Question by a total draft dummy

[twosheds]

Can a college player who does not join the Draft be signed by any NFL team? If so, it wouldn't make sense for a top player to join the draft, since more teams could offer him a contract that way, wouldn't it?

If they can't, what happens with Williams and Clarret if they're declared not eligable? Non-college players can join any team (though it's rare) so why not them?

[Range Roamer]

Yes they can be signed but they will not get as much money as players in he draft. Remember pay is scaled according to position you are drafted at in any given round. My guess at your second question is a little more scetchy. I'm only guessing that Williams would go back to USC but I'm not sure if Clarret would be able to do the same as Ohio State has pretty much washed their hands of him. Maybe he could Go to a JR. college?

[gonzo]

My understanding is that once a player signs with an agent, his amateur caree is officially over in the eyes of the NCAA. Therefore they would have to appeal to the NCAA for re-instatement, and I doubt they would allow that because underclassmen could declare eligible and if they weren't drafted they could return to college for another season...

[The Chosen]

Don't you have to declare for the draft by a certain date, and if you don't you may not sign with a team?

[Player6600]

Originally posted by The Chosen
Don't you have to declare for the draft by a certain date, and if you don't you may not sign with a team?

true. if you ar an underclassmen and don't declare for the draft you cannot sign as a free agent. If you are not an underclassmen and don;t get drafted then you are a free agent

[2004Draft]

Yeah. Only underclassmen have to declare. Any post-college player can sign with any team for peanuts as a walk-on. No guaranteed contract like a 1st rounder.

[TigerJ]

Ditto, 2004's comments. Seniors aren't asked if they want to be in the draft. If they are drafted, they must play for the team that holds their draft rights if they play at all. If not drafted, they can sign with anyone, but they can't say to NFL teams, "Don't draft me." If you are an underclassman (junior) and drop out of school, you aren't eligible to play in the NFL unless you declare yourself eligible by the date the NFL has set, whether you are drafted or not.

Drew Henson was drafted by Houston last year even though he was playing baseball and had no intentions of playing football.

[Figurita20]

Originally posted by twosheds
Can a college player who does not join the Draft be signed by any NFL team? If so, it wouldn't make sense for a top player to join the draft, since more teams could offer him a contract that way, wouldn't it?

If they can't, what happens with Williams and Clarret if they're declared not eligable? Non-college players can join any team (though it's rare) so why not them?


Hey twosheds, are you trying to beat the system? :kidding:

[Billeve]

I am pretty sure the NFL has built a system in which a player can't avoid the draft.

[twosheds]

Originally posted by Figurita20
Hey twosheds, are you trying to beat the system? :kidding:

Hehe, always have :D I was mainly wondering if the Bills could sign Williams if he drops out of the draft.

Thanks for the answers, folks!

[TigerJ]

I assume you mean Mike Williams. If the league is successful in obtaining a stay of the previous judge's verdict, pending an appeal, I assume Clarett and Mike Williams will be declared ineliglible for the draft, in which case they could not be signed as fee agents. The issue I wondered about is the issue of fairness. Clarett made his own bed, so let him lie in it, but Mike Williams applied for the draft in good faith, thus losing his college eligibility. He could though no fault of his own have to sit out the year playing neither college nor pro football.

[Mouldsie]

There has to be an ex post facto type law attached to all this drama. I bet they'll be in no matter what decision is made; they will probably sue for their rights and I don't know if the NFL would want to fight it.

[nickypap52]

if they're declared uneligible, they'll probably go back to school and play for a semi-pro team because the NCAA won't take them. Then they'll probably have to go to the Supplemental draft.

Not allowing them in the draft would be totally screw over these two. But really, Why so much fuss? Clarett isnt even going to be a first rounder.

[35Pete]

Originally posted by Range Roamer
Yes they can be signed but they will not get as much money as players in he draft. Remember pay is scaled according to position you are drafted at in any given round. My guess at your second question is a little more scetchy. I'm only guessing that Williams would go back to USC but I'm not sure if Clarret would be able to do the same as Ohio State has pretty much washed their hands of him. Maybe he could Go to a JR. college?

I'm not sure that I agree with this. What is to prevent Larry Fitzgerald from sitting out the draft and then signing with the highest bidder? Surely the team that gets him is not going to pay him free agent money. It would just be a way to cheat the draft, that's all.

[Wally]

:phinsblow

[Wing Eater]

Larry Fitzgerald is an underclassmen, therefore the only way he can participate in the NFL is to declare for the draft.

I the Clarret ruling is reversed I could see the NCAA letting Williams back it, but telling Clarret to ******* off. That would be the right thing to do.