(02-01-2018 12:19 PM)Volkmar Wrote:  Never heard of him. Guess that makes him like many other stars in C-USA. lol
Good luck, I guess? But if he's that injury-prone playing in C-USA, the NFL might put him 6 feet under.

Has he graduated early? If he has any sense, he'd at least take advantage of his free ride and get his degree first.

(02-01-2018 12:19 PM)Volkmar Wrote:  Never heard of him. Guess that makes him like many other stars in C-USA. lol

(12-19-2017 10:41 AM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:39 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:35 AM)DNEagle Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:08 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 07:15 AM)DNEagle Wrote:  There was no receiver in CUSA that came in with more fanfare for 2017 than Richie.

He has seen what injuries can do to a college career. He has plenty of film that reveals he is a high caliber receiver. If he's completely healthy, making the jump is a pretty good idea on his behalf. I think the reward of (just) making someone's 53-man roster is better than the risk of a potential debilitating college injury.

Had he played this year and produced another 1000 yard season no doubt. Would have been one of the most impressive career collegiate performances in NCAA history. And he probably goes in the 3rd or 4th round - maybe higher if he got lucky.

But he's got a deck stacked against him...

1. Most important were the injuries. He was hurt in the Hawaii Bowl and had to leave with what I believe was a fractured collarbone. In just his third game this year, he sustained an ankle injury and basically missed four games. He tried to return against UAB, but played that game at like 60% health. The following week he was injured again against Marshall and lost for the season. That's three severe injuries in less than half a season of games played.

2. He's only about 5'7" and 170 lbs. When is the last time an NFL drafted someone this size who left early from a non-power school?

3. He's already said he would not stand for the national anthem if he was in the NFL. Over this past year he has done absolutely nothing to impress NFL execs and scouts.

While he does have an excellent body of work as a freshman and sophomore, the fact that he's been injured so much of late is going to derail his draft status. I'm sure he will still land on somewhere as an UDFA, but he needed to show scouts he could recover from an injury and play again. He did not do that. Going to be a big red flag for the league.

My goodness, I am so blind or very ill-informed. He did not look 5'7'' in the MTSU games I viewed. Definitely plays bigger than his size.

Aside from the political stuff, his statue and the other points you made are definitely (negative) factors. But, even making it as an UDFA has got to be more enticing than another possible collegiate injury....that could potentially further damage future NFL aspirations.

He might be 5'8". Listed as 5'9" but I definitely not as big as he's listed.

Tommy Shuler type guy.

(12-18-2017 04:56 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 04:53 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 04:43 PM)Jack Bauer Wrote:  I don't think it's a bad idea at all. The NFL is in love with his type of receiver. Why risk getting hurt in college if he wouldn't be improving his stock.

He's undersized, G5, and coming off a season ending injury. He could have absolutely improved his draft stock next year.

Not only that but has left games with injuries three times in his last five games. The league will note that more than anything else he's accomplished - especially given his size. He will not be drafted.

(04-28-2018 05:19 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  As I mentioned dumb/bad advice and I thought he would go undrafted but goes late seventh round. Just amazes me how many players make bad decisions by leaving early. He could have returned with Brent, put up another 100 reception/1500 yard season and gotten drafted in the second or third round next year. Just stupid.

(05-02-2018 07:37 AM)tyler90wm Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 05:19 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  As I mentioned dumb/bad advice and I thought he would go undrafted but goes late seventh round. Just amazes me how many players make bad decisions by leaving early. He could have returned with Brent, put up another 100 reception/1500 yard season and gotten drafted in the second or third round next year. Just stupid.

Or there's a chance he could experience a career ending injury and never see any money from work he's put in since he was a kid. I'm not saying you're wrong, it's just a scenario where someone has to weigh risks and benefits.

What would be the difference in salary being drafted 3rd/4th vs 7th?

ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:Here are some numbers breakdowns for James. NFL salaries are already capped for rookies, and based on where he was drafted he is essentially going to make the minimum for his four year contract (assuming he makes the team). He's actually a few thousand more cumulatively but I will use the cap numbers for ease of use since they are so close with where he was drafted.

Year 1: $480K
Year 2: $555K
Year 3: $640K
Year 4: $705K
S-Bonus: $76K

Average Annual Value (AAV) w/Bonus: $614,000

Now, lets say he returns and stays healthy demonstrating to the league that he can rebound. He would get a huge boost in his scouting profile. Let's assume that leads to being a middle third round pick. I will use this year's numbers for comparison but the actual 2019 figures would be several percentage points higher, and I'm just going to spread the total value out here the same over the four years. It's also important to point out that being drafted in the third round carries a much higher probability of making the team than the seventh round.

AAV= $950,525
S-Bonus: $932,000

AAV w/Bonus=$1.2 million

First two years difference
$2.4M - ($480K+$555K)=$1.36M

First two years in real numbers (since signing bonus is paid up front).
Leave: $1.1 million
Stay: $2.83 million

(05-02-2018 10:52 AM)Ole Blue Wrote:  Congrats to Richie. Hope he has a lot of success. If he does well, he'll see his salary increase. Either way -- NFL players make tons more money than anyone else. I'm sure he is appreciative of the opportunity and blessing.

(05-02-2018 12:38 PM)Sninho Wrote:  

(05-02-2018 10:52 AM)Ole Blue Wrote:  Congrats to Richie. Hope he has a lot of success. If he does well, he'll see his salary increase. Either way -- NFL players make tons more money than anyone else. I'm sure he is appreciative of the opportunity and blessing.

I'm not trying to derail this thread, but compared to other professional athletes, NFL players do not make tons more money than anyone else. There are definitely players getting paid insanely well, but on average, NFL players aren't paid much in comparison. Here's the average Salaries of Professional Athletes broken down by league:

NBA: $7.15M
MLB: $4.47M
INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE!!: $3.9M
English Premier League: $3.44M
NHL: $3.11M
NFL: $2.70M

The average NFL player is making less than 1/3 what the average NBA player is making. Rookies make even less, given what TIBL mentioned earlier with regards to the rookie wage scale. The key is to survive and do well enough to cash in on your second contract, which luckily for Richie would come sooner due to being drafted so low. Compared to me, Richie's already making more than I will for a few years. Compared to Will Barton with the Denver Nuggets, Richie's making peanuts.

(05-02-2018 01:00 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  There's more people on an NFL roster than there are on a MLB roster, NHL roster, and NBA roster combined. It also has the shortest season. So sheer numbers and potentially only working 16 times a year are big factors (yes I know....practice.....cue Allen Iverson). Makes sense that NFL salaries average is the lowest.

(05-02-2018 01:11 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(05-02-2018 01:00 PM)shiftyeagle Wrote:  There's more people on an NFL roster than there are on a MLB roster, NHL roster, and NBA roster combined. It also has the shortest season. So sheer numbers and potentially only working 16 times a year are big factors (yes I know....practice.....cue Allen Iverson). Makes sense that NFL salaries average is the lowest.

Not combined (see below) but your point is fairly made otherwise.

NFL=53

MLB=25
NHL=20 or 23 depending on dressed vs active
NBA=14

Total: 59/62 > 53