06-07-2017, 04:24 PM
PJ,
I don't think any of us are claiming the NFL's success hinges on this idea. However, the rule is a legacy now. If/when the NFL takes it away they will have some bad PR to absorb. Best to just keep it in place since it really only impacts a precious few athletes at quarter based schools. This program was also in play for Luck, as I recall. In Luck's case it worked well. If the program was not in place would a player like Luck get to finish school? The pressure to get to the practice facility would have been impossible to ignore.
CMac and a few others have to work with their private trainers for a few extra weeks.  :'(
A few others will get to avoid the temptation of NFL training and get their degrees.  8)
It is hard to imagine any single school is a bigger beneficiary of the rule since Stanford's graduation rate would likely be negatively impacted if rookies were allowed to report to training facilities in mid-May, for example. That type of date would be after Notre Dame, Michigan, and a few other universities with higher tier academics finish up, but before Stanford finishes.
So only a few players, like those at Stanford, would be forced to pick between the team and their degree. Over time that likely would transform into a lower graduation rate for Stanford football and/or a noteworthy recruiting edge for other schools.
I don't think any of us are claiming the NFL's success hinges on this idea. However, the rule is a legacy now. If/when the NFL takes it away they will have some bad PR to absorb. Best to just keep it in place since it really only impacts a precious few athletes at quarter based schools. This program was also in play for Luck, as I recall. In Luck's case it worked well. If the program was not in place would a player like Luck get to finish school? The pressure to get to the practice facility would have been impossible to ignore.
CMac and a few others have to work with their private trainers for a few extra weeks.  :'(
A few others will get to avoid the temptation of NFL training and get their degrees.  8)
It is hard to imagine any single school is a bigger beneficiary of the rule since Stanford's graduation rate would likely be negatively impacted if rookies were allowed to report to training facilities in mid-May, for example. That type of date would be after Notre Dame, Michigan, and a few other universities with higher tier academics finish up, but before Stanford finishes.
So only a few players, like those at Stanford, would be forced to pick between the team and their degree. Over time that likely would transform into a lower graduation rate for Stanford football and/or a noteworthy recruiting edge for other schools.