Dear Brandon:
I know it’s bowl week and you have the game on your mind, but there is a big decision that looms ahead. Should you stay for your senior year or should you opt to enter the NFL draft? You’ve just received your draft projection from the NFL Advisory Board. You’ve stated that you are 85% certain that you’re coming back for your senior year, but also noted that it would be hard to pass up the NFL if you’re projected to go in the 1st round. We’re here to tell you that – even if you’re projected as a late first rounder – you should….Stay.
Yes, we’re Canes fans and want to see the 2011 team excel, but there’s more to it than that. We were all for Frank Gore leaving early given his family situation. But you’re in a much different situation – your dad is a USA Today National High School Coach of the Year.
Still, this is a business decision at heart, and the average career of an NFL cornerback is a mere 2.94 years according to the NFL Players Association. An extra year would seem wise, but not if you end up with a late 1st/early 2nd round contract. Remember, in the NFL it is all about the up front money (i.e. signing bonus) as not much else is guaranteed. Regardless of your current financial standing, shouldn’t you want to maximize your earning potential?
In the 2010 NFL Draft, the Browns chose Joe Haden as the first cornerback with pick #7. The Saints, with the last pick of the first round, selected FSU CB Patrick Robinson. Let’s compare their contracts. Haden signed a 5 year contract worth $50 million. Of that, $26 million was guaranteed. Robinson inked a 5 year deal worth approximately $12 million, with only $6.6 guaranteed. Now, I’m no mathematician, but 26,000,000 minus 6,600,000 is….a lot of money.
Mel Kiper Jr. recently told us his advice to you would be to stay in school. Kiper noted that, as a sophomore, you ‘had a great season. This year was good, not great. I think he would be better served to go back. He would be the 4th-6th best CB this year to the 1st-2nd best next year.’ There you have it. Right from the horse with the hair helmet’s mouth.
Kiper has a point. As a sophomore in 2009, you were selected to the All ACC First Team. This year? Second Team. Hey, no question that Virginia Tech’s Jayron Hosley and Virginia’s Chase Minnifield deserved First Team honors, but why not let Minnifield declare for the pros and end up in the late 1st/early 2nd? He too has applied for his draft projections from the NFL Advisory Board. Listen, worst case scenario is you come back and end up in the 2nd round or so. No big deal (well, I guess the worst case scenario is you getting injured, but that’s why they have insurance policies). To us, the risk is worth the reward. An extra 20 million dollars? Maaaan, you can make it rain in strip clubs like Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones every other night with that kind of loot.
Secondly, there is the prospect of an NFL lockout. We highly doubt this billion dollar industry would shut down, though the potential looms. If you declare, would you be able to re-enter the collegiate ranks if a lockout occurred? Who knows. Why risk it.
And now, Canes Pundit would like to conlcude by dedicating the below song by ’90s one hit wonder KWS to Brandon…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w1TzLR2tYc [YouTube.com]
‘Please Don’t Go’ – KWS
‘Babe I love you so
And I want you to know
That I’m gonna miss your love
The minute you walk out that door
Please don’t go
Don’t go
Don’t go away
Hey hey hey
I need your love
Down on my knees
Beg you please, please
Please don’t go
Don’t you hear me baby
‘Cause you leave me now
Oh, no, no don’t go
Please don’t go
I want you to know
That I, I, I, love you so’
And I want you to know
That I’m gonna miss your love
The minute you walk out that door
Please don’t go
Don’t go
Don’t go away
Hey hey hey
I need your love
Down on my knees
Beg you please, please
Please don’t go
Don’t you hear me baby
‘Cause you leave me now
Oh, no, no don’t go
Please don’t go
I want you to know
That I, I, I, love you so’
Signed,
Canes Pundit
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