Stafford & Moreno's Big NFL Decision
The Bulldog Nation is waiting. Coach Richt and his coaching staff need to know. So, what's it going to be? Are you coming back, or are you bolting early for the NFL?
Since the disappointing loss to Georgia Tech, Matt and Knowshon have been listening to trusted voices talk to them about making the jump to pro football. It's all about weighing the pros and cons. Basically, the one thing they are trying to get a grip on is projecting where they would go in the 1st round.
Moreno appears to be #2 in line, behind Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells. Javon Ringer, C.J. Spiller and James Davis are the other top RBs. The best guess here in mid-December for Knowshon would be middle of the 1st round (15-25). The NFL scouts love his all-around skills. Dude can bust it between the tackles, bounce it outside and catch the ball. Moreno is a all-the-time back. He plays on 1st down, 2nd down and 3rd down. The only knock is his top-end speed.
Stafford looks like a Top 10 pick. The top QB in the draft. Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota would be obvious destinations. Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez would be the big competition for that top QB spot. Both those guys appear to be Top 15-20 selections, if they came out.
There is a lot of talk about the Rookie Cap (limiting the up-front money), but Rich McKay doesn't believe it will change much, if at all. One more thing to think about if you're the Stafford's. The big bonus money is obviously a huge lure to jump. But so many guys have failed taking that route. So, that's all the money they got. The guys that came back to play their senior season and went on to long, successful careers, cashed in with 2-3 more huge contract extensions. So, they won out in the long run. Hope someone's telling Matt about that.
Since the disappointing loss to Georgia Tech, Matt and Knowshon have been listening to trusted voices talk to them about making the jump to pro football. It's all about weighing the pros and cons. Basically, the one thing they are trying to get a grip on is projecting where they would go in the 1st round.
Moreno appears to be #2 in line, behind Ohio State's Chris "Beanie" Wells. Javon Ringer, C.J. Spiller and James Davis are the other top RBs. The best guess here in mid-December for Knowshon would be middle of the 1st round (15-25). The NFL scouts love his all-around skills. Dude can bust it between the tackles, bounce it outside and catch the ball. Moreno is a all-the-time back. He plays on 1st down, 2nd down and 3rd down. The only knock is his top-end speed.
Stafford looks like a Top 10 pick. The top QB in the draft. Detroit, Kansas City and Minnesota would be obvious destinations. Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez would be the big competition for that top QB spot. Both those guys appear to be Top 15-20 selections, if they came out.
There is a lot of talk about the Rookie Cap (limiting the up-front money), but Rich McKay doesn't believe it will change much, if at all. One more thing to think about if you're the Stafford's. The big bonus money is obviously a huge lure to jump. But so many guys have failed taking that route. So, that's all the money they got. The guys that came back to play their senior season and went on to long, successful careers, cashed in with 2-3 more huge contract extensions. So, they won out in the long run. Hope someone's telling Matt about that.
As a Dawg fan I sure hope they return, but I'm not optimistic. And I wouldn't blame them at all for securing their families' financial future. What an opportunity...and one they've prepared for since they were young.
Stafford could certainly use another year as that transition is never easy for a QB. But Knowshon is ready for all of the reasons you stated in the blog. He's an every down back and a yard gainer.
Bernie's prediction: they both go pro. Stafford is #1 overall to the Detroit Lions (ugh!) and Knowshon is #16 to the J-E-T-S, jetsjetsjets.
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