Andre Smith suspended for the Sugar Bowl
- Thread starter TilloDawg
- Start date
He doesn't risk getting hurt, his draft stock won't be affected and he can move on.
If you are a big time talent like Andre and you are playing in a bowl that has very little significance, why not just choose to sign up with an agent and enjoy your holidays.
If you are a big time talent like Andre and you are playing in a bowl that has very little significance, why not just choose to sign up with an agent and enjoy your holidays.
OMlawdog said:
Roger Dorn would do. If Andre Smith is any kind of competitor at all, he will want to play in the Sugar Bowl. This is what they have been working toward all year. If he thinks like that, he won't last in the NFL for long.
Knowing that he has given Bama three straight years of solid play and I don't think he owes Bama a thing.
Don't get me wrong, Im messing around a little and I bet it is killing him not to play in it, but its really no different than a player skipping the Senior Bowl. Both games are basically exhibitions and there is not much on the line. Why play in one and not the other?
Thats why I never had a problem with what Tim Bowens did at Ole Miss. At least he was honest about it.
Don't get me wrong, Im messing around a little and I bet it is killing him not to play in it, but its really no different than a player skipping the Senior Bowl. Both games are basically exhibitions and there is not much on the line. Why play in one and not the other?
Thats why I never had a problem with what Tim Bowens did at Ole Miss. At least he was honest about it.
OMlawdog said:
bowl games DO count on the record. The Senior Bowl, I can buy that. It would mean something to me to say that I played in the Sugar Bowl and helped my team win.
That's just like Polk treating the Mayor's Trophy like an exhibition game while Ole Miss was actually trying.
Jerry maybe but Oher's old man is loaded so he doesn't need the money. He may skip the NFL and get an MBA at Wharton.
But Im not objective when it comes to Ole Miss, so Im not looking out for the best interests of Oher/Peria.
Im sure Clarence McDougal wishes he hadn't chosen to represent his state in the MS/AL all star game. That game is meaningless, but some would say he was representing his state. I say meaningless.
He was one of the best High School athletes I have ever seen play, and he never looked the same after that injury, for what?
If Peria tears his knee in the Cotton Bowl and Ole Miss wins the game, who wins? Certainly not Peria. He loses millions of dollars. Millions.
But saying he played in the Cotton Bowl is worth it? Some say yes, others would say no.
Im not entrenched in either category but can understand a player taking money from an agent early when he realizes the biggest penalty for him is that he can't play in the Sugar Bowl.
Im sure Clarence McDougal wishes he hadn't chosen to represent his state in the MS/AL all star game. That game is meaningless, but some would say he was representing his state. I say meaningless.
He was one of the best High School athletes I have ever seen play, and he never looked the same after that injury, for what?
If Peria tears his knee in the Cotton Bowl and Ole Miss wins the game, who wins? Certainly not Peria. He loses millions of dollars. Millions.
But saying he played in the Cotton Bowl is worth it? Some say yes, others would say no.
Im not entrenched in either category but can understand a player taking money from an agent early when he realizes the biggest penalty for him is that he can't play in the Sugar Bowl.
in the NFL combine. Actually, chances are better that they DON'T get hurt in a bowl game. And as far as Smith, if I was an NFL coach, he actually hurt his stock by selling out on his team. Guys like that tend to hurt team chemistry and have two year holdouts.
Also, McDougle is a bad example, and the MS/AL HS All-Star game is bad example. From what I understand, McDougle didn't follow through with his rehab like he should have. Not saying that he would have been what he was before the injury, but he certainly could have come back at a higher level than what he did. That's on him.
Plus the HS All-Star game was in the middle of June when those guys hadn't played a down in about 5-6 months. Bama played about 2-3 weeks ago, and have been practicing, so I'm sure he's still in "game shape" than he would if the bowls were played in June.
Of course all of this is assuming that Smith actually signed with an agent to skip the Sugar Bowl. I highly doubt he did.
Also, McDougle is a bad example, and the MS/AL HS All-Star game is bad example. From what I understand, McDougle didn't follow through with his rehab like he should have. Not saying that he would have been what he was before the injury, but he certainly could have come back at a higher level than what he did. That's on him.
Plus the HS All-Star game was in the middle of June when those guys hadn't played a down in about 5-6 months. Bama played about 2-3 weeks ago, and have been practicing, so I'm sure he's still in "game shape" than he would if the bowls were played in June.
Of course all of this is assuming that Smith actually signed with an agent to skip the Sugar Bowl. I highly doubt he did.
SwampDawg said:
Not true...if hypothetically he didn't spend all of his money immediately. If he's one of the top OL taken (a first rounder I'm sure), then he'll get millions for a signing bonus alone, along with the rookie contract. If he were to blow out his knee in training camp and never play a down, he'd have enough money to afford to put himself through school and finish his degree if he wanted to.
However, contrary to what most people want to believe, a good number of college athletes have no intention of ever getting a degree. They are in school to play sports and try to go pro, which is why you see a lot of guys simply walk off campus after their eligibility is up. Not saying this is the case with Smith, but there is a good chance he's one of those that really doesn't care about the fall back degree.
1. He will get some guaranteed money in some form that will take care of him for life so long as MC Hammer is not his financial advisor.
2. He could just as easily blow his knee out in the first play of the bowl game.
3. I think Bama would probably allow him to come back and complete his degree.
4. Even without a degree, something tells me that Andre Smith could get hired somewhere in Alabama.
2. He could just as easily blow his knee out in the first play of the bowl game.
3. I think Bama would probably allow him to come back and complete his degree.
4. Even without a degree, something tells me that Andre Smith could get hired somewhere in Alabama.
how many players have we read of that DO hire MC, or worse, and wind up broke after they can't pay for their 10 or 12 cars and the mansion. I'm sure some do act in a prudent manner, invest in the stock market (oh gawd, please not), or otherwise save for the future, and I realize that we don't hear about them. Just going by what I hear.
Hey, I'm not wishing the guy bad luck. I'm just saying if he leaves college and goes pro he is putting his future in football, with very few other options. A "job in Alabama" without a degree might not pay very much.
Hey, I'm not wishing the guy bad luck. I'm just saying if he leaves college and goes pro he is putting his future in football, with very few other options. A "job in Alabama" without a degree might not pay very much.
One of the Bama boards is saying that either Smith's dad or uncle took out an insurance policy through an agent after the UF game. Supposedly another agent turned them in.
I'd say it's probably a little bit slanted. They may be right, but I would be skeptical of a scenario they have concocted that would give them the win in the Iron Bowl retroactively.
has nothing to do with whether this decision is a good one or not.
And he'll get as good a job without a degree as he will with one in Alabama. He's Andre Smith. There are plenty of Bama alums out there that would love to hire that guy just so they can play golf with their buddies and talk about how they hired Andre Smith.
And he'll get as good a job without a degree as he will with one in Alabama. He's Andre Smith. There are plenty of Bama alums out there that would love to hire that guy just so they can play golf with their buddies and talk about how they hired Andre Smith.