NFL NUGGETS : The business of being D-Mac
Posted on Sunday, March 23, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/63423/
Less than four months after last touching the ball in a competitive game, former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden already seems to be cleaning up off the field.
As the highest-profile player in the upcoming NFL Draft, D-Mac is attracting corporate attention like he attracts linebacker attention on the gridiron.
McFadden was recently chosen as the coverboy for the upcoming Xbox 360 video game “ NCAA Football 09. ” That’s a prestigious honor reserved for just a select few outstanding former college players — unless you count Joey Harrington.
Nike paid all of McFadden’s pre-combine training fees, and rumor has it the shoe giant will be paying him a lot more than that in the near future. Before you know it, McFadden will be cranking out commercials at a Peyton Manning-like rate.
It’s definitely good to be D-Mac right now.
Anyway, this is what the NFL has come to. Nowadays, standout college players can become rich before ever taking a snap in the NFL. Before ever signing an NFL contract. Before ever being drafted.
For the players, I say go for it. Get all you can, while you can.
But the money the teams themselves are having to shell out for unproven talent has become ridiculous. Top five draft picks are becoming the highest-paid players on their teams before they ever even take the field.
The rookie contracts for high-draft busts like San Diego QB Ryan Leaf, Arizona DE Andre Wadsworth and Cincinnati QB Akili handcuffed their respective franchises for years.
And those handcuffs ain’t golden, brother.
“ The value of the draft has priced itself out of existence, ” Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian told NBCSports. com. “ The idea that the worst team would get help from a good player or players is out the window because you are saddled in salary cap hell if the guy is anything but an almost immediate Pro Bowler. And it must change. ” I totally agree. It’s time that the NFL gets this under control. Let’s show less love to unproven rookies and give veterans their just due.
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I’ve been working on the first round of my mock draft and right now I have McFadden going to the New York Jets with the sixth overall pick. Most mocks have him going earlier than that, and I could definitely see some team trading up to get him.
According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Jets officials were in Fayetteville last week to visit McFadden, so they’re obviously interested.
Truthfully, it’s probably a stretch to think McFadden would fall all the way to No. 6. If the Jets are really that interested, they might have to do some dealing themselves to move up a little.
As of right now I’m projecting former Hog runner Felix Jones to come off the board at the No. 28 overall spot to the Dallas Cowboys. He’d make a great complement to hard-running Marion Barber, but Dallas has other needs to address as well.
The Cowboys need to draft a receiver at some point to help draw some attention away from Terrell Owens. Or Dallas could go with a cornerback if it fails to bring in trouble-making Pacman Jones. If I was a Dallas fan, the last thing I’d want to see is Pacman in a Cowboys uniform, but that’s another column for another day.
• • • Arkansas’ Pro Day workouts are set for Tuesday morning at the U of A, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the scouts will be out. I don’t see how McFadden can better his combine 40 time (4. 33 ), but if he does, that’s just more money in the bank. This Pro Day should be more important for the draft standing of guys like Jones, defensive lineman Marcus Harrison, fullback Peyton Hillis, receiver Marcus Monk, offensive lineman Robert Felton and defensive back Michael Grant — provided they all work out Tuesday. Joe West is the assistant sports editor of the Northwest Arkansas Times.