Coaches To Challenge Draft Rule

ScottyRo · 05-08-2007, 11:03 AM

I don't think the rule as stated would help. So, a junior declares eligible for the draft in january. Do you think that his mind will change much about his prospects between then and March 1? Maybe 1 or 2 would decide to go back to school because of a bad combine, but that would pale to the extra number of juniors that declare eligible based on the new rule. The emphasis should be to stay in school unless being drafted is a lock.

Mike Williams situation doesn't really apply because he was taking a chance that Clarett's court challenge of the NFL's rule for eligibility would be successful. He knew that under the rule in place at that time that he wasn't eligible. That was bad advice, but even this proposed rule change wouldn't have helped him.

If you want a rule like this to work, then it needs to state that a junior who declares himself eligible for the draft and is not drafted and did not sign an agent, can return for his senior season. At least with this rule a player who makes a terrible misjudgment of his potential draft status might be able to return to school.

I don't know what the NFL rule is for declaring eligible for the draft one year and then again the next, if not drafted. I think it is ok. It's the NCAA rules that are the problem because once a player declares eligible for the draft he loses his eligibility at school.

05-08-2007, 11:03 AM	#4
ScottyRo 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Williamsburg, VA (ugh, the food here) Posts: 1,704	I don't think the rule as stated would help. So, a junior declares eligible for the draft in january. Do you think that his mind will change much about his prospects between then and March 1? Maybe 1 or 2 would decide to go back to school because of a bad combine, but that would pale to the extra number of juniors that declare eligible based on the new rule. The emphasis should be to stay in school unless being drafted is a lock. Mike Williams situation doesn't really apply because he was taking a chance that Clarett's court challenge of the NFL's rule for eligibility would be successful. He knew that under the rule in place at that time that he wasn't eligible. That was bad advice, but even this proposed rule change wouldn't have helped him. If you want a rule like this to work, then it needs to state that a junior who declares himself eligible for the draft and is not drafted and did not sign an agent, can return for his senior season. At least with this rule a player who makes a terrible misjudgment of his potential draft status might be able to return to school. I don't know what the NFL rule is for declaring eligible for the draft one year and then again the next, if not drafted. I think it is ok. It's the NCAA rules that are the problem because once a player declares eligible for the draft he loses his eligibility at school.