Andrew Luck Will Not Enter 2011 Draft

[Joemailman]

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed...nter-nfl-draft

Luck was projected as the top pick in the draft. Probably good news for Ryan Mallett and Jake Locker who can now battle it out for the 1st QB chosen.

[3irty1]

Initially I thought this was a huge mistake. Luck will almost certainly lose out on some kind of money this season and will be returning to Stanford to probably play for a new coach. It'll be the right decision though if there is no pro football this year.

[Teamcheez1]

I think it is a mistake for two reasons. First, you never know if you are going to suffer that season ending knee injury or hurt the throwing shoulder. He could suffer a drop on the draft board if this happens.

Second, you can almost guarantee there will be a rookie salary cap regardless of how the CBA pans out. I'm guessing even if he goes first in next year's draft he could leave over $20M on the table.

[bobblehead]

I think it is a mistake for two reasons. First, you never know if you are going to suffer that season ending knee injury or hurt the throwing shoulder. He could suffer a drop on the draft board if this happens.

Second, you can almost guarantee there will be a rookie salary cap regardless of how the CBA pans out. I'm guessing even if he goes first in next year's draft he could leave over $20M on the table.

That cap will be in effect for THIS draft if we have a collective bargaining agreement.

[Lurker64]

That cap will be in effect for THIS draft if we have a collective bargaining agreement.

Yeah, any sort of rookie wage scale is going to be in effect before any of this year's draft picks get signed, provided the CBA is finalized before the 2012 draft.

Guys who wanted to come out and get paid ridiculous amounts of money should have come out last year.

Luck's decision, I think, is motivated based on the fact that he would rather be practicing and preparing for football with his teammates through the spring and summer rather than sitting around on his hands and waiting for labor peace to errupt. Can't say I blame him.

[Tony Oday]

$20 million?! more like $40-$50 guaranteed

This is a terrible move by Luck...one wrong hit and he loses 10s of millions.

[Joemailman]

My understanding is that there won't be any contracts signed until there is a collective bargaining agreement. My guess is he's either concerned there won't be a 2011 NFL season, doesn't want to go to Carolina (doesn't know who the coach will be), or has reason to think Harbaugh is returning to Stanford.

[Lurker64]

$20 million?! more like $40-$50 guaranteed

This is a terrible move by Luck...one wrong hit and he loses 10s of millions.

Under the upcoming CBA the rookie wage scale will most likely pay the #1 overall pick about $15-$20m for 3-4 years. So "10s of millions" would only be possible if you goes undrafted, and "10s" is equated with "20".

[Tony Oday]

Under the upcoming CBA the rookie wage scale will most likely pay the #1 overall pick about $15-$20m for 3-4 years. So "10s of millions" would only be possible if you goes undrafted, and "10s" is equated with "20".

Well until the CBA comes out we will see if they have a rookie pay scale...

[Freak Out]

He'll make his money in the end....I like the fact that he's staying in school. Maybe the Stanford Steaming Manholes can go undefeated next year.

[Lurker64]

Well until the CBA comes out we will see if they have a rookie pay scale...

Considering that the league wants it, the NFLPA wants it, and neither rookies nor agents are represented in any way by either negotiating body, there will be one. It's not even a major point of contention.

The major hangup in CBA negotiations is pretty much exclusively "splitting the pie": owners want to get a bigger piece, but Players don't want to give anything up.

[Joemailman]

Well until the CBA comes out we will see if they have a rookie pay scale...

The CBA expires in March. At that point, all signings come to a standstill. If there is no CBA by the time of the draft, they will hold the draft, but I'm pretty sure no one will be signed. Any contract signed without a CBA would likely be declared invalid once a CBA is agreed to.

[Kiwon]

He'll make his money in the end....I like the fact that he's staying in school. Maybe the Stanford Steaming Manholes can go undefeated next year.

I think Luck should stay if he can get Cam Newton's father to represent him.

Peyton Manning stayed for his senior year and then started as a rookie. At the end of the day, he will get paid and be more prepared for the pros.

[Tony Oday]

I think Luck should stay if he can get Cam Newton's father to represent him.

Peyton Manning stayed for his senior year and then started as a rookie. At the end of the day, he will get paid and be more prepared for the pros.

OR an O lineman is blocked into his knee or a LB on a blitzes hits him and dislocates his shoulder and he drops to the 5th round...just saying.

[pbmax]

Considering that the league wants it, the NFLPA wants it, and neither rookies nor agents are represented in any way by either negotiating body, there will be one. It's not even a major point of contention.

The major hangup in CBA negotiations is pretty much exclusively "splitting the pie": owners want to get a bigger piece, but Players don't want to give anything up.

I agree about the players not caring or thinking its hurting veterans. But i don't think the NFLPA is so cavalier. That is real cash spent on players. To agree to a wage scale for them means some of that money goes away. There is no agreed upon mechanism for that money to be returned to veteran players. Owners aren't just going to hand out bonus checks from the money they save.

Since most teams are paying cash over the cap number each year AND most teams are well below the cap now, there is no automatic mechanism to bring that money to the vets. The only leverage is the salary cap minimum, but only a few teams are near it and no one has trouble evading it.

A rookie wage scale would be a concession to the owners that will cost the players money. Not 100% of it (some owner will still spend more if its in the bank) but most would have no new incentive to extend the payroll. That being said, the truly large numbers only extend to pick 7 or 8 in the first round. So its not a huge number.

And one thing; the same agents who represent draftees also represent veteran players AND many of the NFLPA board. So the agents do have some pull, even if they are not members. Tom Condon represented Upshaw and a lot of first round picks.