The NFL just won its appeal of a decision that allowed individuals fewer than three years removed from their high school graduation to enter into the league's draft. Hell Yeah! NOT!!!!
The NFL completely dropped the ball on this decision. Maurice Clarett and Mike Williams, among other prospects, should be allowed to enter the draft if they choose to make that risky decision. A person has the right to work and if an employer (NFL teams that would have drafted Clarett or Williams) is willing and ready to hire an individual, then they should. On the other hand, if they have no interest in the prospect then they should not draft him.
What it all boils down to is a simple economic theory-supply and demand. Econ 101. If no demand exists for a player, then the player walks away and the supply is inevitably eliminated. Similarly, if a group of friends buy too much PBR Light, then the store will raise the price on you, but that's a different story.
I understand that from a legal standpoint a collective bargaining agreement can be upheld in the court of law and, based on this decision, it is legal for the NFL to have such a rule. However, I am not a lawyer and thus I will choose not to argue from a legal standpoint, but from an ethical and intelligent standpoint. Frankly, I think the decision is dim-witted.
The NFL is the only pro sport in this country that has such an arbitrary stipulation.??While I agree that most college football players need at least three years in school to be ready to contribute in the NFL, not every person matures at the same rate.
For example, three of my former roommates are going bald and I have a delightful head of hair still remaining fully intact (knock on wood). The point is people develop differently and nobody, not me and not Paul Tagliabue, should be able to place an age restriction upon entering a league based on a subjective opinion as to when a person is said to be physically mature.
Have you seen Mike Williams' Since when is 6'4' and 230 pounds not physically mature? NFL scouts and GMs agree he is polished enough physically and mentally as he would have unquestionably been taken in the first round.
If LeBron James and Amare Stoudamire can be seen as physical exceptions in their sport, how is Mike Williams different'
There are teenagers in this country playing professional baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer and tennis. You name the sport, they are making the money in it. Football remains the only exception. Granted, it is a more physical sport and most would be incapable of participating professionally, but if that is the case, nobody is forcing a team to draft them.
These types of things have an uncanny ability to take care of themselves, especially in the NFL where the average player lasts roughly three years. Athletes with no college, some college and four years of college all know this and are aware of the consequences.
As much as I understand all arguments, there is only one positive I can find out of the entire situation. Lee Evans now stands to earn a bit more coin next year as he just moved up one slot higher on every teams' draft board courtesy of Mike Williams' name being withdrawn.??
The bottom line is that there should be no age restriction in any pro sport. If an athlete is talented enough to enter the league and compete he should be able to do so with no questions asked. Unless of course, his name is Devin Harris, whom I will personally take the time right now to ask for one more year with the acknowledgement that I may have completely contradicted all my aforementioned arguments.
Tim can be reached for comment at tsherman@wisc.edu
