Aaron Graves Return?

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NorthKCHawk

Well-Known Member
A bunch of 5th year guys who are in NFL camps have bee granted eligibility in Louisiana to return to college. There is some rumbling as to whether, if he doesn't make the Raven's roster, KF might lure Graves back for a 5th year? Its all just speculation, but it sure is interesting given the lack of experience at the DT. Graves was an UDFA for the Ravens and is having a good camp. He is reportedly a bubble guy, but at least has a shot at their practice squad.

This is such an insane thing that this is even a possibility, but welcome to the NIL era. Practice squad guys make 13k a week. Pretty sure Iowa can beat that. Just crazy to consider the NFL being outbid by college football.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
A bunch of 5th year guys who are in NFL camps have bee granted eligibility in Louisiana to return to college. There is some rumbling as to whether, if he doesn't make the Raven's roster, KF might lure Graves back for a 5th year? Its all just speculation, but it sure is interesting given the lack of experience at the DT. Graves was an UDFA for the Ravens and is having a good camp. He is reportedly a bubble guy, but at least has a shot at their practice squad.

This is such an insane thing that this is even a possibility, but welcome to the NIL era. Practice squad guys make 13k a week. Pretty sure Iowa can beat that. Just crazy to consider the NFL being outbid by college football.
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Graves also has a wife and kid. Not saying he's a dummy and can't manage a family on $13K a week which is about $12.5K more than I started out with one, but if he can bank a mil for a year at Iowa I'd think that would be appealing. It's not like it wouldn't also help his prospects going forward if he can stay healthy.
 
Yep. The NFL will still be available to him again next year. I doubt Iowa has a spare mill laying around, but I suspect KF can talk a booster into laying a cash trail down from Baltimore to IC. If he somehow makes the 53 man roster, he would be dumb to leave, but he could make a lot more in IC this year than on Baltimore's PS. This could be a real game changer for Iowa.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
A bunch of 5th year guys who are in NFL camps have bee granted eligibility in Louisiana to return to college. There is some rumbling as to whether, if he doesn't make the Raven's roster, KF might lure Graves back for a 5th year? Its all just speculation, but it sure is interesting given the lack of experience at the DT. Graves was an UDFA for the Ravens and is having a good camp. He is reportedly a bubble guy, but at least has a shot at their practice squad.

This is such an insane thing that this is even a possibility, but welcome to the NIL era. Practice squad guys make 13k a week. Pretty sure Iowa can beat that. Just crazy to consider the NFL being outbid by college football.
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Practice squad guys make 676k? Damn. Do they get paid all year, or just during the season?
 
USBHawk said:
Practice squad guys make 676k? Damn. Do they get paid all year, or just during the season?
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I think your math is off. 13k times a 20ish week season is around 250k. It is my understanding that it is a week to week payment because guys get released and re-signed a lot. Of course, they can also get elevated to the 53. I don't think these guys make anything in the offseason as they are not under contract, but I have not run that far down the rabbit hole.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
Yep. The NFL will still be available to him again next year. I doubt Iowa has a spare mill laying around, but I suspect KF can talk a booster into laying a cash trail down from Baltimore to IC. If he somehow makes the 53 man roster, he would be dumb to leave, but he could make a lot more in IC this year than on Baltimore's PS. This could be a real game changer for Iowa.
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If KF and co. wanted him back there would be a donor who'd make it happen somehow.
 
NorthKCHawk said:
I think your math is off. 13k times a 20ish week season is around 250k. It is my understanding that it is a week to week payment because guys get released and re-signed a lot. Of course, they can also get elevated to the 53. I don't think these guys make anything in the offseason as they are not under contract, but I have not run that far down the rabbit hole.
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Correct it's only when on the PS roster, 18 weeks maximum. If they get cut at any point pay stops.
 
hawkinn3 said:
How insane is it that this is even possible?
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Yep. Likely the only time Iowa might be able to poach a player from an NFL roster. LOL.

Candidly, if KF or Bell haven't at least placed a phone call, they are nuts. This would change the entire complexion of our defense, IMHO. He's that much better than who he'd be replacing at the weakest position on the entire squad.
 
I think Iowa would be crazy to not want him back and I think he'd be crazy to not want to do it. Not knowing whatever else it is Graves is doing atm but if he's in football shape wanting to keep the NFL dream alive why not put another great yr on tape at Iowa and make 6 figures doing it? I have no idea what Iowa could get him but I'm sure it's alot.
 
I listened to a rather extensive commentary on this topic today on Full Ride (sirius ch 84)...Bobby Carpenter and Rick Neuheisel.

Their take was the NFL is going to step in and squash this. Probably through Congress.

Reason is simple....roster management for the NFL teams would be a nightmare considering teams "wasting" a draft pick for example on a person who goes back to school as it disrupts a salary cap, etc.

Interesting times for sure.
 
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Seth53 said:
I listened to a rather extensive commentary on this topic today on Full Ride (sirius ch 84)...Bobby Carpenter and Rick Neuheisel.

Their take was the NFL is going to step in and squash this. Probably through Congress.

Reason is simple....roster management for the NFL teams would be a nightmare considering teams "wasting" a draft pick for example on a person who goes back to school disrupts salary cap, etc.

Interesting times for sure.
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That is not going to save them right now. Candidly, this is a very unusual situation that should not be replicated. The NCAA should have grandfathered these kids into the new 5 for 5 rule and didn't. Home town judges are forcing them to do so. This will not be an issue next year. However, that is not to say some other weird situation will not come up next year. This is the wild wild west.

Hey, if it takes something like this to get the NFL behind legislation to regulate college athletics, I am fine with that. College sports needs guard rails, and Congress is the only entity that can really do that and make it stick. The NCAA is at the mercy of the hometown judges.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
I think Iowa would be crazy to not want him back and I think he'd be crazy to not want to do it. Not knowing whatever else it is Graves is doing atm but if he's in football shape wanting to keep the NFL dream alive why not put another great yr on tape at Iowa and make 6 figures doing it? I have no idea what Iowa could get him but I'm sure it's alot.
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I agree with this unless the Ravens tell him he has a legitimate shot at their 53 man roster. I don't think he does, but if he can stick on their main roster, he would be a fool to leave that for a year at Iowa. If he will be on the practice squad, then its an easier call to return to Iowa
 
NorthKCHawk said:
Yep. The NFL will still be available to him again next year. I doubt Iowa has a spare mill laying around, but I suspect KF can talk a booster into laying a cash trail down from Baltimore to IC. If he somehow makes the 53 man roster, he would be dumb to leave, but he could make a lot more in IC this year than on Baltimore's PS. This could be a real game changer for Iowa.
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and play every weekend
 
Chad Leistikow put out a text message this morning that basically said to pump the brakes on this happening. Specifically, he said that he was told not to read much into the rumors.

I'd love to have him back too but it would have to make sense from his side too. Could he make more this year wearing a Hawkeye uniform than being on the Raven's practice squad? Absolutely. But he might develop more from the experience of being in that setting vs. another year on a college roster.
 
I tend to think there is enough smoke here that KF/KB have reached out to gauge interest, and that it wasn't a dead end.

Trying to hang on a practice squad all year when you are 23 sure beats working a desk job, but if Iowa was to double his pay and guarantee it regardless of injury...it'd be tough to turn down. Especially when you factor in a wife and baby. There is often a lot of bouncing around in that lifestyle too...a stable year and guaranteed money would be pretty attractive.
 
I have no idea what the rules are now. Do you need to be enrolled in school on day one to be elligible to play this fall?
 
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