Nico going pure NFL on the Vols

[18IsTheMan]

Per Chris Low from ESPN, who is an extremely reliable Vols source, Nico is in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal. That was reported yesterday. Today it was reported that he was unexpectedly absent from Tennessee’s final spring practice before their spring game.

A player sitting out of practice amidst ongoing contract negotiations? Welcome to college football 2025.

I’m sure I’m alone in my position that if I were the head coach, I would just move on without him. Look at the guys you have who were dedicated enough to show up and roll with them.

 

[muscleknight]

I want Turmoil at other schools. The more the better for us.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I want Turmoil at other schools. The more the better for us.

Not this kind of turmoil. Not for me anyway. It’s bad for the game of college football and will eventually impact us.

 

[Cackmandu]

Not this kind of turmoil. Not for me anyway. It’s bad for the game of college football and will eventually impact us.

Funny! Get used to it!

 

[Viennacock]

Good for him. Use the leverage while you can.

 

[Lurker123]

It's funny that it's happening to UT. The bad part is that he's just opening the door for the next guys to pull the same stunt.

And it will trickle down to us, where it won't be funny anymore.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's funny that it's happening to UT. The bad part is that he's just opening the door for the next guys to pull the same stunt.

And it will trickle down to us, where it won't be funny anymore.

Coaches need to grow a sack and tell players like this to hit the road.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Hard to blame the players. They are maximizing their future within the boundaries set. I don’t like it at all, but can’t blame the kid for setting himself up for life. Every $ counts.

I blame the system and lack of control. I’m not sure we’ll ever see it reeled in at this point either. Lawsuit after lawsuit coming from former players. Sad to see.

 

[Viennacock]

Coaches need to grow a sack and tell players like this to hit the road.

Would be hypocrisy at it's finest.

 

[Uscg1984]

I'm just trying to imagine where this might lead. Is there anything that would prevent a player from setting up a Gofundme account and posting on his X account on Wednesday something to the effect of "If y'all want me to play on Saturday, I need to see $50,000 in this account by Friday night" and essentially holding insecure fans hostage? Am I crazy for thinking a scenario like this could happen? if so, what am I missing?

 

[adcoop]

Commissioner coupled with Salary Cap and Contracts. These are the only things that will save this sport which is now basically a professional operation.

 

[Fried Chicken]

I'm just trying to imagine where this might lead. Is there anything that would prevent a player from setting up a Gofundme account and posting on his X account on Wednesday something to the effect of "If y'all want me to play on Saturday, I need to see $50,000 in this account by Friday night" and essentially holding insecure fans hostage? Am I crazy for thinking a scenario like this could happen? if so, what am I missing?

It’s coming. I’d say it’s already happened in some ways. Bowl games especially.

This was brought up on rivalry week. Only a matter of time before a player from Ohio State or Michigan walks in and says, “pay me or I’m sitting out rivalry week”. And we learned this year that the loss means nothing in the overall picture, so it’ll be all about the bragging rights. Fans and universities will pay. Coaches are in a tough spot. If they run these kids off, the kids replacing them are just going to do the same thing so you might as well do what you can.

The girl on our bball team that “plans to enter the portal” reeks of this. If you plan to, just do it. Sounds to me like she’s putting it out there to see if we respond with a big #. For women’s basketball, I personally wouldn’t pay a dime…but I know that’s just me. They don’t bring in all the $$.

We should just focus on football. Put all the $$ there. See if we can’t buy a title. We be fine sucking in every other sport. Not like it’s going well outside of women’s bball anyway.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Hard to blame the players. They are maximizing their future within the boundaries set. I don’t like it at all, but can’t blame the kid for setting himself up for life. Every $ counts.

I blame the system and lack of control. I’m not sure we’ll ever see it reeled in at this point either. Lawsuit after lawsuit coming from former players. Sad to see.

Don't blame the players, but coaches and schools need to get some backbones.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Don't blame the players, but coaches and schools need to get some backbones.

They are in an impossible spot. Run those guys off and you’re just replacing them with guys that’ll do the same things.

It’s a free for all. Nobody is in charge.

 

[Viennacock]

Don't blame the players, but coaches and schools need to get some backbones.

It's not the coaches or the school that's the issue. To be honest, i hope this continues.

It's our ONLY chance it will be fixed. We are on the same side but the coaches can't fix this issue.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Here's the problem with the system as it's set up and why the "don't blame him for trying to maximize his earnings" stance in this case. This is not about paying him what he's worth. He's waited until a point where he knows UT doesn't really have an options because most other top players are already settled in somewhere else. The system is rigged against the schools. Now he's demanding $4 million, which is top shelf college QB money, when he barely cracked the top half of the SEC QBs last year. There is no correlation to this scenario in pro sports. So now UT has the following options: 1. Overpay for Nico or 2. Let him walk and try to find another QB.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Here's the problem with the system as it's set up and why the "don't blame him for trying to maximize his earnings" stance in this case. This is not about paying him what he's worth. He's waited until a point where he knows UT doesn't really have an options because most other top players are already settled in somewhere else. The system is rigged against the schools. Now he's demanding $4 million, which is top shelf college QB money, when he barely cracked the top half of the SEC QBs last year. There is no correlation to this scenario in pro sports. So now UT has the following options: 1. Overpay for Nico or 2. Let him walk and try to find another QB.

He’s leveraging his position. This is why it’s broken. People do this all the time. With no regulations, he’s just doing what’s within the rules. Don’t like it. I’d treat him like an employee after this. He better perform or the fan’s will be all over him. But he’s maximing his demand. It’s what you do in negotiating. Not good faith negotiating…but we know that’s not happening here.

The reality is, it’s just spring football. He could easily do this in August. Someone eventually will. Probably this year.

 

[Viennacock]

Here's the problem with the system as it's set up and why the "don't blame him for trying to maximize his earnings" stance in this case. This is not about paying him what he's worth. He's waited until a point where he knows UT doesn't really have an options because most other top players are already settled in somewhere else. The system is rigged against the schools. Now he's demanding $4 million, which is top shelf college QB money, when he barely cracked the top half of the SEC QBs last year. There is no correlation to this scenario in pro sports. So now UT has the following options: 1. Overpay for Nico or 2. Let him walk and try to find another QB.

He is playing by the rules. You blame the players and coaches. They are not the problem.

 

[Fried Chicken]

You know, after giving it much thought…were the ones to blame. The fans. We keep watching and donating $$. We make this **** possible. If college football fans would just take 1 year off, everyone would come to their senses realizing how much money they lost. The players would realize they are nothing without the platform they are given. The coaches would realize they don’t cash those big checks without the fans. Yet we’re the ones getting screwed here and still writing the checks while they all cash it in. The fans are the ones that should tell the coaches and players to walk.

It would be so worth it in the long run if the fans just demanded the game they loved back. And make getting rid of targeting part of the demand. One or two years max would do it.

 

[Viennacock]

You know, after giving it much thought…were the ones to blame. The fans. We keep watching and donating $$. We make this **** possible. If college football fans would just take 1 year off, everyone would come to their senses realizing how much money they lost. The players would realize they are nothing without the platform they are given. The coaches would realize they don’t cash those big checks without the fans. Yet we’re the ones getting screwed here and still writing the checks while they all cash it in. The fans are the ones that should tell the coaches and players to walk.

It would be so worth it in the long run if the fans just demanded the game they loved back. And make getting rid of targeting part of the demand. One or two years max would do it.

True!

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

 

[gamecox4982]

Meanwhile the NFL says thanks for supporting our minor league system

 

[Spinal Tap]

The staff at Tn. have spoken. Good for them and CFB:

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.

 

[Bubba Fett]

Apparently they just showed him the door. If so, hats off to UcheaT for having the guts to say no.

 

[Viennacock]

The staff at Tn. have spoken. Good for them and CFB:

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.

Nico will be paid.

 

[Sparklecity]

Hesaleaving

 

[Spinal Tap]

Nico will be paid.

Yep. Might be at a discount though.

 

[Sparklecity]

I hate to say it but if coaches would stop looking to the portal this would all stop. If nobody is going to take you then there's nowhere to go. Of course the coaches won't stop because they want a instant fix and not looking to the future.

 

[Sparklecity]

 

[Fried Chicken]

The staff at Tn. have spoken. Good for them and CFB:

Sources: Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.

Yep, I love this. Bold move. More schools have to follow this move if they want to have any control.

 

[Viennacock]

Yep, I love this. Bold move. More schools have to follow this move if they want to have any control.

Won't happen. Somebody will pick up Nico and pay him big $$'s. That said, you are right. If everyone refused to pick him up, this behavior would stop.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Won't happen. Somebody will pick up Nico and pay him big $$'s. That said, you are right. If everyone refused to pick him up, this behavior would stop.

Not so much for someone not to pay him. Of course they will. Rather for teams not to pay guys who use this kind of tactic for leverage. Have to be willing to part ways, even if someone will pay them.

Still, I don’t think that’s going to happen either. But it should.

 

[Viennacock]

Not so much for someone not to pay him. Of course they will. Rather for teams not to pay guys who use this kind of tactic for leverage. Have to be willing to part ways, even if someone will pay them.

Still, I don’t think that’s going to happen either. But it should.

It doesn't work if other teams pay him. Players will keep moving for money and doesn't solve the issue. I'm sure Nico is good going elsewhere and would do it again.

 

[Cackmandu]

5 Landing spots! https://sports.yahoo.com/article/where-qb-nico-iamaleava-land-153203285.html

Kind of gets me wondering if they come calling on Air Noland!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I’m an all-time UT hater…hate them more than Clemson…but 100% on their side here. So glad they told him to pound sand. At some point, someone has to say “enough” to these players. I’m sure he’ll land somewhere else and get the money he wants (but doesn’t deserve) but at least there’s one coach out there with some backbone.

 

[USCEE82]

IMO he has damaged his value with his hold out ploy. I hope he only gets half of what he had at UcheaT.

 

[Tngamecock]

I will never forget last spring on a sports talk show up here in Knoxville. They were talking about how great Nico was going to be. Basically going through the league quarterbacks and saying he was probably the top quarterback in the league. Someone mentioned Sellers. The other announcer said who is he? The response was oh yeah, he’s South Carolina’s quarterback that their fans believe is some sort of Nico light.

I laughed, and at the time, even though sellers had not started one game, I knew that Nico could not carry his jockstrap. I think I will call that show on Monday, and I’m not someone who calls talk shows. Wonder what their opinion is now?

 

[Piscis]

I think Nico and his family overplayed their hand and he has a lot less leverage now than he did last week. He is a middle of the pack SEC qb with a meddling father and "advisors" who wants big money. I have to admit my admiration for Huepel grew when he told Nico to hit the bricks. The SEC doesn't allow transfers between conference teams so he has to go somewhere else and it seems pretty obvious that no program is courting him. I read that he approached Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State and all three said "no thanks, not interested".

 

[Lurker123]

I think Nico and his family overplayed their hand and he has a lot less leverage now than he did last week. He is a middle of the pack SEC qb with a meddling father and "advisors" who wants big money. I have to admit my admiration for Huepel grew when he told Nico to hit the bricks. The SEC doesn't allow transfers between conference teams so he has to go somewhere else and it seems pretty obvious that no program is courting him. I read that he approached Oregon, Michigan and Ohio State and all three said "no thanks, not interested".

One report is saw had ND, UCLA and southern cal.

They might have just been throwing names out there though.

But you're right, it's late in the spring season. Are teams going to pay a premium for a guy who will start practicing with the team in the fall, right before the season starts?

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

The SEC doesn't allow transfers between conference teams

Was that after juice transferred to ole miss?