There comes a time in every young man’s life when he faces a decision that will direct his entire future.
That moment will arrive for Irish junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen after this season when he needs to choose between the fame and fortune of the NFL, or returning to a loaded Irish team that will have a legitimate shot at winning a national championship in 2010.
The choices seem like a lot to weigh, but the decision is actually an easy one – if money is the motivation. The time has come to move on Jimmy. Starting your NFL career next year is the only option. The stars are lined up too perfectly for you to wait.
From Hummer limo to Heisman hopeful, your rise has been remarkable. Having you back for a senior season would bring great joy to all of Notre Dame Nation, but you need to put yourself first when making this decision. A return to Notre Dame would jeopardize your physical health and severely damage your earning power.
Clausen has almost assuredly played himself into next April's NFL Draft.
The 2010 NFL Draft brings the last chance for rookies to hit the lottery the way Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford did last season when he got $40 million from the Detroit Lions.
There is a 100-percent chance an NFL rookie salary scale will be adopted before the 2011 season – even the NFL Players Association favors it – which will put an end to the comical guaranteed contracts that are being dealt out like playing cards to players yet to play a snap. You have to go get yours after this year Jimmy, because contracts for first-year players could be cut by two thirds in 2011.
I called NFL Draft analyst Scott Wright of NFLDraftCountdown.com to see what he thought about your future, and he also believes you have no choice but to come out after this season. Wright has you as the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft and the No. 2 rated quarterback behind Washington’s Jake Locker.
Wright is not alone is his assessment of you Jimmy. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. rates you as the No. 3 quarterback behind Oklahoma junior Sam Bradford and Locker, while ESPN’s Todd McShay pushed you all the way up last week from the No. 21 to the No. 8 overall pick, and behind only Locker at the quarterback position.
And all of them believe your stock and rating could still rise in these next two months. The pro-style offense you’ve operated in the last three years under center – and not always in the shotgun – gives you the best pro profile of any quarterback in this draft.
“Clausen is in the conversation to be the top quarterback taken,” Wright said. “And we never considered that last season.”
Listen Jimmy, with the collective bargaining agreement in limbo between the NFL owners and players, there is a good chance that this will be an “uncapped” year in terms of rookie salaries. Billionaire team owners such as Jerry Jones in Dallas and Daniel Snyder in Washington will push for no regulations for this upcoming draft, meaning players can essentially name their own price. And be certain, every sports agent will use this scenario as a recruiting tool, and a tactic to try and get even bigger deals than usual.
“It’s the Wild West, and all hell is going to break loose,” Wright said. “It’s going to be a free-for-all flood of underclassmen. It’s a financial risk for these guys to wait, so they won’t.”
These unthinkable riches won’t exist after next season when draft picks will be paid based solely on where they are slotted in the draft, similarly to the NBA. You’re stock couldn’t be much higher and the timing couldn’t be more ideal for you to walk away from your final year of eligibility Jimmy.
“It might be better to be the 20th pick this year than the No. 1 pick a year from now,” Wright warned.
Finances are just one consideration when you make your decision Jimmy. We all realize the Heisman Trophy, finally beating USC, and leading the Irish to a national title are tremendous carrots to come back for next year, but those potential rewards come with the risk of injury.
Bradford and his Sooner tight end teammate Jermaine Gresham are two players watching their NFL stock slip because of injury this season. You need to consider that Jimmy. You’ve been beaten up throughout your career at Notre Dame, and even this year, the turf toe injury has been a nagging issue for you.
And don’t forget what happened to USC quarterback Matt Leinart when he returned for his senior season in 2006. Leinart was a lock to be a top-five pick after his junior season in 2005, but by coming back, he dropped to the No. 10 overall pick and wasn’t even the first quarterback taken in the draft – Vince Young went No. 3 to Tennessee. Some estimates say the draft drop cost Leinart more than $10 million, so nothing is guaranteed if you come back next season Jimmy.
You’ve been groomed since the cradle to be an NFL quarterback. Getting you into “the league” has been the mission of your brothers and your parents your entire life. You chose Notre Dame over USC to be taught by an esteemed NFL quarterbacks coach in Charlie Weis. And other than falling short on some team pursuits, the plan has worked to perfection. The time has come to cash in.
We all need to savor these next two months with you at quarterback Jimmy because once you weigh your options in January, you very well may realize it’s time to go.
You’ve worked hard on the field and in the classroom. As an early enrollee to Notre Dame in January of 2007, graduation won’t be an issue. You’re 22 years old. The time has come to start the career you’ve always dreamed about.
We would miss you Jimmy. You’ve come along way in three short seasons. And selfishly, we want you to return. But if you choose to move on, we need to understand. After all, timing really is everything.
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