Todd Gurley - running back for the Georgia Bulldogs
This week’s Blog topic was provided by Ricky Davis who has done a nice and insightful article on the Georgia Bulldogs’ running back Todd Gurley. (Click here for the full article.) Essentially, Gurley is facing the dilemma: should he stay another year or graduate and take the money?
While each individual and case is different, we at Faniacs believe that, if you have to ask the question; then stay in school. Why?
To start with, NFL careers are notoriously short:
“The statistic depicts the average length of a player's career in the National Football League, considering different aspects influencing the length of a playing career. According to the NFL Players Association the average career length is about 3.3 years. The NFL claims that the average career is about 6 years (for players who make a club's opening day roster in their rookie season).” – Statista.com
Three point three years is a very short period, and NFL contracts are only good for one season. One season: that means for no reason whatsoever you can be cut in year two, and they don’t have to pay you.
If you are on the fence about leaving, if scouts aren’t sure you should go, if teams aren’t beating down your door, if your projection is in the late round, that is not good. For instance, this year’s 256th pick received a $45,000 signing bonus and a salary of $430,000. Sounds good, but what does this really mean? What if you play one year and then you’re done? Also keep in mind that due to Uncle Sam your cash in pocket is closer to $300,000. While that is good money, you will still have to work after your one year in the NFL is over, and money does tend to run out.
Now contrast that with the 15th pick who received a $5,234,328 signing bonus and a $1,728,582 salary. Even with Uncle Sam’s greedy little paws in there, you still get around $4,500,000. That is money that, if invested well, can get you through a lifetime. Mind you, this is the money that the 15th pick received even if he never played a down in the NFL.
So the name of the game for financial success in the NFL is to be a top draft pick. The money is quite good even into the top picks of the 2nd round. Which brings us back to Gurley: if you have to ask, then stay in school. A player may not have a breakout year if he stays an extra year, but maybe that is a sign that there will never be a breakout year. He can, however, earn his college degree, which is money in the bank.
So what do you think? Does this make sense? Leaving for the NFL only makes sense if you are 99% sure you will go in the first round or early second. Do you agree? Yes or no? Please comment via the button below.