NON Football related but.... 11:17 - Apr 27 with 1471 views | RochdaleLeeds | has anybody been keeping up with the NFL drafts?? Been watching American Football for a few years now, New England Patriots fan myself, always wanted to go watch them at Wembley when they play but iv never been able to afford it. Excited for the up coming season due to a number of British athletes trying to get involved. Manelik Watson, local(ish) lad from Manchester give up a career in football and was released (I think) from 2 basketball teams has been a 2nd round draft pick for Oakland Raiders. Bit of a background on this lad, Two [of his brothers] have been in and out of prison — one’s coming out soon — and his oldest half-brother has been in too, A good footballer as a youngster, he fought back from a horrific, freak injury after a bad tackle by a schoolmate when he was 13. “The doctor said they almost amputated it because they were worried about the complications if they tried to put the ankle back together. They told me I shouldn’t play sport again. I was just happy to have my leg at all" Fantastic fairytale story in the making if he succeeds in the NFL. There are also 2 other British players currently awaiting being drafted, Okonye, the British Discus Olympian whos been touted as a good prospect due to all his abilities (strength, pace etc). There is also a third, a young Tom Wort who was born in Crawley who I don't know much about. | | | | |
NON Football related but.... on 11:21 - Apr 27 with 1466 views | ColDale | Always found the whole concept of the draft fascinating. In the land of the free and all that, its arguably the most socialist sporting system in the world giving the worst team the best players. Shame we can't have something like that amongst the 92. | | | |
NON Football related but.... on 11:40 - Apr 27 with 1451 views | RochdaleLeeds |
NON Football related but.... on 11:21 - Apr 27 by ColDale | Always found the whole concept of the draft fascinating. In the land of the free and all that, its arguably the most socialist sporting system in the world giving the worst team the best players. Shame we can't have something like that amongst the 92. |
Its pretty much the exact same as the MLS draft, the least successful teams being able to bring through the best young talent from Colleges which helps them get a foothold in the top levels of their chosen sport. A concept The English Football League & Premier league could try to adopt? Helping more home grown players into an Academy or signed up on a one year deal. Also, restricting teams to having only so many players signed up on professional contract deal with so many being below a certain age and again so many of home grown status. I know there are rules already in place but enforcing it more to be able to help improve the home grown talent which is being produced. The downside is English football not being the very best leagues and competition in the world due to a loss in fantastic foreign players, however that being said (if all works out) it would only be 10 or so years before English players do become more like the Spanish and Germans and our potential improves massively. And if Rochdale (god forbid) do have a bad season one year finishing one place above the relegation zone we could draft one of Manchester Uniteds superstar youngsters ha-ha! | | | |
NON Football related but.... on 16:02 - Apr 27 with 1400 views | pioneer |
NON Football related but.... on 11:40 - Apr 27 by RochdaleLeeds | Its pretty much the exact same as the MLS draft, the least successful teams being able to bring through the best young talent from Colleges which helps them get a foothold in the top levels of their chosen sport. A concept The English Football League & Premier league could try to adopt? Helping more home grown players into an Academy or signed up on a one year deal. Also, restricting teams to having only so many players signed up on professional contract deal with so many being below a certain age and again so many of home grown status. I know there are rules already in place but enforcing it more to be able to help improve the home grown talent which is being produced. The downside is English football not being the very best leagues and competition in the world due to a loss in fantastic foreign players, however that being said (if all works out) it would only be 10 or so years before English players do become more like the Spanish and Germans and our potential improves massively. And if Rochdale (god forbid) do have a bad season one year finishing one place above the relegation zone we could draft one of Manchester Uniteds superstar youngsters ha-ha! |
The draft would probably be declared illegal if anyone was bold enough to challenge it. But of course the rewards are so high no one seems to have the incentive to do that. There have been cases were individual have refused to sign for the team that drafted them (Eric Lindros in the NHL for example). The drafting team of course have an incentive to trade the player to a team he is prepared to play for rather than lose him for nothing shopuld the player go to court for his 'release'. Essentially it means the individual does not have the right to work for his employer of choice. Against all labour laws. In terms of the Manchester lad, the Raiders are in desperate straights at the moment. I saw them get crushed at home by the saints last season. It was over 30 points by half time and the stadium emptied before the second half started. It does mean he has a decent chance of making a really poor roster, but not much chance of making the play offs. | | | |
NON Football related but.... on 04:09 - Apr 28 with 1343 views | DiddyDave | Who gives a sh*t,American crap. | | | |
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