Fiu's Daily Cavalcade of
Whimsy
The Sanchez Decision ... Jan. 16
a.k.a.
Frank Costanza's Festivus Airing of the Grievances ... or the obvious attempt to keep readers coming to the site on a
regular basis during the off-season.
By
Pete Fiutak
What's your beef? ... Fire
off your
thoughts
This Week's Whimsies:
Monday - The NFL Playoffs
vs. The BCS
And we all know how well sticking around
worked for Leinart ... Of
course Pete Carroll knows what he's talking about when it comes to
knowing what a player needs to do to go pro, but he's missing the point
on Mark Sanchez.
Yeah, the statistics aren't great when it comes to early entry
quarterbacks and success at the next level, but the statistics aren't
great when it comes to all quarterbacks at the next level. More
importantly, when it comes to Sanchez and his business decision, it's
all about the dollars ... and it should be. You can't go out and sell
USC as a pro prospect factory and then dog the idea of hitting the
marketplace at the dead-on right time.
Let's say Sanchez doesn't have it when it comes to being an NFL
quarterback. So? He'll be a multi-millionaire as an almost certain first
round draft pick, while all bets are off next year when Sam Bradford,
Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow are in the mix. Even if Sanchez doesn't turn
out to be a top ten pick, if he slides like Brady Quinn did two years
ago, at worst, he should come up with a contract that'll be guaranteed
at least $10 million. Will Carroll guarantee that kind of money if
Sanchez came back, struggled a bit, and became another Andre Woodson?
You have to strike when you're hot, and right now, Sanchez is sizzling.
It's all about timing. 2005 was a miserable year for quarterback
prospects, with teams not looking to take one early, which is why Aaron
Rodgers slipped to Green Bay in the mid-first round. Even so, Utah's
Alex Smith went No. 1 overall and signed a deal worth $24 million in
guaranteed dough without playing a snap. Matt Leinart was a near-certain
lock to be that No. 1 overall pick had he chose to come out early, flaws
and all, coming on the heels of a Heisman, a national title, and as the
type of player who seemed perfect to fit the Niners. Instead, Leinart
came back for his senior year, slipped in the 2006 draft, and signed a
deal guaranteed to get him $14 million.
That's tip money compared to what Sanchez could make. If he comes out
and wows everyone in workouts, it wouldn't be a total shock if he went
No. 3 overall to a Kansas City team desperate for a franchise passer. If
he doesn't go to the Chiefs, he could go to San Francisco at the 10, the
Jets at 17, the Bears at 18, Tampa Bay at 19, Detroit at 20, Minnesota
at 23, or Miami at 26. In other words, there are several chances in the
first round for Sanchez to go. Let's say Carroll is right and Sanchez
does need a year of seasoning. Why not get that work in at the next
level and get paid for it? Meanwhile, USC will plug in Mitch Mustain or
Aaron Corp and the machine will roll on.
And lets say Sanchez does go No. 3 overall to KC. Last year, Matt Ryan
got $34.75 million of guaranteed money as the No. 3 overall pick. OT Joe
Thomas got $23 million guaranteed from Cleveland as the 2007 No. 3 pick,
and Vince Young got $25.7 million guaranteed as the 2006 No. 3
selection. Ryan signed a six-year, $72 million deal last year. You still
think it's all about giving it the old college try?
We all want this to be about the game, but it's a business. Don't think
so? That Chevy logo next to USC on the background of the Sanchez press
conference wasn't just there for decoration.
Of course Sanchez made the right move.