March Madness moving to April?

[Spider-Dan]

The NFL has effectively colluded with the NCAA to create a system where in order to be eligible to make millions in the NFL, players (who have no intention of completing the sham degree being "offered" by a university) must first play for free for at least two years.  And unlike pretty much any other job in any other field, you are expressly prohibited from making ANY SORT OF ENDORSEMENT MONEY off of your extremely lucrative name; only the university is allowed to profit off of your name.

"Exploitation of teenagers" is about right.

[MikeO]

The NFL has effectively colluded with the NCAA to create a system where in order to be eligible to make millions in the NFL, players (who have no intention of completing the sham degree being "offered" by a university) must first play for free for at least two years.  And unlike pretty much any other job in any other field, you are expressly prohibited from making ANY SORT OF ENDORSEMENT MONEY off of your extremely lucrative name; only the university is allowed to profit off of your name.

"Exploitation of teenagers" is about right.

Again, not a god given right to play in the NFL. Enough high school athletes do want to chase their NFL dream and are willing to play in the NCAA and under their current system of just getting a free education as a reward. If you don't like the system, they don't be a part of it. Choose another profession, nobody is entitled to play in the NFL

[Dave Gray]

MikeO, that's not how law works.  Because the NFL is a managed monopoly, they can't just set whatever "my way or the highway" laws they want. 

[MikeO]

MikeO, that's not how law works.  Because the NFL is a managed monopoly, they can't just set whatever "my way or the highway" laws they want. 

How is this an NFL problem? I thought you were upset with the NCAA and their system.

There will ALWAYS be enough players willing to go through the NCAA system "as is" to get to the NFL. The NFL will always have players come through the NCAA system. That isn't an issue. Not sure what your point is now.

[Fau Teixeira]

my point is that I don't have to support a system i don't like or agree with either by watching it or by allowing an opportunity to comment on it to go unused.

from awareness comes change

[Dave Gray]

How is this an NFL problem? I thought you were upset with the NCAA and their system.

I wouldn't say I'm upset with either the NFL or NCAA.  It doesn't affect me too much, but I do recognize that the system is bad and probably should be against the law.

You may have the technicality of saying that there are other choices, but for elite players, the only real path to success for football is 2 years of college and then the NFL draft.  The argument of playing in Europe instead is, in my opinion, semantics.

So, you're refusing an otherwise capable person to compete in their field because of age and the only option available to them is to work for free for 2 years, while other organizations and people get filthy rich off of their product.

[Phishfan]

So, you're refusing an otherwise capable person to compete in their field because of age and the only option available to them is to work for free for 2 years, while other organizations and people get filthy rich off of their product.

Here's the rub. They aren't capable. This isn't the NBA (who didn't have a very high success rate so they implemented a plan as well). An 18 year old isn't developed enough to even sniff an NFL field.

[Dave Gray]

^ It's great that you believe that.

But if Sophomores were allowed to be in the draft, the NFL teams would draft them.

You're taking people who would otherwise be able to get paid millions and millions of dollars now and telling them "no, you can't work in this entire industry" (because it's a monopoly).  Instead, you have to go work for free, while these organizations sell your rights and likeness in multi-billion dollar industry.

[Sunstroke]

I'm not sure I completely agree with either side in this debate. I definitely think the NCAA is capitalizing (literally) on having a product that people will pay for (college sports). That said, the VAST majority of recent HS graduates simply aren't qualified to play at the professional level to make the big bucks. So, sure, the college may be taking advantage of the student athletes a little bit, but they are also training them and developing them so that they ARE qualified to play professional football in a few short years, plus...if the student athletes put a little effort into the student part, they can get a degree that will help them earn a viable living after their football days are over.

 So, yes...the college is definitely taking from the students, but they are also giving the students what they need to pursue the profession of their choice.

[Phishfan]

^ It's great that you believe that.

But if Sophomores were allowed to be in the draft, the NFL teams would draft them.

You're taking people who would otherwise be able to get paid millions and millions of dollars now and telling them "no, you can't work in this entire industry" (because it's a monopoly).  Instead, you have to go work for free, while these organizations sell your rights and likeness in multi-billion dollar industry.

Dude, the world believes a high school senior would not be able to play in the NFL. You may be the only one to ever disagree with that Dave. Come on.

I have no problem with Sophomores entering but to imply high school kids can jump to the NFL is ridiculous.

Now, just to clarify where I stand on the issue currently, I think these players should be able to seek out compensation as long as it does not interfere with a school's sponsorship (shoe contract for example) and I think the schools could offer more. I don't think the players should be getting straight payment from the schools though. EA Sports should be compensating for their likeness and Jockey should be able to pay them for modeling.

[Dave Gray]

Dude, the world believes a high school senior would not be able to play in the NFL. You may be the only one to ever disagree with that Dave. Come on.

I have no problem with Sophomores entering but to imply high school kids can jump to the NFL is ridiculous.

Now, just to clarify where I stand on the issue currently, I think these players should be able to seek out compensation as long as it does not interfere with a school's sponsorship (shoe contract for example) and I think the schools could offer more. I don't think the players should be getting straight payment from the schools though. EA Sports should be compensating for their likeness and Jockey should be able to pay them for modeling.

I'm not implying that I think anyone is ready to play or not.  I just don't like refusing to allow them employment, should a potential employer deem that they're ready, while at the same time, refusing to allow them to be paid for the previous level.

And I didn't bring up high school at all.

It's the combo of legislating that they're not allowed to play in the NFL while also legislating that they can't be paid in college that's the problem.  These players OBVIOUSLY have a marketable skill (as it's being marketed for billions) and yet they have no means to collect on it, because it's a monopoly at both the NFL and college level.

So, theoretically, there could be a Sophomore in college that's better than people getting drafted and teams would want him on their rosters.  He is not allowed to go into the workforce to get paid and is essentially forced to do that job for free and they're not even allowed to make money off of their own likeness, signatures, modeling, etc -- as you suggest.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I think baseball and hockey have it right.  You can prove yourself in college or the minors (while being paid).  Football and basketball you need to go college even if college is not right for you.

[MikeO]

I wouldn't say I'm upset with either the NFL or NCAA.  It doesn't affect me too much, but I do recognize that the system is bad and probably should be against the law.

You may have the technicality of saying that there are other choices, but for elite players, the only real path to success for football is 2 years of college and then the NFL draft.  The argument of playing in Europe instead is, in my opinion, semantics.

So, you're refusing an otherwise capable person to compete in their field because of age and the only option available to them is to work for free for 2 years, while other organizations and people get filthy rich off of their product.

Against the law? WHY? These players get a FREE EDUCATION worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. If they are dumb enough to blow it...that's on them. If they don't take the classes seriously...that's on them! They know the system they are signing up for. It's like saying I want to be a cop but don't want to go through the Police Academy to get there.   If you want the end result you must go through the system. Otherwise, choose another profession!

If the players want to be paid, fine....then no scholarship and make them pay tuition like every other rank and file student.  They aren't going to get FREE college education and paid a salary to boot. They can't have both, they are either student athletes and play in the system they have now. OR they are paid employees who must take classes to be eligible to play in a sport at the school.

Sense of entitlement society, it's so sad. People crying the NCAA makes money of the players, yeah and the NFL makes money off it's players. Just on a different level. NFL makes big bucks, players make pennies compared to the billions the NFL rakes in. NCAA makes billions (splits the pie many more times though with many more schools) and the student athletes get a free education worth thousands of dollars. Again, if the kids don't make good use of that education.....THAT'S ON THEM!!! They don't get to stomp their feet and throw a temper tantrum and change the system because they don't like it.

[ArtieChokePhin]

Even football and basketball have opportunities other than college.  Basketball has a lot of leagues overseas.  Football has the CFL, the Arena League, and a bunch of semi-pro leagues.   If a football/basketball playing kid doesn't want to go to college, he will have a chance to make money off his skill.  

When a kid signs a scholarship to play Division 1 college football, they are getting an expensive education for free.  That education is something that most of them could not afford at out-of-state tuition rates if they paid their own way.   So don't think for a second that these kids are working for free.  They get housing and food along with tuition.  And to call ADs child rapists is beyond delusional.  Not every school is Penn State.  

[MikeO]

Instead, you have to go work for free, while these organizations sell your rights and likeness in multi-billion dollar industry.

Who the F' is working for free? They are getting an education most people can't afford and many people take decades paying off . If the kid doesn't take advantage of that opportunity, then that's on them! Doesn't mean the whole system needs to be changed. And if the kid doesn't like the system....oh well, don't be an NCAA athlete and pick another profession in life.

Nobody on planet earth is entitled to be a professional athlete!