The NFL Uncapped Year & Donovan Warren

Pryor can't go.

Very informative article, knew about the uncapped year but didn't know that it wouldn't have as much of an effect on current players as I originally thought.

Too bad you had to throw that Pryor comment in there, now everybody is just going to give you shit.

So if the salary cap goes, then players who are being overpaid and are underproducing get reduced contracts or get cut? That doesn't sound like the worst thing in the world. I'd prefer a new CBA and have everything to continue as normal, but man if there's an uncapped year, things will get reeeeeally interesting.

Excellent OP. Thanks for the information. Care to share where you got it?

I can understand why the uncapped year and CBA and everything affect the players at the top (Clausen comes to mind), but will there really be much difference for the players further down the draft board? It seems like the best projections for DW are 2nd-3rd round, and I'm guessing that there will not be as big a difference in salaries for players in that range. Maybe I'm completely wrong on this, though.

I think the possibility of a lockout is slim to none. There is no issue like in the NHL or NBA about whether to create a salary cap. The issues being discussed are relatively minor, and the lost revenues should be more than enough motivation for the sides to come to an agreement.

Lastly, assuming the free agent period changes from four to six years as you stated, will that affect everyone immediately, or will players be grandfathered in if their contracts started before the new agreement? If that's the case, then I can understand why the players would want to get their first contract signed now.

I would like to know how high Warren would need to be told he would be drafted in to feel that it is worth his while to declare this year.

A few projections:

CBS: first or second round, fourth at position
Randall Weida of fftoolbox: 18th pick
Walterfootball.com: second or third round, eighth at position
Draftnotebook.com: 23rd pick, St Louis
CDS draft.com: third round

I can't find much searching for this without some paywall blockage, but even this small sample is all over the place, from mid-first to third. And this does beg one question:

Would a third-rounder this year be better off than a first-rounder in 2011?

I ask this because Warren would return to a defense that "gets it" now, the same DC two years in a row for the first time since HS, and a better supporting cast which may result in his seeing more action come his way. Anyway, I hope he comes back; the growth may continue to be slow, but there is still the tantalizing possibility of a quantum leap next year.

CW caliber as a junior DB. No way. You can never have your senior year back. Go ask Henson. Keep thinking DW.

How can Pryor go pro ? Don't you have to be three years out of high school to go pro in football ?

Good stuff. I liked the stuff about the potential ramifications of a lock-out, though I agree it is pretty unlikely.

I do wonder if part of the reason Warren is looking to leave is because he doesn't figure to get much "better" as a CB with another year in college. DBs seem to be more born than created - you either have elite speed, good instincts, and flexible hips, or you don't. Sure, the technique might improve somewhat, but most guys who succeed as DBs in the NFL do so because they just have "it." We saw that with Woodson and, to a lesser extent, Marlin Jackson. I see a bit of it with Warren, but right now he probably would be lucky to be Leon Hall in the NFL. I'm not sure another year with Barwis or GERG would really change that reality.

Is it possible as well that even if Donovan gets drafted low, as long as he makes a roster, he's in the NFLPA right? So if the lockout goes down as expected in 2011, do NFLPA players get union lock-out pay? Granted, it's not going to be as much as a full salary, but sure as hell more than a graduated senior who can't be drafted / signed b/c of a lockout....

When hockey went all mutually asured destruction during their lockout, I believe most of the college players who wanted to get drafted went and played AHL / ECHL until the NHL draft was greenlighted. NFL players don't have that option UNLESS....

The UFL is successful.
"And the first pick of the 2011 UFL draft, The California Redwoods select, Terell Pryor, Wide Receiver, the University of Ohio State"

(BTW- I tried to go to www.ufl.com and it directed me to the Univ of Florida's webpage... weird....)

and it's Terrelle, not Terell or Terrell

This is very interesting, and it will be interesting to see what happens as the we get closer to draft day. I think that, after what has happened with the NHL we will see a new contract before March, and hopefully that will bring DW back as well. I also believe that a rookie salary cap won't have as large of an effect as a change from a 3rd to 1st round pick will, so it may all come down to if DW thinks he will go in the first round or not.

Obviously, I pray that he comes back. If our defense can get our offense on the field I think Tate and D Rob can get it done.

Through my worklife I interact a bit with the NFLPA and in a recent conversation heard that the NFLPA doesn't expect to reach a deal before a lockout. The thinking is that most of the players are too young to really remember difficult CBA negotiations and there is a number of new owners since the last time as well. Both sides apparently have a curiosity about what they might be able to gain through protracted negotiations, though the owners definitely have the upper hand right now. They think the players aren't prepared for what a labor lockout actually looks like and the owners think they can make some serious gains through pushing the players that far. I'm no expert in the CBA or current negotiations, but thought the attitude of the NFLPA was striking. The members, though, are very much behind the new president and that may also push the issue into a lockout.

what would pryor play in the nfl? no way he plays qb with his slow release and poor accuracy/poor zone read skills