Nebraska's Jacob Hickman says "thanks, but no thanks" to the NFL

[parkinglotgopher]

An interesting story about the Nebraska center who would likely have been chosen in April's draft, but has opted not to work out for NFL teams and has really eliminated the idea of playing in the NFL in order to pursue other interests.

As the story mentions, the more we find out about the toll taken on a lineman's body (offensive or defensive line) and the long-term effects this can have, is it possible that more late-round picks that aren't surefire NFLers may go this route? Probably not, but interesting to consider.

 

[Section2]

What's the point? If you can catch onto an NFL roster for a couple years, you're set for life. Unless you're like Myron Rolle, this is a horrible decision.

 

[MNfootballfan]

What's the point? If you can catch onto an NFL roster for a couple years, you're set for life. Unless you're like Myron Rolle, this is a horrible decision.

I don't know if that is entirely true. Granted you make good money, but I read in a book that the average time a player is in the NFL is like 2.1 years or something. I believe it was Tony Dungy's book, "Uncommon." You play 2 years in the NFL at the league minimum or slightly above you barely made 1,000,000 dollars - now that does sound like a lot compared to my teaching salary...

 

[Schlic Daddy]

An interesting story about the Nebraska center who would likely have been chosen in April's draft, but has opted not to work out for NFL teams and has really eliminated the idea of playing in the NFL in order to pursue other interests.

As the story mentions, the more we find out about the toll taken on a lineman's body (offensive or defensive line) and the long-term effects this can have, is it possible that more late-round picks that aren't surefire NFLers may go this route? Probably not, but interesting to consider.

I doubt it. Playing in the NFL is still the dream of 99% of college football players. Hickman just happens to fall into that 1%.

 

[Section2]

I don't know if that is entirely true. Granted you make good money, but I read in a book that the average time a player is in the NFL is like 2.1 years or something. I believe it was Tony Dungy's book, "Uncommon." You play 2 years in the NFL at the league minimum or slightly above you barely made 1,000,000 dollars - now that does sound like a lot compared to my teaching salary...

granted most guys are going to spend all that money. But you could easily save 500k, and having the NFL on your resume is certainly going to help you get a good job if you only played 2 yrs. It's the guys who play 10+ yrs that have lots of long term problems.

 

[MNfootballfan]

granted most guys are going to spend all that money. But you could easily save 500k, and having the NFL on your resume is certainly going to help you get a good job if you only played 2 yrs. It's the guys who play 10+ yrs that have lots of long term problems.

Yeah, but you have to take into account that he played high school football and then 4-5 years of major college football. Between workouts, practices, and games in a major D1 football program it is hard to say there isn't long term problems. I definately do not disagree with you that the NFL doesn't look good on the resume. But he can put that he was a letterwinner on the Nebraska football team and that award alone carries some weight.