Greg McElroy expects several draft eligible Bama payers to return next season and to play in the bowl game.
ESPNU Radio host Greg McElroy stated on his show this morning that a "little birdie" told him that several Bama players who are thought to leave for the NFL are going to return next season, thus, he expects them to play in the bowl game.
They have several Juniors who many people expected to turn pro, but McElroy insinuated that most of these guys are likely to return according to his source.
He did not name names, but this is very interesting. But since this is Michigan we cant have nice things, so expect all those playmakers on offense to suit up.
Obviously take this as a grain of salt, but he is a Bama guy and I dont think he would just make this up.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
Oh goody
December 4th, 2019 at 2:10 PM ^
To be fair, the Bama dudes who don't get a 1st round draft score can't afford the pay cut from leaving Bama.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:46 PM ^
One cannot say "oh goody" without including a picture of Evil Uncle Scar!
Nick Saban - after his "Auburn played unfair rant" last weekend, I think he is becoming the Evil Uncle Scar of the college football world. Simba, of course, is the son of a Michigan Man (Lion).
December 4th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
If true, they are still likely to have more people sit than Michigan since they have way more prospects.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:13 PM ^
I'm sure we will still feature a future UDFA sitting out to prepare for the draft or a guy that would rather work on his combine numbers than his actual pass rush technique. But I guess it worked out for Gary, he was way over drafted.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:00 PM ^
The best part of that whole deal last year was that Winovich played the bowl game while hurt, and has had by far the best rookie season of any of Michigan's draftees last year. I'm willing to bet he has the better overall career as well.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:31 PM ^
Chase definitely isn’t having a better season than Bush is.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:40 PM ^
SILENCE. Using facts to refute posters who trash former Michigan players will not be tolerated on this board
December 4th, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^
Winovich is having a great rookie season, and is looking like one of the steals of the draft, but Bush is having a potential DROY campaign. I think both players made the correct choice wrt the bowl game last year.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:44 PM ^
Well of course they are—I would expect nothing else.
I'll make the same score prediction I made before the OSU game: 52-27, and we're on the short end.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:21 PM ^
Sounds right . But hey, according to a bunch of people on this blog in recent years, bowl games are meaningless!
December 4th, 2019 at 2:43 PM ^
The whole "bowl games are meaningless" crap is such a blindingly obvious case of the fox and the grapes.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:28 PM ^
“The fox and the grapes” is a term Don learned at Smothers Brothers concert. You won’t catch him using that tired old Rat Pack lingo!
December 4th, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
It's actually a term—and a concept—I learned before the most famous iteration of the Rat Pack even existed, and long before anybody knew who the fuck the Smothers Brothers were, but in any event it still applies to Michigan football fans.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:27 PM ^
I am obviously a big fan of the Rat Pack and I have never heard of this fable associated with them.
And yes, user name does check out.
December 4th, 2019 at 3:49 PM ^
The real lesson of the fox and the grapes is that the fox knew grapes are toxic for canids and he would die.
December 4th, 2019 at 9:23 PM ^
Sorry Don but Alabama isn’t on OSU’ s level this year, so I’ll be happy to take that bet.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:46 PM ^
Your title says "...draft eligible Bama payers...".
I believe that should be "...draft eligible Bama payees..." since they receive the payment. Bagmen would be the payers.
However, would upvote again.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:49 PM ^
Lol good catch. Players/payees would both suffice in this case.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
Also Saban will announce he's retiring before the bowl game as the exhaustion of dealing with TWO losses is causing him to break down mentally. They will come out and smash us to give him one last victory. Then post-game press conference he will announce that he's unretiring after the refreshment of a therapeutic beatdown of Michigan.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:32 PM ^
They'll do that anyway. Prepare your anus with or without Saban as the coach.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:48 PM ^
Hey if Alabama throws two pick sixes again maybe Michigan covers.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:50 PM ^
Alabama is an elite program. Michigan is not . Alabama is a tough STRONG program. Michigan falls apart in Big games.
But Michigan players are smart to skip games and work on their pro day workouts.
Alabama players not smart to play in their team's game and compete to win.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
Big games when Michigan loses: OSU, MSU, Wisconsin, PSU
Big games when Michigan wins: OSU
December 4th, 2019 at 1:54 PM ^
I'll fix this for you:
Big games when Michigan wins: OSU*
*Unless OSU is coached by Luke Fickell or other interim coach or does not have a strong winning record
Even some Michigan fans want to pretend like 2011 didn't count.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:57 PM ^
It counts, but it annoys me when people say “bUt EvEn BrAdY hOkE bEaT oSu” when ripping on Harbaugh
December 4th, 2019 at 5:09 PM ^
Iowa too. Remember when everyone was calling that 'THE BIGGEST GAME OF HARBAUGHS TENURE' and everyone had their drafts written about how the loss to Iowa was the beginning of the end for Harbaugh
then we won and it was crickets. Funny how that always happens
December 4th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
Well, I think that sucks.
December 4th, 2019 at 12:57 PM ^
I hate to break it to OP but we’re not winning a matchup with Alabama regardless if those juniors stay or go
December 4th, 2019 at 12:58 PM ^
It may be true - and GM knows more about Bama football in his pinky than I will ever possess - but if you are going to get paid, why come back to play for "free?"
I really don't believe they are looking at this potential bowl game against UM and are licking their chops. They just had their worst season in forever - beating UM in the fucking Citrus Bowl isn't going to salve those wounds.
But Millions of NFL $$$$$ will for sure!
December 4th, 2019 at 12:59 PM ^
I'm sure some guys will talk about returning and then things change. Also, this is a former Bama QB who...might be inclined to make things sound rosy for Alabama fans.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
I’m sorry, but this is just not true.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:02 PM ^
McElroy is an Alabama slappy. Possible he's trying to get Alabama fans motivated to go to Orlando.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:05 PM ^
Very possible he is. That’s why I said take it with a grain of salt. I listen to this show almost every day and he doesn’t throw stuff out like this too often.
Just passing along what he said.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:10 PM ^
Didn't mean to sound brash.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:49 PM ^
It also kind of reads like pitching the better bowl games to not pass on Bama just because they have 2 losses. "We will bring our good players and put on a good show for you!" type thing.
December 4th, 2019 at 4:06 PM ^
Absolutely.
December 4th, 2019 at 4:51 PM ^
What better bowl games? The Citrus has first pick of all the bowls that aren't one of the CFP or NY6 games and Bama isn't going to be eligible for any of those because they are going to be behind LSU, Georgia, Florida, and Auburn when it comes to selection for those games. The Citrus Bowl is literally the best possible bowl game they can go to.
December 4th, 2019 at 5:29 PM ^
I don't get why they're behind Florida and Auburn. They have a better conference and overall record than Auburn, despite the head-to-head, and are tied with Florida on both. Even without Tua, is Florida really better than Alabama, at least enough to be ahead of them in the SEC bowl pecking order?
December 4th, 2019 at 6:07 PM ^
Bowl pecking is based off the CFP Rankings. Best teams fill out the NY6 Bowls according to all the various conference agreements, and then the rest are filled based on all of the other weird agreements.
In the case of the Citrus, Bama is too far down the CFP Rankings to make it into the NY6 Bowls. 2-3 SEC teams will get in those. Even though Bama is 5th in SEC rankings at the moment, they'll be the first SEC team picked because non-NY6 bowls don't have to go by the CFP Rankings. Citrus gets first pick of available non-NY6 SEC teams, so Bama will get the nod there even if Florida and Auburn don't make it to an NY6 bowl.
Now as for why Florida and Auburn are ahead of Alabama...Alabama hasn't beaten any of note this season. Their best win is over a 7-5 Texas A&M team. Florida has a win over Auburn, and Auburn has a win over Oregon and Alabama.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:06 PM ^
My skeptical side would say that this is positioning to increase Bama's chances at a NY6 selection, and doesn't actually have bearing on what would happen in a Citrus Bowl. But I could certainly be wrong.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:29 PM ^
NY6 bowls are bound by Playoff rankings.
so unless Bama moves up 4 spots and passes Florida while both are not playing......
December 4th, 2019 at 1:48 PM ^
Ohhh! PLEASE let Bama pass Florida, so we can finally play Florida.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:12 PM ^
Dohhhhh jeeeeezus
December 4th, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
By "little birdie" I assume they mean the car dealerships that need to know how many orders to place for the holidays.
December 4th, 2019 at 2:42 PM ^
lolol. All those holiday car ads where the husband surprises the wife with a new car instead should show Nick Saban surprising some 5* recruit with a new car.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:21 PM ^
You basically always hear stuff like this up until the moment the players release a statement announcing they're not playing. Honestly, I don't care who we play as long as the team is healthy and (hopefully) motivated.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:26 PM ^
DO NOT wish injury on my worst enemy
However, did these kids not see what happened to Tua?
If you are draftable, I'd go make some $. Same goes for M players. This is where we are with these meaningless bowl games.
December 4th, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
If it is all about the cash, wouldn't the advice be the same even if the bowl game was meaningful?
December 4th, 2019 at 1:56 PM ^
Playoff games are meaningful IMHO the rest are eh.
And no, not the same because you can compete against elite competition and improve your draft grade.
Additionally, if you are going to playoff and sit, that would be held against you by teams/GM. These bowl games? Not so much.