2004-04-24 - 5:05 p.m.
A CURRENT AFFAIR
So I gotta talk about a current event. All right. Let's talk about... the NFL Draft! Cause since I'm stuck at work with nothing to do, I'm watching that right now. As we speak. At this moment. One of the big howdydoos about the draft this year was whether younger guys were going to be allowed in it or not. The NFL has a rule set up where you have to be 3 years past your high school graduation in order to get in, and a player was trying to challenge it. The NBA, as you may know, had a similar rule overturned some years back and now some players come in straight out of high school. As someone who used to actually BE a high school student, I believe I can speak from experience on this subject. Why, I can remember it like it was yesterday... (flashback sequence) I tried out for the football team as a freshman, and I really wanted to play defense. I wanted to be like my man Derrick Thomas and never hesitate to put a fool on his back. But, sadly, it was not to be. Apparently, I lacked several key components to defensive success, including but not limited to the required "size" and "strength", an "intimidating presence", and a "killer instinct". But I could run fast, though. In junior high I had split some time with another guy as a running back, but mainly I was trying to get a spot playing cornerback on defense. I didn't need to be big and mean for that. But the high school team already had a solid defense, and there was no spot for me. During my sophomore year I became the starting running back. I had gone from wanting to be the guy who does the hitting into one of the guys who GETS hit the most. That wasn’t cool. They tried to explain that I could still inflict the same damage and bloody carnage that I wanted to do on defense, it would just be metaphorical carnage. Instead of knocking down some punk ass suckas, I could score points and dampen their spirits. Big whoop! (The Chiefs... trade down! How exciting. Zzzzzzzz.) Now I'll tell you one thing for sure. There was quite a difference between me, a mere sophomore when I started, and the fat, corn-fed 18 year old farm boys on the defense of many a team we played. BIG difference. Worlds of difference. Nay, galaxies of difference! They were only two years older than me, which is hardly anything in the grand scheme of things, but they were physically developed at a completely different level than I was. By the time I was a senior, I didn't notice that difference anymore. Guys were bigger than me a lot of the time, but we were at least on the same level. As large as that two-year difference was when I was a sophomore, and knowing what kind of beatings I took from people my own age, I cannot even begin to a imagine being 18 and having to play against 30 year olds. I'm talking about grown-ass men, dog. DAMN. So I can definitely see why they wouldn't want having guys that age playing with the Big Boys. BUT I can certainly see the side of the guys who want to be in the draft. College is not for everybody, first of all. Especially football players, many of whom are big and stoopid. And any athlete always runs the risk of injury. The best player ever born could have his career ended in college, where he doesn't get paid for playing, even though the school makes millions. And if he ends his career in school, he won't EVER get paid. So of course you'd want to be in the draft if you were in their shoes. But BUT, and here's the real issue, just because they're IN the draft doesn't mean they HAVE to be drafted. Let the guys in! None of the teams have to pick them. But that's easier said than done, because even if a lot of coaches take a stand and say "as good a prospect as this kid is, he's not ready and I'm not taking him," there's always going to be a coach who will. And at the end of the day, that coach who got him will reap the benefits. And eventually the coaches who took a stand will start drafting the kids too, because they don't want to miss out on all the talent. So after some careful consideration, meaning I'm coming up with this right now off the top of my head, here's my solution. Allow the guys to be drafted, meaning they can sign with a team and collect a paycheck. But don't let them PLAY until 3 years after graduation. That will give them 3 years to train, to practice, to get themselves up to that level. The team can mold a guy into the player they want him to become without running the risk that he'll be killed on the field by some 350 pound guy taking his head clean off. This would get a little sticky in the area of contracts, and maybe some special status would have to be given to such players. Like they sign a contract once they're drafted, but the time on the deal doesn't start until they start playing. I dunno, I'm no agent. Maybe this isn't a good idea. Oh well, it sure filled up some space! This draft put me to sleep, I believe I'll take a nap now. Good night.
