Tom Murphy’s article was well done. Gives insight into why Jacobs and Boyd opted out.
Regardless of the explanation, it’s not a good look when you quit on your teammates (as has been discussed before). But, Jacobs’ explanation was very admirable. Mature. He took ownership of his (probable) poor decision.
Boyd, not so much.
Don’t want to pile on, but really wonder about Boyd’s decision. By not playing he missed the opportunity to add to his on-field resume, maybe he thought he had shown enough, then his pro day numbers appear less than stellar. I know we place way too much emphasis on analytics, but it seems he did not make the best case with his recent performance.
I suspect with the transfers and early opt out, reliability will also be an issue with Boyd. Does he really have a passion for football? You damn well better if you’re going to play in the NFL with just decent talent, like Boyd. He’s no show stopper but is capable.
Jacobs case he is the one that could have built his resume, but pouted early. He did admit it and owned every inch of it. How much weight that carries st the next level, don’t think that part it will raise his stock. His physical ability might now.
Boyd kind of same issue, voted a captain announcing you will be with your team mates to the end. Then the unexpected happens that will test you. Injuries, watching someone else steal your thunder, try to come back to soon and it shows, then Covid contact tracing, missing games due to the above, total frustration. Then say heck with it only 2 more games anyway. He could have just stayed few more weeks if only as a mentor and inspiration on sideline. Maybe even telling the staff I’m here if you need me but I’m also working on my future.
The fact that this coaching staff stood by them totally through it all with no alienation at all says a lot. I think Jacobs words about it could be a good recruiting tool.
Got a link to the article?
Thanks Marty.
I don’t think many players want to say the truth, “I felt it was time to give some money to my family.” I am pretty sure that was what Boyd decided. No way is he going to say that.
To me, the answer “I felt it was time to give some money to my family”, is exactly what Chase from LSU and others were saying when they opted out from the beginning. Those are “business decisions” that most, including teammates, understand and respect.
Opting out into the season because the going gets tough just sends a different message to all, even if the personal motivation is the same (as opting out before the season). Ironically, when you quit during the season, you still haven’t made any more money than if you had finished the season.
Again, to me, it’s just a bad look, regardless of your explanation after the fact. But if you make a mistake in life and can own it and grow from it, it just demonstrates a different level of character. Perhaps I’m just old school.
Ok, I’ll quit beating the dead horse.
Bad look is a perfect summation. I’m just saying that’s what they did. They are not going to say that’s what they did. No one ever does. And for some, what they did is just say to heck with it. And that is a bad look, too.
No, you don’t make more money. But you can sign with an agent and take the agent’s money as an advance against the signing bonus.
It’s the same thing all top players do the minute they stop playing for the college.
For example, Jonathan Marshall and Felipe Franks both signed with an agent in January and began to get money to live on and pay a trainer. There was a signing bonus from the agent. The agent recovers that money if and when they are drafted and sign an NFL contract.
That is no doubt what Boyd did. I am not saying it’s the right thing to do. Just that’s what he did and probably gave money to his mother.
It is unlikely Boyd was broke. He had monthly stipend and cash from his scholarship. But his mother probably could use some cash.
What happens if you one of those players takes money from an agent, but then goes undrafted, or is drafted in a much lower round than expected, and does not get a large signing bonus or contract?
Like in most situations, probably depends on the policy of the lender (in this case the agent… in other cases the banker, the loan shark, whomever)
I would guess some agents just take a loss, at least in part, occasionally.
The agent takes some risks. But so do players. Agents are not going to give money to a player who is unlikely to be drafted or sign as a free agent. Rakeem Boyd will be signed as a free agent, probably drafted. He’s probably not a risk in the eyes of an agent.
This topic was automatically closed after 30 days. New replies are no longer allowed.