72CalBear;842259794 said:

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The NFL is what our most talented players want..when will you forget about the degree stuff?? It doesn't surprise me even knowing that I feel Moala would benefit greatly from another year playing for the Bears. He doesn't care and wants the gold..easy decision just like we are seeing across the nation on the other teams.

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+1
For many players, making an NFL scout team is more valuable than a Cal degree. And I think they are right, from a financial standpoint. But not from a long term lifestyle standpoint. The thing is, they can always return to get the degree and pay for it themselves, even on the NFL minimum.

It makes virtually no economic sense to try to finish their degree right away when they have a job waiting for them that pays at least 6 figures annually. And that is probably true for any undergraduate in any field at Cal.

heartofthebear;842259818 said:

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+1
For many players, making an NFL scout team is more valuable than a Cal degree. And I think they are right, from a financial standpoint. But not from a long term lifestyle standpoint. The thing is, they can always return to get the degree and pay for it themselves, even on the NFL minimum.

It makes virtually no economic sense to try to finish their degree right away when they have a job waiting for them that pays at least 6 figures annually. And that is probably true for any undergraduate in any field at Cal.

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+1

NYCGOBEARS;842259797 said:

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...We don't disparage Aaron Rodgers for leaving early and we shouldn't Tiny either.

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Apples and oranges: Rodgers was at peak performance and was expected to be the #1 draft pickand, he wasn't part and parcel of a wholesale panic rush "overboard" from a team that is need of all hands on deck.to help each other "put the fire out."

manus;842259847 said:

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Apples and oranges: Rodgers was at peak performance and was expected to be the #1 draft pickand, he wasn't part and parcel of a wholesale panic rush "overboard" from a team that is need of all hands on deck.to help each other "put the fire out."

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Their draft status and level of success may be apples to oranges but the fact that is a personal decision to become a pro is not.

It's funny seeing the circle jerks these guys on this thread were having about Moala until he decided that Dykes wasn't for him, either.

well i just think that a lot of these guys could elevated their draft status had they returned and played better. all of the players that have left all do have the physical ability to possibly play in the nfl but leaving at this juncture in their football careers doesnt guarantee them anything because its probably 50/50 on whether a lot of them even get drafted. and lets just say they make it onto someones practice squad. im sure it is nice to get a little money, but football is really only fun when you play in the games. nothing fun about being patrick willis practice tackling dummy. a lot of them will probably wish that they were still in school...from the business side of it, the later you are drafted or if you sign as an free agent. you have almost no leverage. one sign where they dont like you, theyll cut you, theyre not going to hold your hand and teach you, cause they dont have any money invested in you.

ultimately though if their heart isnt in it to be here, then theyd likely not play well and further hurt their future nfl prospects. all of these guys i wish well. one can only hope their making the right decisions for themselves.

72CalBear;842259794 said:

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The NFL is what our most talented players want..when will you forget about the degree stuff?? It doesn't surprise me even knowing that I feel Moala would benefit greatly from another year playing for the Bears. He doesn't care and wants the gold..easy decision just like we are seeing across the nation on the other teams.

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These guys DO have to live in the academic situation, so would it not be a factor these young men will think about, in considering what they will be doing next year, what else they're going to have to go through while they're bustin' their tails on 6+ hours of football a day?

heartofthebear;842259818 said:

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+1
For many players, making an NFL scout team is more valuable than a Cal degree. And I think they are right, from a financial standpoint. But not from a long term lifestyle standpoint. The thing is, they can always return to get the degree and pay for it themselves, even on the NFL minimum.

It makes virtually no economic sense to try to finish their degree right away when they have a job waiting for them that pays at least 6 figures annually. And that is probably true for any undergraduate in any field at Cal.

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Ding, ding, ding. At least some people understand this.

Plus, it becomes easier decision to leave with subpar coaching staff.

gobears725;842260587 said:

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well i just think that a lot of these guys could elevated their draft status had they returned and played better. all of the players that have left all do have the physical ability to possibly play in the nfl but leaving at this juncture in their football careers doesnt guarantee them anything because its probably 50/50 on whether a lot of them even get drafted. and lets just say they make it onto someones practice squad. im sure it is nice to get a little money, but football is really only fun when you play in the games. nothing fun about being patrick willis practice tackling dummy. a lot of them will probably wish that they were still in school...from the business side of it, the later you are drafted or if you sign as an free agent. you have almost no leverage. one sign where they dont like you, theyll cut you, theyre not going to hold your hand and teach you, cause they dont have any money invested in you.

ultimately though if their heart isnt in it to be here, then theyd likely not play well and further hurt their future nfl prospects. all of these guys i wish well. one can only hope their making the right decisions for themselves.

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I'm sorry, but you guys aren't getting it. You are thinking about a normal program. None of these guys should go now from a football perspective if they were playing for a staff that would make them better or at least not make them regress further while they get another year of experience. That is the problem. Practicing crappy technique in a losing environment does not make one better. Staying means working their asses off in a dismal environment and ending up worse with worse football prospects. These guys are, accurately in my opinion, recognizing that their best opportunity is now, even if that means trying to catch on as an undrafted free agent (for some of them). I wish the degree was enough to keep them here, but obviously for some it isn't. But you'd be keeping more of these guys if they thought this staff had any chance of improving their prospects.

I find it difficult to give any player a hard time about heading to the League. This is a brutal sport!!!!! Might as well get paid to take the beatings.

ColoradoBear1;842259433 said:

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wow, something big must have changed in the last 14 days?

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Joe Davidson of the Sac Bee responded to another Cal fan's question (on twitter) about Moala. He pointed out that if Tiny had stayed at Cal it would have been his 4th position coach in 4 years (tosh, graham?, sacks, ??)