Sports

[gardenman]

With the draft now behind us, teams finally get their hands on the kids they drafted and learn all kinds of fun stuff. "He doesn't look as big, fast, strong, etc. as I thought." The optimism of the early offseason starts to fade a bit as coaches look at the knuckleheads they've been given or who have been signed by the GM. 

Some veteran players now find themselves looking at a cheaper kid who's doing everything they do and maybe doing it better. Uh oh! Stress levels go high as competition warms up. A dropped pass or fumbled ball can move a kid way back on the depth charts. Fun times for everyone. 

[teganslaw]

The Colts declined Anthony Richardson's fifth year option. He has requested a trade, but so far there is little interest from other teams. He might stay in Indy and compete for backup with Riley Leonard. 

Illinois passed a "megaprojects bill" to keep the Bears in that state. The Illinois House passed the bill, but it's uncertain what the State Senate will do. The NFL Stadium Committee said that the only viable sites for a new stadium are Arlington Heights ILL or Hammond IN. Moving out of Soldier Field is a done deal. The team will be relocated to one of the above listed sites. 

[Mz iMac]

I watched the NFL draft.  I only watch to see which ones had the haters swagger.....

 across the stage when their name is called.

And, which ones cause now they can afford to buy their mama a house.

[LavernLuvsShoes]

I think "Buying Mama a House"  is a beautiful thing. 

[gardenman]

Many are now "buying Mama a house" using NIL money while still in college. Arch Manning is getting $6.8 million in NIL. Carson Beck got $4.3 million. He'll be taking a pay cut joining the NFL. As the 65th pick, he'll make $1.3+ million in his first year as a pro. Mama may have to end up buying him a house.

Most of the upper-tier kids getting drafted made more in NIL than they'll make in their first year as a pro. (If you ignore the signing bonus.) It's why you're seeing kids stay in college, five, six, seven years these days. It's sure money rather than taking the risk of making an NFL roster. You're seeing a lot more "kids" graduate and entering the draft at 25 years of age (or even older) after they've hung around in college as long as they can. The NIL money has made staying in school a safer investment for the kids than turning pro. 

[Spurt]

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@gardenman wrote:

Many are now "buying Mama a house" using NIL money while still in college. Arch Manning is getting $6.8 million in NIL. Carson Beck got $4.3 million. He'll be taking a pay cut joining the NFL. As the 65th pick, he'll make $1.3+ million in his first year as a pro. Mama may have to end up buying him a house.

Most of the upper-tier kids getting drafted made more in NIL than they'll make in their first year as a pro. (If you ignore the signing bonus.) It's why you're seeing kids stay in college, five, six, seven years these days. It's sure money rather than taking the risk of making an NFL roster. You're seeing a lot more "kids" graduate and entering the draft at 25 years of age (or even older) after they've hung around in college as long as they can. The NIL money has made staying in school a safer investment for the kids than turning pro. 

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@gardenman @LavernLuvsShoes 

When they talked about paying the players, I thought it was to give them a stipend, so if they went on a date they wouldn't have to split a McDonald's hamburger, (as some of the player's talked about), ya know a little spending money for miscellaneous expenses because most top-level (Division I FBS) college football players are on "full-ride" athletic scholarships that cover tuition, fees, room, board, and books, so I never dreamed that the top players would also become millionaires while in college!!!  Although football brings in big bucks to these colleges, and of course some have wealthy alumni that donate to their alma mater, its still causing schools to raise tuition and student fees for everyone, and smaller sports are suffering since money is directed to the larger more popular sports!!!

Eventually, older players coming into the NFL will mean shorter time to develop and transition players to careers in the NFL.....STAY TUNED!!!

[Spurt]

Oh Ron Rivera, Washington fans hate you, you passed on CB Christian Gonzalez who was ripe for the picking, and instead he went for CB Emmanuel Forbes instead..Oh what Washington could've had, after a Pro-Bowl season, the Patriots picked up Gonzalez's 5 th yr option. Meanwhile, Forbes didnt even last on Washington's roster, he was picked up by the Rams who are declining his 5th yr option.... 🙄 Forbes did not start the final two postseason games, playing only a total of 29 defensive snaps against the Bears and Seahawks....picking up the option would've guaranteed him 12.6 mill in 2027....they didn't think he was worth it, and he's not 🙄 

[stevieb]

Turning college athletics into little more than 'farm teams' for the pros, the 'professionalization' of college sports, NIL and transfer portals will ultimately be the ruin of college sports. Like @Spurt I assumed payment would be reasonable but as it's evolved it's gone well beyond minor compensation to include ridiculous sums as well as commercial involvement. It might also be noted that compensation is grossly influenced by media and their promotion of name recognition. How else could Baby Boy Manning be raking in the sum cited by @gardenman when clearly others have shined far brighter and taking their teams to greater heights.

[Spurt]

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@stevieb wrote:

Turning college athletics into little more than 'farm teams' for the pros, the 'professionalization' of college sports, NIL and transfer portals will ultimately be the ruin of college sports. Like @Spurt I assumed payment would be reasonable but as it's evolved it's gone well beyond minor compensation to include ridiculous sums as well as commercial involvement. It might also be noted that compensation is grossly influenced by media and their promotion of name recognition. How else could Baby Boy Manning be raking in the sum cited by @gardenman when clearly others have shined far brighter and taking their teams to greater heights.

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@stevieb 

Don't even get me started on football's "royal family", THE MANNINGS and Arch Manning🙄 (remember how Eli changed the Draft)

Totally agree, college sports has definitely been DESTROYED by Nil, transfer portals, and OUTRAGEOUS compensation!!! At one time our smaller UTSA college was looking good and even put up a very good fight against the very large and well known national colleges all because of a good head coach, good assistant coaches and good recruiting of talent.....But then Nil, Transfer Portals, and making college players millionaires while still in school, so UTSA, a smaller college, can no longer compete financially with the large colleges to retain the talent. And its only a matter of time the good coaches will be moving on too for "greener pastures" 💵 before long. 

The game of college football is declining too, the majority of the games telecast are now one-sided blowouts......with a few exceptions: Ohio State/Michigan, Texas/Oklahoma, Texas/Texas A&M, Notre Dame/USC, Georgia/Alabama, LSU/Ole Miss....

And now college players wont even play in Bowl games!!!! 🙄 

This sport is being destroyed by GREED! 

[teganslaw]

@Spurt  I agree what you said about college sports. However, you probably should be careful what you say about the Mannings. Your sister might be upset with negative talk. 

I'm watching some of the NBA playoffs and I'm impressed with the Detroit Pistons. The way they came from a 24 point deficit in game 6 and handily beat the Magic in game 7. (Don't get me wrong, the Spurs are also impressive.)