All the AAF Pickups

I'm with it.

Did he really say the "AAF's all time sack leader"? Lol

"TheHighExhaulted wrote:

Did he really say the "AAF's all time sack leader"? Lol

That cracked me up too. All-time generally doesn't mean a month's worth of games before the entire thing collapses.

Lets see what hes made of in preseason... but to say hes gonna be the van noy or blahblah... dude came from the AAF, lets hold back on the annointing oil..

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article228987314.html

Really scraping the bottom of the barrel. I love it.

Finding the next Cam Wake from the rubble of the AAFL would be awesome. I'll be happy if he turns into a solid starter though.

I was somewhat skeptical of the Dolphins frenzy into the players of the defunct AAF, but as some have already eluded to, it does give the organization another look into players at another level. Granted, I know nothing of the players from the AAF. I know some were those who couldn't make it in the NFL. I know some are college level players who weren't even given a look by any of the teams in the NFL, but before some of these "minor league" organizations came to be, who would have ever heard of...
Joe Theismann?
Warren Moon?
Kurt Warner?
Joe Horn?
Andre Rison?
Cameron Wake?

I could create a list a mile long but the point being, there is talent out there and taking advantage of HUNGRY players who desperately want that shot is a very smart move. There is nothing but an upside on this approach and no downside.

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

I was somewhat skeptical of the Dolphins frenzy into the players of the defunct AAF, but as some have already eluded to, it does give the organization another look into players at another level. Granted, I know nothing of the players from the AAF. I know some were those who couldn't make it in the NFL. I know some are college level players who weren't even given a look by any of the teams in the NFL, but before some of these "minor league" organizations came to be, who would have ever heard of...
Joe Theismann?
Warren Moon?
Kurt Warner?
Joe Horn?
Andre Rison?
Cameron Wake?

I could create a list a mile long but the point being, there is talent out there and taking advantage of HUNGRY players who desperately want that shot is a very smart move. There is nothing but an upside on this approach and no downside.

I completely agree. Worst case scenario....we cut every single one of them and lose absolutely nothing since that's part of the training camp process anyway. But if we do land one or more gems on the final roster, even if they're Mike Hull/quality backup level, then it's a huge win for the team. This is a smart move since every single one of those guys will bring fire in their guts to camp and make the team cut them.

"KeyFin wrote:

I completely agree. Worst case scenario....we cut every single one of them and lose absolutely nothing since that's part of the training camp process anyway. But if we do land one or more gems on the final roster, even if they're Mike Hull/quality backup level, then it's a huge win for the team. This is a smart move since every single one of those guys will bring fire in their guts to camp and make the team cut them.

I realize we are doing this within the confines of not screwing up our comp picks but I like their aggressiveness. We have had success before with guys like Wake and Mark Dixon coming from so-called lessor leagues, so maybe we will find a gem this time. :-)

I think these moves illustrate the need for a developmental league for Nfl. College isnt an option for everyone. Andxa Bachelors degree us not a requirement or even a benefit to anything that happens on the field. Sure it may be an indicator of intelligence and perseverance but it won't make any one run faster or hit harder or be accurate or any football skill.
Getting film on some of that kind of player is priceless. Having a place where players on the bubble can get NFL coaching, practice and game time is priceless.
The NFL should either develop their own or pitch in and help keep a league like the AAF going til it can sustain itself.

"Puka-head wrote:

I think these moves illustrate the need for a developmental league for Nfl. College isnt an option for everyone. Andxa Bachelors degree us not a requirement or even a benefit to anything that happens on the field. Sure it may be an indicator of intelligence and perseverance but it won't make any one run faster or hit harder or be accurate or any football skill.
Getting film on some of that kind of player is priceless. Having a place where players on the bubble can get NFL coaching, practice and game time is priceless.
The NFL should either develop their own or pitch in and help keep a league like the AAF going til it can sustain itself.

I see where you are going with this but to a degree I have to respectfully disagree.

Back in the 70’s, a high school stud named Moses Malone was asked during an interview why he wasn’t going to college, he replied in his gutter mashmouthed uneducated cadence because it don’t take college to be able to put a ball in the hoop. No while my interpretation my seem harsh and, it illustrates an important point. This kid with God given talent was lavished with wealth beyond his wildest dreams and the LAST I heard was dead broke following his retirement from the NBA.

Now while college is not exempt from producing illiterate athletes, Dexter Manley comes to mind, at least these kids are provided with an education and groomed in an environment that alleviates the possibility of being dead broke upon retiring from the professional sport of choice.

I’m not saying a minor league NFL league is a bad idea, but to steer these kids from HS to a minor league in hopes of making it big with nothing to fall back on when their playing days are over is completely irresponsible

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

I see where you are going with this but to a degree I have to respectfully disagree.

Back in the 70’s, a high school stud named Moses Malone was asked during an interview why he wasn’t going to college, he replied in his gutter mashmouthed uneducated cadence because it don’t take college to be able to put a ball in the hoop. No while my interpretation my seem harsh and, it illustrates an important point. This kid with God given talent was lavished with wealth beyond his wildest dreams and the LAST I heard was dead broke following his retirement from the NBA.

Now while college is not exempt from producing illiterate athletes, Dexter Manley comes to mind, at least these kids are provided with an education and groomed in an environment that alleviates the possibility of being dead broke upon retiring from the professional sport of choice.

I’m not saying a minor league NFL league is a bad idea, but to steer these kids from HS to a minor league in hopes of making it big with nothing to fall back on when their playing days are over is completely irresponsible

You know how many college graduates work at apple bees because their degree means nothing? You know how many college graduated athletes can't find jobs in sports science? I get the idea behind it, but simply going to college to do it, not only gives a false hope to athletes, but the regular population too.

"Nappy Roots wrote:

You know how many college graduates work at apple bees because their degree means nothing? You know how many college graduated athletes can't find jobs in sports science? I get the idea behind it, but simply going to college to do it, not only gives a false hope to athletes, but the regular population too.

Do you, or are you just peddling hyperbole?

:link:

"The_Dark_Knight wrote:

Do you, or are you just peddling hyperbole?

:link:

Did you play college sports or are you just guessing? Oh, not only was I in it as a student athlete, I also still work directly with college athletes. This is a great experience for these kids. They are on their own, they learn to be an adult, they learn about accountability, etc. Some of these athletes graduate with a great degrees and stick with it. But in the big 3 sports, the vast majorities degrees mean little to nothing, because the players do not value the degree. They are there simply to play the sport. Skipping college to go play in a development league is not going to ruin these guys lives.