFL workouts is a NCAA violation and eliminates any possibility of players being eligible to play.

You can have players take out loans and other things to pay their way to these important events, but these tend to be tweener types and they may never have the ability to pay back this money or they have put themselves in a large financial hole.

 

[Bayside44]

Yeah - purely football? Probably could have used another year. But if all the info you got is from watching the games - you've proved my point.

These guys are gonna get paid in football and hoop if they can play, not because they have other needs.

Our recent history with early entries doesn't deal with Carmelo Anthony type of talent.

 

[TheCusian]

These guys are gonna get paid in football and hoop if they can play, not because they have other needs. Our recent history with early entries doesn't deal with Carmelo Anthony type of talent.

Right. I'm saying that whatever motivations they have for leaving are their business. I cannot judge a kid for willing to risk a greater payday at the expense of those "other needs" - often times family related. Kind of a "walk a mile in their shoes kind of thing."

In other words, it's easy to sit back and look at the financial numbers and play smart old guy knows better. But it's not that simple and honestly without intimate knowledge of their decision making process or factors involved - it's not even an informed opinion. Others can judge if they want - but I'll just root for them to succeed and for the team they left behind to get better despite them leaving.

 

[orange_in_VA]

Love Esk and wish him the best, but if Blair qualifies, we're more than ok. Should he have stayed? Obviously. Was he given bad info about his grade? Its possible. We dont know why he left for sure, but people on a syracuse fan board questioning his decision should have every right to do so. The draft is a big deal, and is the only syracuse football related news to happen in a while. If you're giving other posters crap for discussing this stuff, step away from the keyboard and reevaluate what you're getting upset about. These players are grown-ups, and essentially we pay for their education, coaching, marketing by being fans. Theres being positive and respectful, and then theres being overly insanely positive and protective like a overbearing, give all the kids a trophy parent. I dont understand people getting up in arms when posters bring up legit questions that others are wondering about as well. Everyone has the ability to choose which threads, and posts you read or engage in. This isnt a dictatorship. Its an open forum. There are legitimate reasons to question what looks like a bad choice by Eskridge.

 

[SWC75]

B/c they still have to pay to get to combine, NFL camps, etc. In most entry level job interviews, the applicant pays their way to the interview.

You aren't arguing with me, you are arguing with the NCAA. NCAA has determined you can not get money (or any sort of compensation) for your athletic ability. To have an agent front the costs for the combine, senior bowl, NFL workouts is a NCAA violation and eliminates any possibility of players being eligible to play.

You can have players take out loans and other things to pay their way to these important events, but these tend to be tweener types and they may never have the ability to pay back this money or they have put themselves in a large financial hole.

I'm suggesting a change in NCAA rules, so of course I'm "arguing with the NCAA".

 

[AAM62]

I don't think him getting a bad draft grade had anything to do with it. He made his mind up about this being his last year before the season started. Confirmed by that article with his high school coach after the ND game.

 

[TexanMark]

He has been here 4 years on schedule to graduate this year. You fans forget that it's a lot harder to get into grad school to continue playing the 5th year. Not everyone can qualify. It was his time to go, he is the decider not the fans coaches ncaa or god.
We should be excited for him and excited about our next safety Blair who we should cross our fingers and hope he qualifies.

Has a Cuse 5th year eligible kid who was a starter ever not got into grad school? Even if he had a 2.1 GPA I bet they would find him a spot in grad school.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Has a Cuse 5th year eligible kid who was a starter ever not got into grad school? Even if he had a 2.1 GPA I bet they would find him a spot in grad school.

I believe you're right about this. Which begs the question- why is the NCAA ok with schools doing this- admitting students who wouldn't normally qualify for grad school because they are athletes with eligibility, and not ok with a kid who enters the Draft and doesn't get picked, not returning? You know since the NCAA is all about academics and fairness right?

To SWC's point, it wouldn't be hard to allow an early-entry who receives a certain draft grade (say 5th rd or better) to receive funding to attend the NFL Combine. As far as other training expenses, well if athletes were getting paid then I'd bet a number would simply stay at their schools to train, which would eliminate a lot of those expenses.

 

[TheCusian]

Love Esk and wish him the best, but if Blair qualifies, we're more than ok. Should he have stayed? Obviously. Was he given bad info about his grade? Its possible. We dont know why he left for sure, but people on a syracuse fan board questioning his decision should have every right to do so. The draft is a big deal, and is the only syracuse football related news to happen in a while. If you're giving other posters crap for discussing this stuff, step away from the keyboard and reevaluate what you're getting upset about. These players are grown-ups, and essentially we pay for their education, coaching, marketing by being fans. Theres being positive and respectful, and then theres being overly insanely positive and protective like a overbearing, give all the kids a trophy parent. I dont understand people getting up in arms when posters bring up legit questions that others are wondering about as well. Everyone has the ability to choose which threads, and posts you read or engage in. This isnt a dictatorship. Its an open forum. There are legitimate reasons to question what looks like a bad choice by Eskridge.

I never said you didn't have the right. I'm not up in arms. I haven't told people what to do, I'm not a dictator. I've said that I find it to be none of my business. I won't judge a guy for making his choice about his future, because that's his business.

Carry on.