Should RB be allowed to declare after 2 seasons?

We all know that RBs have a very short lifespan in the NFL. So, after only 2 seasons of play, shouldn't RBs be allowed to enter the NFL draft? I think if the NCAA which is just getting stupider, and stupider, should pressure the NFL into allowing RBs to go earlier, and that way those guys have a chance to have an extra year of earning. So, what say you? Nay, Yay, or screw you Horse?

With all the medical issues going on in the NFL, I highly doubt it is worth even considering for them allowing younger players enter the draft earlier and get pounded by grown men. And if kids want to get paid before entering the NFL draft they can always go to Canada and wait until they are eligible.

I have thought about the CFL route. I am not sure what there rules are......as for Grown men, well there are some RBs that are specimen, and could play in the NFL. I also think that NFL types are smart enough not to draft a player that is not mature enough to face grown men.

That is true but for every Peterson or Lattimore there are hundreds of others who are not physically ready. Much like the NBA, for every Lebron James and Kobe Bryant, there are hundreds of other young guys who watered down the NBA and have stunted the growth of franchises and turned off viewers from the NBA. The NFL has is golden right now where regardless of who is playing the ratings are huge, the NBA prays that 2 big market teams square off in the playoffs. A Celtics/Lakers finals equals gold for the NBA, a Bills/Chiefs AFC divisional round game equals gold for the NFL.

Plus, the players union would actually team with the NFL on this. Their older veterans would be losing their spots for guys who would most likely sit the bench. Remember a vet making the minimum brings more money to the union than a guy making minimum on his rookie contract.

I see a couple problems if the NFL approved the RB exception rule.  First, the position a player may play in college may not necessarily be the one he plays in the NFL.  Second, some players played multiple positions in college.  Third, how would the rule be applied to FBs and/or H-backs.  All three issues have lead to a couple questions I would wanted answered before I can give my opinion.

What guidelines would the NFL use in deciding who could entry the draft as a RB?
Does RB only apply to HB/TB or does it apply to FB and/or H-backs too?
If it includes FB and/or H-backs too, then wouldn't it apply to TEs too since a lot of TEs often end up playing a H-back in certain offenses/formations? 
If a player played multiple positions in college, then could he apply for a waiver?  If so, then what guidelines would the NFL follow in granting the waiver?
If a draftee is listed as a RB, but ends up playing another position in the NFL, then would their be any punishment for the NFL teams? *this question applies to both draftees, who only played RB or RB was one of the multiple positions played in college, and would not be eligible under the current 3 year rule
How would the NFL handle a draftee, who may not have played a single down at RB, but at least 1 NFL is considering converting him to RB and would not be eligible under the current 3 year rule?  *bascially would the draftee be given a waiver or not





 
    

No!  In fact I wish they would change the rule to 4 yrs not 3.......CFB would be even better....

I also think that NFL types are smart enough not to draft a player that is not mature enough to face grown men.

LOL - really?  Clarrett ring a bell, age not so much with Adam "Pac Man" Jones

Let it be 3 years and let college football have at least those players till then.  4 years, seriously ... these guys are risking serious injuries and future financial potential for 3 already, its not like the majority of these kids really wanted to go to college in the first place and a "scholarship" was their priority to begin with or the "glory" of playing for the school. 

Let's be real, its whatever program that can provide the best opportunity to for them to jump to the NFL level ... the majority of them will be disappointed but let's not kid ourselves as fans this is the objective as a "college athlete" playing football. 

There should not be a distinction of any position for declaration ...

LOL - really?  Clarrett ring a bell, age not so much with Adam "Pac Man" Jones

my mistake, I meant physically.

my mistake, I meant physically.

got your point but unfortunetly there isn't any medical test to prove "grown men" status for either position. 

got your point but unfortunetly there isn't any medical test to prove "grown men" status for either position. 

true, but if as a sophomore, you have a guy that is 5'11" and weights 215 lbs. I think you feel pretty good that this guy has an NFL body.

true, but if as a sophomore, you have a guy that is 5'11" and weights 215 lbs. I think you feel pretty good that this guy has an NFL body.

your opening up a pandora's box there my friend, especially if you look at some high school kids if you make that claim for sophmores you can make the same claims legally with those parameters in high school as well.

Nope, no special rules by position.  And so what if they have a year's less earning power?.  The base minimum salary for an NFL rookie in 2013 will be $405,000 and it rises to $420,000 in 2014.  There are automatic increases built into the salary structure as well.  The minimum salary for a 2nd year player in 2013 is $480,000, 3rd year is $555,000 and so on.

The median salary in the US is roughly $50,000.  If a football player lasts in the league one year, he's got roughly an 8 year head start on the average joe, not to mention the fact that he came out of school (assuming he wasn't totally stupid) with little or no debt while joe is probably trying to pay back thousands of dollars in school loans.


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your opening up a pandora's box there my friend, especially if you look at some high school kids if you make that claim for sophmores you can make the same claims legally with those parameters in high school as well.

I don't see how. A HS player can claim all he wants, he still needs to wait those two years. Lowering the time frame doesn't mean every RB is going to do it. Only a few are good enough to do it. And I have to imagine, there are very few HS RBs that would even dare to think they could be playing in the pro's out of HS. But, maybe they can go to the CFL.

I don't see how. A HS player can claim all he wants, he still needs to wait those two years.

if he has the size and speed of a NFL player ... why should he wait using your logic.  To get that college experience you mean?  lol
Let's face it, if your logic is he's big and fast enough - attending a university or more so for the NFL to see if he can make it and colleges are simply a farm system.  Why go 2 years, why not one year ... heck why go at all and get them fresh with limited hits.

Why not get the kids out of high school and put them into NFL development squads and just save the NFL teams money? 

Not mocking but you see how the pandora's box can be opened

So, after only 2 seasons of play, shouldn't RBs be allowed to enter the NFL draft?

How many underclassmen runningbacks even enter the draft as juniors? Well only 12 entered this year. If they allowed sophomores, I think that number would barely go up. I think most NFL teams would say they need more seasoning before they are NFL ready. I don't see the point in allowing sophomore running backs to enter the NFL.

I see a couple problems if the NFL approved the RB exception rule.  First, the position a player may play in college may not necessarily be the one he plays in the NFL.  Second, some players played multiple positions in college.  Third, how would the rule be applied to FBs and/or H-backs.  All three issues have lead to a couple questions I would wanted answered before I can give my opinion.

And that would be the biggest problem. I think just give a set of guidelines to players. If you get 620 touches from the backfield. Meaning hand offs or passes, all coming from the backfield, then you qualify to enter early into the draft.

If a draftee is listed as a RB, but ends up playing another position in the NFL, then would their be any punishment for the NFL teams? *this question applies to both draftees, who only played RB or RB was one of the multiple positions played in college, and would not be eligible under the current 3 year rule
How would the NFL handle a draftee, who may not have played a single down at RB, but at least 1 NFL is considering converting him to RB and would not be eligible under the current 3 year rule?  *bascially would the draftee be given a waiver or not

I think that if you go through two full seasons in college ranks playing as a RB. When you turn pro, it shouldn't matter where they place you. is sorta like paying your dues. The player paid his dues by playing RBs in college for two seasons. Now he gets to enter early, and play whatever position. But, most likely he will stay as a RB.

I think that should be considered due to the short lifespan of RB in the NFL.  Of course everyone will say they're a RB and then go after 2 years and then play their other position in the NFL. 

if he has the size and speed of a NFL player ... why should he wait using your logic.  To get that college experience you mean?  lol
Let's face it, if your logic is he's big and fast enough - attending a university or more so for the NFL to see if he can make it and colleges are simply a farm system.  Why go 2 years, why not one year ... heck why go at all and get them fresh with limited hits.

Why not get the kids out of high school and put them into NFL development squads and just save the NFL teams money? 

Not mocking but you see how the pandora's box can be opened

if he is, he is. But I don't see how its a problem. He can be fast enough, and all that. But he most pay his dues. So, what I say is, you must have 625 touches in two seasons, minimum, and you get to enter early in to the draft. That would solve a lot of problems I think. Le'Veon Bell rushed the ball this season for 382 times. That is silly. Look at the Bama's RB. I think Saban, chews them and spits them out. Okay.....let me gather my thoughts.

A- if after two seasons, you have touched the ball more than 500 times from the backfield (that first number is way too high, lets bring it to 500), whether is hand offs, or catches. You may enter the draft.

B- if for some reason, you get your 500 touches in your freshman year, you still have to play another year.

C- All players that meet the criteria to enter the draft, should seek counseling from NFL experts to let them know, how likely or unlikely their chances are, of being drafted. They may even contact agents, but not sign with them (this may be a bad idea, I will admit, I just want them to get as much feedback as they can, before making a decision).

D- you enter the draft at your own risk.

I get what you're saying but the big thing is you flat out cannot do it. With the fad of running quarterbacks now and an injury blow like RGIII has, then athletic quarterbacks are going to have the same claim because with the pounding they will take in the NFL they will only get 1 legitimate contract before they are done.

A. Putting a number on it could possibly lead to lawsuits etc or corruption of coaches keeping kids from that magical number like Charles Comiskey did with the 1919 Black Sox.

C. A player reaching out to an agent is a pandora's box that will never be allowed by the NFL. And besides, how many times are those "experts" wrong. One guy could say 2nd rounder, another could say 5th and all the while once he declares, free agency happens and say there is another experienced running back and the team that wanted him in the 5th round decides to go free agency?

D. Every player enters the draft on the their own risk, the biggest issue is there needs to be a safety net as in a developmental league or these young players need to get over the fact of being scared to play in Canada. A NFL developmental league will never last because of money much as why the original USFL died off. Everybody wants to get paid in football so bad. They need to take a page out of MLB and look and see the peanuts that most MLB players make in the bus leagues (except for top prospects, which equated to the NFL would be top 3 round picks) but they do what they care regardless of pay to reach that ultimate prize.

Doesn't seem to hard, get 4 4 team leagues. 1 in Cali, 1 in Texas, 1 in Florida and one in some other southern state like Bama or Louisiana. Makes travel less expensive, allow a fanbase to grow that can also travel. It seems so simple if it were not for agents and players wanting to make too much money for a developmental league to not be in the red from day 1.

A- if after two seasons, you have touched the ball more than 500 times from the backfield (that first number is way too high, lets bring it to 500), whether is hand offs, or catches. You may enter the draft.

What if a quarterback throws 800 passes by the end of his sophomore season (35 passes a game)?  What if a receiver has 160 catches after two seasons.  What if a linebacker has 240 tackles?  What if a lineman plays 1500 plays (roughly 60 snaps a game)?  What if a DB has 15 interceptions in two years?  What if a kicker has 40 field goals or a punter has punted 100 times?


No - the rule is fine the way it is.  Three years removed from high school is easily good enough.