'13 IN ATH Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame Man & Graduate)

[Southside Sully]

I know this is crazy, but if he wanted to come back next year, use it as a redshirt year, rehab, and then play a graduate year at ND couldn't he still have that option as well? Just thinking of all of his options that could be applicable to him. Not saying this is what he would do but if this surgery comes back and says you are on the shelf for X amount of time, just an option to maximize rehab time, get his degree, potentially a masters, then still optimize his draft potential.

 

[BobbyMac]

Question for you guys...

Is it better to declare for pro and know that your stock will fall since teams arent sure you will recover from the serious knee injury to old form or

Come back the next year and prove that you are back to 100% form?

To me, #1 would seem to be just flat out being willing to make a lot less signing day. Yes #2 has risk of being injured again but....

Thoughts?

I know this is crazy, but if he wanted to come back next year, use it as a redshirt year, rehab, and then play a graduate year at ND couldn't he still have that option as well? Just thinking of all of his options that could be applicable to him. Not saying this is what he would do but if this surgery comes back and says you are on the shelf for X amount of time, just an option to maximize rehab time, get his degree, potentially a masters, then still optimize his draft potential.

If Cooper says it went well and reports go well (nerve damage) up to the draft, he's still going 1st round.

If it goes ok and there are lingering doubts about the long term, he's not going 1st round but he'll still get drafted and get the insurance.

He then has to work under a rookie contract which if he gets back to 100%, he'll get paid the real money on his 2nd contract.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I know this is crazy, but if he wanted to come back next year, use it as a redshirt year, rehab, and then play a graduate year at ND couldn't he still have that option as well? Just thinking of all of his options that could be applicable to him. Not saying this is what he would do but if this surgery comes back and says you are on the shelf for X amount of time, just an option to maximize rehab time, get his degree, potentially a masters, then still optimize his draft potential.

Just too big of a risk if they are concerned about possible nerve damage. The only way the insurance pays out is if he goes in this years draft. It's a one year policy that they would likely not be able to renew given the injury.

If you know there is no nerve damage, coming back to ND is a real possibility.

If you are concerned about nerve damage, your only real choice is to elect to enter this years draft.

 

[Irish#1]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cowboys?src=hash">#Cowboys</a> orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Cooper chosen to perform knee surgery on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Notre?src=hash">#Notre</a> Dame LB Jaylon Smith in Dallas.</p>— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Edwerderespn/status/685116846731743232">January 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Dr. Andrews must have been booked. lol

 

[Irish#1]

Question for you guys...

Is it better to declare for pro and know that your stock will fall since teams arent sure you will recover from the serious knee injury to old form or

Come back the next year and prove that you are back to 100% form?

To me, #1 would seem to be just flat out being willing to make a lot less signing day. Yes #2 has risk of being injured again but....

Thoughts?

By the time he's recovered and cleared for activity, the season will be, or will almost be over.

 

[JSBusch]

Dr. Andrews must have been booked. lol

Or he saw one of the first LB positional needs in the first round and chose their team doctor. Could be a smart move considering he's projected to drop and could possibly get a good review to team leadership from their own surgeon.

 

[GATTACA!]

If Cooper says it went well and reports go well (nerve damage) up to the draft, he's still going 1st round.

If it goes ok and there are lingering doubts about the long term, he's not going 1st round but he'll still get drafted and get the insurance.

He then has to work under a rookie contract which if he gets back to 100%, he'll get paid the real money on his 2nd contract.

So here's how I see it...

If Jaylon and his camp are confident that he will still go in the top 12 he should go to the NFL now. If he they think he will be drafted 13-32 he should come back to ND. If he thinks he will be drafted in the 2nd round he should go to the NFL.

The way the salaries work out being drafted between 33-64 + the insurance policy is worth more than the contract value of picks 13-32.

So if he thinks he will be picked 1-12 or 33-64 financially it makes the most sense to leave. If he thinks he is going late first: come back get your degree/work towards your masters, rehab, maybe play a little at the end of the season based on how the recovery goes, and then be able to perform for scouts at the pro day and the combine. If he is back to 100% he is back to being a top 5 pick and making the big bucks, if he isn't 100% he might slip and be able to collect the insurance and make up the difference.

 

[NDinTEXAS]

A little bit off topic but does Notre Dame foot the bill for the surgery? I have a family member that works for USW and believes that student athletes should all belong to a union. Although I am a union worker I disagree and argued that all large universities pay for such surgerys?

 

[BGIF]

Dr. Andrews must have been booked. lol

I checked with my neighbor, not so.

 

[ND NYC]

financially would sure suck if he got picked with very last pick in first round: wouldn't get any insurance $, and would get worst possible payout for first rounder for contract #1.

would go to a super bowl winner though...so maybe not all bad.

truth be told all I really care about is that he can play again, and play close or equal to what he was.

anything else is a tragedy. hope surgery went well today for him.

 

[FWIrish4]

Heard it went well and was successful.

 

[ab2cmiller]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JAYLON SMITH UPDATE:
Source: "Surgery went well. Had his ACL reconstructed and LCL and posterolateral corner repaired" MCL is fine. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fox28?src=hash">#fox28</a></p>— Dean Huppert (@DeanH_FOX28) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanH_FOX28/status/685263129811521536">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[stlnd01]

A little bit off topic but does Notre Dame foot the bill for the surgery? I have a family member that works for USW and believes that student athletes should all belong to a union. Although I am a union worker I disagree and argued that all large universities pay for such surgerys?

I believe they would. For one thing all students have university health insurance, which I'd think would cover a major surgery. And they must for athletes, as probably at least guys have surgery a year for football-related injuries at Notre Dame alone. They're not paying for those themselves. I guess they could be on their parents' health insurance. But I'm pretty sure it's on the school.

 

[stlnd01]

So here's how I see it...

If Jaylon and his camp are confident that he will still go in the top 12 he should go to the NFL now. If he they think he will be drafted 13-32 he should come back to ND. If he thinks he will be drafted in the 2nd round he should go to the NFL.

The way the salaries work out being drafted between 33-64 + the insurance policy is worth more than the contract value of picks 13-32.

I'd generally agree with this, except I'm not sure it's so clear that he gets all $5M just for slipping out of the first round. The difference in salary between a low first round and high second round pick isn't $5 million, so I'd think the insurance company would fight that award. Is it "up to" $5M with the $5M being if he falls out of the draft entirely?

But the difference between being a top ten or 12 pick and being a late first-round pick is definitely more than $5M. If that's the impact of his injury, he may well be best off sticking in college another year.

 

[Irish#1]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JAYLON SMITH UPDATE:
Source: "Surgery went well. Had his ACL reconstructed and LCL and posterolateral corner repaired" MCL is fine. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fox28?src=hash">#fox28</a></p>— Dean Huppert (@DeanH_FOX28) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanH_FOX28/status/685263129811521536">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I believe repaired may mean not a total tear, which would be good news.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I'd generally agree with this, except I'm not sure it's so clear that he gets all $5M just for slipping out of the first round. The difference in salary between a low first round and high second round pick isn't $5 million, so I'd think the insurance company would fight that award. Is it "up to" $5M with the $5M being if he falls out of the draft entirely?

But the difference between being a top ten or 12 pick and being a late first-round pick is definitely more than $5M. If that's the impact of his injury, he may well be best off sticking in college another year.

This isn't a routine policy, the terms are whatever they want them to be. They did their research, they concluded he was not likely to slip out of the first round. Sounds like they were right. He just destroyed his knee and he is still projected first round by everyone. So they are going to make $50k for doing almost nothing. If he had wanted $10M in insurance, it would have cost more...

 

[NDRock]

Heard it went well and was successful.

Never heard a surgeon say it went any other way. It would be funny to hear a doctor say something along the lines of "it wasn't my best effort today" or "can't win em all".

 

[FWIrish4]

Never heard a surgeon say it went any other way. It would be funny to hear a doctor say something along the lines of "it wasn't my best effort today" or "can't win em all".

Haha I know I know. I was just passing it along. But I guess he is expected to have a full recovery, which is great to hear. That may be some great optimism coming from some close to him, but regardless that's awesome since there were some nerve issues.

 

[NDRock]

Haha I know I know. I was just passing it along. But I guess he is expected to have a full recovery, which is great to hear. That may be some great optimism coming from some close to him, but regardless that's awesome since there were some nerve issues.

Seriously, I am glad that he's got a good chance of making a full recovery. Thanks for the good info you've provided.

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Jaylon Smith's ACL, LCL surgery "was solid," source tells SI. Nerve is "healthy and in great condition." <a href="https://t.co/zOTCjFNt15">https://t.co/zOTCjFNt15</a></p>— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianHamiltonSI/status/685479411877953536">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[rtrn2glory]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: Jaylon Smith's ACL, LCL surgery "was solid," source tells SI. Nerve is "healthy and in great condition." <a href="https://t.co/zOTCjFNt15">https://t.co/zOTCjFNt15</a></p>— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianHamiltonSI/status/685479411877953536">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Outstanding news!!

 

[BeauBenken]

So it was the LCL? That's the no bueno one though, right?

Glad the surgery went well. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who would have felt bad win or lose after the Fiesta Bowl due to this injury. Kid sure as hell didn't deserve that ending to his college career.

 

[IrishLax]

Never heard a surgeon say it went any other way. It would be funny to hear a doctor say something along the lines of "it wasn't my best effort today" or "can't win em all".

Haha very true. Never publicly do you hear "well, it's not looking good..." ... although I bet if we really looked we could find a few instances of complications being reported.

 

[IrishLax]

So it was the LCL? That's the no bueno one though, right?

Glad the surgery went well. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who would have felt bad win or lose after the Fiesta Bowl due to this injury. Kid sure as hell didn't deserve that ending to his college career.

Yeah, LCL is really bad relative to MCL.

 

[PANDFAN]

So it was the LCL? That's the no bueno one though, right?

Glad the surgery went well. I'm sure I'm not the only one here who would have felt bad win or lose after the Fiesta Bowl due to this injury. Kid sure as hell didn't deserve that ending to his college career.

that's the worst one to have repaired and toughest to come back from....it was reported by some that it was the lcl but then others said it was just acl,mcl....but i guess it def was lcl and acl

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Report: Smith Expected to Make ' Full Recovery'" via <a href="https://twitter.com/teamstream">@TeamStream</a> <a href="https://t.co/Aqisr9yZhV">https://t.co/Aqisr9yZhV</a></p>— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) <a href="https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/685485422688993280">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[rtrn2glory]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Report: Smith Expected to Make ' Full Recovery'" via <a href="https://twitter.com/teamstream">@TeamStream</a> <a href="https://t.co/Aqisr9yZhV">https://t.co/Aqisr9yZhV</a></p>— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) <a href="https://twitter.com/nfldraftscout/status/685485422688993280">January 8, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Hope he's right.

Edit: Didn't see the article link. Seems very positive.

 

[IrishLion]

No nerve damage is awesome to hear.

Hopefully he can get back to being the dynamic and explosive Jaylon that we've come to appreciate.

I felt physically ill when I was watching the game and saw his injury. It felt like a personal "f*ck you" from the Universe to the ND community.

 

[Irish#1]

Full article from SI.com

As dire as Jaylon Smith's knee injury seemed when he was carted off the field at the Fiesta Bowl, there was optimism that the Notre Dame linebacker will make a full recovery after a Thursday surgery to assess and repair the damage.

Smith tore the ACL and LCL in his left knee against Ohio State on Jan. 1, but the procedure to repair the ligaments "went about as well as it possibly could have," a source with knowledge of the situation told SI.

"What we do know is there's going to be a full recovery," the source said. "The repair is solid, and he's very optimistic. We're optimistic. And Jaylon is ready to get going with his rehab."

The repair of the ACL and LCL "couldn't have gone better," per the source. Though clearly significant, the ligament damage was the lesser of the concerns for the All-America performer thought to be a lock for a first-round NFL draft selection.

There were reports of possible nerve damage within the knee, which would have loomed much larger for Smith's immediate future. But the source offered a positive report about that after the surgery.

"The nerve was healthy and in great condition," the source said.

The 6'2", 240-pound Smith finished his junior season at Notre Dame with a team-best 114 tackles and ranked third on the Fighting Irish with nine tackles for loss. His decision regarding an early departure to the NFL draft is expected in the coming days, before the Jan. 18 deadline to declare.

 

[Southside Sully]

Not saying it didn't go well, but do you think some of this could be calculated PR to get off his back so he can be at least somewhat more along to recovery when he goes to meet with teams, and their teams doctors? really hoping he goes to Bears at 11.