Lattimore Entering NFL Draft

[Big23Head]

Reportedly will enter this year's draft...

Marcus Lattimore will reportedly enter the NFL Draft instead of returning to South Carolina

 

[Big23Head]

And I can't spell entering...

EDIT: thanks for fixing it

 

[irishroo]

Surprises me. That was one of the more gruesome injuries in the history of football. Gonna have a hell of a time convincing NFL GMs he can get back to where he needs to be to make an impact.

 

[irishpat183]

Good luck to him. Tough break for a kid that, when healthy, is as good as they get.


I just don't see an NFL team spending big bucks on a guy that has had numerous leg issues.

 

[Big23Head]

My only thought is that doctors are telling him he will recover and he does not want to experience a third major injury in college.

 

[PraetorianND]

Surprises me. That was one of the more gruesome injuries in the history of football. Gonna have a hell of a time convincing NFL GMs he can get back to where he needs to be to make an impact.

Man that injury was awful to see. Almost lost my lunch.

I hope he can get it done in the pros. AP tore his ACL and he's punishing teams this year. It can be done.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Risk involved either way. Declare for draft risk being low pick, come back to college risk further injury. Hope it works out, best of luck to him.

 

[Ndaccountant]

He could take the Jonas Gray path and sign/be drafted but be placed on the PUP list until he is healthy again.

 

[woolybug25]

and yet.... Willis McAhee is still in the league.

 

[Corry]

and yet.... Willis McAhee is still in the league.

but was never the same

 

[NDohio]

Hope this works out well for him. He seems to be a really good kid. That injury was gruesome.

 

[Ironman8]

Hankins from OSU declared he is leaving as well.

 

[irishroo]

I wish him the best as well but an ACL is one thing but a dislocated knee is another thing altogether.

We aren't talking a dislocated kneecap that would take a month or so to get back we are talking about an injury so bad that if the trainer or doctor didn't get in back in place in the timely fashion that he did that he could have lost his leg.

Also, Adrian Peterson is borderline superhuman. There is something wrong (right?) with that man.

 

[mgriff]

Lattimore wants to focus on rehabing and working with the best NFL docs he can. It makes sense to do this because he doesn't have to focus on class and he can commit full time to getting ready to play football on Sundays. He's not going to be a high pick now but the kid can play football. Someone will give him a shot and I'm sure there will be competiion to get him thereby raising his stock based on the word from to docs. If the docs say his rehab is going well and he will get back to being a beast, then he will be fine.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I think the thought process is that he is not playing next year either way, so in order to improve his draft status at all he would have to rehab next year, play in 2014 and then go into the 2014 draft. By going in now, he'll get two extra years of NFL salary (even if it is at or near the league minimum), but the bigger key is that he will do his rehab under the care of an NFL team and with NFL resources, and he won't have to worry about class or anything - he can just put all his focus and effort into healing his leg and getting back on the field (although I do hope he puts a little something away to go back and finish his degree at some point, even if the NFL works out but especially if it doesn't).

I wish the kid the best. Can't imagine anyone not rooting for him to make it back.

Edit: mgriff just saw your post after I posted (must have started typing right before you posted), and realized we said similar things. For the record, we agree but I wasn't trying to steal any of your thoughts. Haha.

 

[mgriff]

I think the thought process is that he is not playing next year either way, so in order to improve his draft status at all he would have to rehab next year, play in 2014 and then go into the 2014 draft. By going in now, he'll get two extra years of NFL salary (even if it is at or near the league minimum), but the bigger key is that he will do his rehab under the care of an NFL team and with NFL resources, and he won't have to worry about class or anything - he can just put all his focus and effort into healing his leg and getting back on the field (although I do hope he puts a little something away to go back and finish his degree at some point, even if the NFL works out but especially if it doesn't).

I wish the kid the best. Can't imagine anyone not rooting for him to make it back.

Edit: mgriff just saw your post after I posted (must have started typing right before you posted), and realized we said similar things. For the record, we agree but I wasn't trying to steal any of your thoughts. Haha.

Haha no worries man.

 

[QuarrelsomeIrishAmerican]

When I first saw the injury, my only hope was that he could one day walk normally again without a limp. The fact that entering the NFL Draft is even being discussed means recovery must be going fairly well. I wish him luck.

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

If I'm a GM I would take a shot on him in the 7th round. Just put him on the IR and see if he could get back to where he was the next year. I find it hard to believe that he wouldn't be drafted, the later picks aren't that valuable

 

[phork]

but was never the same

I heard this Frank Gore kid made out OK.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I think he made the correct decision. Get out of dodge and make your money as soon as you can with the short shelf life of a RB. I can;t see him getting passed the 2nd either.

 

[ohara831]

He may be a late 2nd or early 3rd since he may miss a good part of his Rookie season. But with all that talent, someone will take a shot at him.

 

[dudesthisisthebest]

and yet.... Willis McAhee is still in the league.

While McGahee's was a severe injury, it is not even close to how bad Lattimores is. He's almost assuredly not playing next year anyways so he may as well make money to sit if someone is willing to take a chance on him.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I don't think that anyone will be spending a second or third round pick on him, unfortunately. There is no doubt that the talent and upside are there, but under the CBA, clubs only control rookies for four years, so they can't sign him to an extra year to make up for the one he'll miss next season. And considering there is no guarantee that he will ever play again or how good he will be if he does, drafting him is a big gamble. You'd have to give up a player you could use right away and for four years to take a player you'd only have for a max of three and maybe none. In the second and third rounds, you could find guys that can potentially play for you from the jump.

I think there is a chance he ends up being a superstar, and in that case whoever gets him will get a steal. But I just don't think he goes so early.

 

[Kak7304]

I think the thought process is that he is not playing next year either way, so in order to improve his draft status at all he would have to rehab next year, play in 2014 and then go into the 2014 draft. By going in now, he'll get two extra years of NFL salary (even if it is at or near the league minimum), but the bigger key is that he will do his rehab under the care of an NFL team and with NFL resources, and he won't have to worry about class or anything - he can just put all his focus and effort into healing his leg and getting back on the field (although I do hope he puts a little something away to go back and finish his degree at some point, even if the NFL works out but especially if it doesn't).

I wish the kid the best. Can't imagine anyone not rooting for him to make it back.

Edit: mgriff just saw your post after I posted (must have started typing right before you posted), and realized we said similar things. For the record, we agree but I wasn't trying to steal any of your thoughts. Haha.

There's no reason he can't work on his degree at the same time, but I agree with the rest of your reasoning.

 

[ChiRish]

While McGahee's was a severe injury, it is not even close to how bad Lattimores is. He's almost assuredly not playing next year anyways so he may as well make money to sit if someone is willing to take a chance on him.

Yeah I'd imagine he'd fall in the draft further than McGahee, who I think was still taken first round by the Bills. I can't imagine in today's NFL a team willing to take a gamble in the first or even the second round, even if it is for a guy like Lattimore. Some team will take a chance though, and could pay off huge down the road. Best of luck to the kid, that was one gruesome injury.

 

[rikkitikki08]

Good for him, kid is going to be a beast when healthy. Ill be rooting for him

 

[NDinMich]

Yeah I'd imagine he'd fall in the draft further than McGahee, who I think was still taken first round by the Bills. I can't imagine in today's NFL a team willing to take a gamble in the first or even the second round, even if it is for a guy like Lattimore. Some team will take a chance though, and could pay off huge down the road. Best of luck to the kid, that was one gruesome injury.

Three words for Mr Lattimore - Hire Drew Rosenhaus.

 

[Redbar]

Really going to be pulling for this guy, stay focused man.

 

[irishmarine]

Shanahan will take him in the fifth round. Allow him to sit for a year as we currently have a rookie rb that's tearing it up an put him on IR. maybe?