[Goose]

Wait, are we talking about the Andrew Luck who would have been the first pick of the draft but returned to Stanford to graduate or the one who retired from football because he was more concerned with his long-term health than playing in the NFL until he dropped.  Or are we talking about the Andrew Luck who established a book club?


I think you would have been on more solid footing citing Christian McCaffrey, an outstanding football player, but one who went pro after three years and sat out the Sun Bowl so as not to get injured.



Obviously it is not cut and dry, but compare what Bryce Love did (come back to graduate at risk for injury with a goal of becoming a doctor, not necessarily an NFL player) to McCaffrey.  Maybe it’s not either/or, but we can imagine which of the two Shaw would gravitate towards in recruiting, if forced to chose.



BC

I am talking about the Andrew Luck who came back to play with his teammates when he could have gone to the NFL. Is Luck less of a Football Guy because he did that? I am not sure one can say that is the case. There is also the fact the he might have wanted to win the award that cannot be named. Plenty of good, valid football reasons to do that.

Luck played professionally with a lacerated kidney as I recall. I don't think one can question his heart or willingness to play for the team. He had spent so much time injured and was looking at another rehab stint. He played for a management that obviously did not put his health as a big priority. I don't think his actions reflect lack of commitment to football, but rather self preservation. He was in the league seven years. He missed one entire year with a shoulder injury. Lots of QBs are not the same after that. He worked his way back, but arguably wasn't his "old self". He was looking at more rehab from injuries suffered that year. Lots of guys don't make it 7 years. He was done. FWIW, everybody retires from football eventually. Football is first until it isn't.

I think the Love/McCaffrey comparison is a good one. From Shaw's point of view, as far as recruiting these guys, I think there would be no difference whatsoever. The actions they took later in their career at Stanford were not an issue at the time they were recruited (obviously), and I think Shaw is fine with both decisions they made. Obviously, BL fully intended to go to the NFL. It was a question of when. So did McCaffery. They both gave it their all when they played, they both did the necessary off-season work, neither were discipline or academic problems. Fans may have a problem with what McCaffery did, but his teammates, at least in the main, did not. IMHO Shaw (of all people) didn't either. He understood it, and he would have had no problem if BL didn't come back either. Shaw isn't the rah-rah type anyway. He understands football is, to a large degree, a profession. It certainly is for him. His players are trying to gain the skills that profession requires. Some will, most will fall short or chose other things. He expects his players to act professionally. Luck, McCaffrey, and Love did.

[Goose]

Wait, are we talking about the Andrew Luck who would have been the first pick of the draft but returned to Stanford to graduate or the one who retired from football because he was more concerned with his long-term health than playing in the NFL until he dropped.  Or are we talking about the Andrew Luck who established a book club?


I think you would have been on more solid footing citing Christian McCaffrey, an outstanding football player, but one who went pro after three years and sat out the Sun Bowl so as not to get injured.



Obviously it is not cut and dry, but compare what Bryce Love did (come back to graduate at risk for injury with a goal of becoming a doctor, not necessarily an NFL player) to McCaffrey.  Maybe it’s not either/or, but we can imagine which of the two Shaw would gravitate towards in recruiting, if forced to chose.



BC

I am talking about the Andrew Luck who came back to play with his teammates when he could have gone to the NFL. Is Luck less of a Football Guy because he did that? I am not sure one can say that is the case. There is also the fact the he might have wanted to win the award that cannot be named. Plenty of good, valid football reasons to do that.

Luck played professionally with a lacerated kidney as I recall. I don't think one can question his heart or willingness to play for the team. He had spent so much time injured and was looking at another rehab stint. He played for a management that obviously did not put his health as a big priority. I don't think his actions reflect lack of commitment to football, but rather self preservation. He was in the league seven years. He missed one entire year with a shoulder injury. Lots of QBs are not the same after that. He worked his way back, but arguably wasn't his "old self". He was looking at more rehab from injuries suffered that year. Lots of guys don't make it 7 years. He was done. FWIW, everybody retires from football eventually. Football is first until it isn't.

I think the Love/McCaffrey comparison is a good one. From Shaw's point of view, as far as recruiting these guys, I think there would be no difference whatsoever. The actions they took later in their career at Stanford were not an issue at the time they were recruited (obviously), and I think Shaw is fine with both decisions they made. Obviously, BL fully intended to go to the NFL. It was a question of when. So did McCaffery. They both gave it their all when they played, they both did the necessary off-season work, neither were discipline or academic problems. Fans may have a problem with what McCaffery did, but his teammates, at least in the main, did not. IMHO Shaw (of all people) didn't either. He understood it, and he would have had no problem if BL didn't come back either. Shaw isn't the rah-rah type anyway. He understands football is, to a large degree, a profession. It certainly is for him. His players are trying to gain the skills that profession requires. Some will, most will fall short or chose other things. He expects his players to act professionally. Luck, McCaffrey, and Love did.