Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Players Support Noah Fant’s Decision

[HawkleberryFinn]

The reason Fant was under-utilized isn't because of his brother or any of that bullshit. It's because he's not a true tight end in the mold of Iowa tight ends. Hockensen is. Hockensen is a better blocker. Fant is essentially a freakish huge wide receiver. He should've been used as such. They should have just split him out wide and laughed as defensive backs tried to deal with it.

I mean, it's what I would have done.

This is the bigger story: Ferentz misusing Fant's talents. Because he didn't "fit" Ferentz's archetypal TE mold, he was kept off the field. This is a glaring example of Ferentz's inability and disinterest in adapting his program to talents available--it was made vividly apparent in Fant's case because Fant is a special talent that doesn't come along that often. This coaching mistake is where we should direct our ire--not Fant's decision to stay or go.

 

[mopkins]

Its definitely the right move, as long as you're not competitive and you have no loyalty to your teammates.

What if you're staring 12 million bucks and your lifelong dream of playing in the NFL in the face and it's only 2 months away from being realized?

It's easy to be an armchair expert and say what you would do when you haven't been busting your ass your entire life for this one moment

 

[PCHawk]

What if you're staring 12 million bucks and your lifelong dream of playing in the NFL in the face and it's only 2 months away from being realized?

It's easy to be an armchair expert and say what you would do when you haven't been busting your ass your entire life for this one moment

I didn't say what I would do. But you're right, it is easy. I would take out an insurance policy and play the game.

 

[mopkins]

I didn't say what I would do. But you're right, it is easy. I would take out an insurance policy and play the game.

Its just not worth it IMO. Look at Jake Butt. He could have gone pro after his junior year. Instead he returned to Michigan and was a projected top 50 pick. Then he tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl and fell to the 5th round. Since then he's tore his ACL again. 3 ACL tears in total. After 8 NFL receptions, he might never see the field again. He literally cost himself millions of dollars playing in that Orange Bowl....and he DID have an insurance policy.

If Iowa was in the CFP or maybe a NY6 bowl, I could see him wanting to play and finish things off. The Outback bowl just doesn't matter when you're that close to that kind of money and your lifelong dream.

 

[Fryowa]

Its just not worth it IMO. Look at Jake Butt. He could have gone pro after his junior year. Instead he returned to Michigan and was a projected top 50 pick. Then he tore his ACL in the Orange Bowl and fell to the 5th round. Since then he's tore his ACL again. 3 ACL tears in total. After 8 NFL receptions, he might never see the field again. He literally cost himself millions of dollars playing in that Orange Bowl....and he DID have an insurance policy.

If Iowa was in the CFP or maybe a NY6 bowl, I could see him wanting to play and finish things off. The Outback bowl just doesn't matter when you're that close to that kind of money and your lifelong dream.

Jake Butt went from being set for life with millions guaranteed money, which if he was even remotely savvy and restrained with spending and investments would have also set all of his children up...to a roughly $500,000 net from the insurance policy and a 4 year contract with only $300,000 guaranteed. Honest question, can anyone tell me an NFL player that made a productive comeback and increased his contract after 3 ACLs??

If you can go in one of the first 2 rounds, you do it. Period, point blank. The guaranteed money is enough that even if you never see the field for whatever reason you are totally set up. Your teammates will understand...and if they don't??? Sorry 'bout it. You have your life, family, and future to think about and if you think it's admirable to fall on some metaphorical grenade so you can help your buddies can win the Foster Farms Bowl and lose $15-20 million in the process, you're a fucking idiot.

When a guy falls into the 4th, 5th, you're relying on an impressive showing in your first 4 years to get you a renewed, higher dollar contract. That happened to Jake Butt because of his injury and he paid the ultimate price by likely never playing again.

 

[mopkins]

Jake Butt went from being set for life with millions guaranteed money, which if he was even remotely savvy and restrained with spending and investments would have also set all of his children up...to a roughly $500,000 net from the insurance policy and a 4 year contract with only $300,000 guaranteed. Honest question, can anyone tell me an NFL player that made a productive comeback and increased his contract after 3 ACLs??

If you can go in one of the first 2 rounds, you do it. Period, point blank. The guaranteed money is enough that even if you never see the field for whatever reason you are totally set up. Your teammates will understand...and if they don't??? Sorry 'bout it. You have your life, family, and future to think about and if you think falling on some metaphorical grenade so you can help your buddies can win the Foster Farms Bowl and lose $15-20 million in the process, you're a fucking idiot.

When a guy falls into the 4th, 5th, you're relying on an impressive showing in your first 4 years to get you a renewed, higher dollar contract. That happened to Jake Butt because of his injury and he paid the ultimate price by likely never playing again.

Nailed it. There are times in life when you have to be selfish. For Fant this is absolutely one of those times.

 

[Fryowa]

I would take out an insurance policy and play the game.

Those insurance policies aren't even close to what a first or second rounder would make. Not even in the same zip code. Butt potentially lost tens of millions of dollars even after his policy paid out.

 

[RobHowe]

It's estimated that former Notre Dame and current Dallas LB Jaylen Smith lost close to $30M when he was hurt in a bowl game.

 

[kicker22]

Jake Butt went from being set for life with millions guaranteed money, which if he was even remotely savvy and restrained with spending and investments would have also set all of his children up...to a roughly $500,000 net from the insurance policy and a 4 year contract with only $300,000 guaranteed. Honest question, can anyone tell me an NFL player that made a productive comeback and increased his contract after 3 ACLs??

If you can go in one of the first 2 rounds, you do it. Period, point blank. The guaranteed money is enough that even if you never see the field for whatever reason you are totally set up. Your teammates will understand...and if they don't??? Sorry 'bout it. You have your life, family, and future to think about and if you think it's admirable to fall on some metaphorical grenade so you can help your buddies can win the Foster Farms Bowl and lose $15-20 million in the process, you're a fucking idiot.

When a guy falls into the 4th, 5th, you're relying on an impressive showing in your first 4 years to get you a renewed, higher dollar contract. That happened to Jake Butt because of his injury and he paid the ultimate price by likely never playing again.

But where's the guarantee that that's going to happen? I'm not saying its a good idea or not, or even that I don't think he's going to go in the first two rounds, but why not finish the season out and hold off declaring until having the chance to be evaluated like his teammates. I just think he's making a really bold move declaring early, and leaving the team. What's the benefit to declaring at this moment, why not wait it out? Or does he know something TJ and the others don't?

I totally understand the injury possibility, but there's always a chance that he could get hurt training for the combine or doing something else. I get minimizing the risk, but what makes the way he's doing it versus the way TJ and Hooker are going about it at this point any different?

Honestly not trying to turn this into an argument, just trying to see things differently.

 

[mopkins]

But where's the guarantee that that's going to happen? I'm not saying its a good idea or not, or even that I don't think he's going to go in the first two rounds, but why not finish the season out and hold off declaring until having the chance to be evaluated like his teammates. I just think he's making a really bold move declaring early, and leaving the team. What's the benefit to declaring at this moment, why not wait it out? Or does he know something TJ and the others don't?

I totally understand the injury possibility, but there's always a chance that he could get hurt training for the combine or doing something else. I get minimizing the risk, but what makes the way he's doing it versus the way TJ and Hooker are going about it at this point any different?

Honestly not trying to turn this into an argument, just trying to see things differently.

Noah already received his NFL evaluation.

Fant submitted his name for evaluation in the 2019 draft Wednesday. The positive feedback helped him make the decision.

 

[kicker22]

Noah already received his NFL evaluation.

Makes sense. I missed that part. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[mopkins]

Also consider the recent NFL careers of a couple other Hawkeye Tight Ends:

Tony Moeaki: 2 full NFL seasons, 2 injury shortened seasons, cut during 5th season
C.J. Fiedorowicz: 3 full NFL seasons, 1 injury shortened season, retired due to concussions

Tony made about $4M in the NFL. CJ made about $10M

 

[Gibsonian]

Can't say for sure what I would do in this situation but Hockenson made it clear that he wanted to play in the bowl game with his teammates and his focus would be on that. I am glad that there are players that are looking at the NFL and still want to play their possible last college game of their lives.

This kind of thinking from TJ might be one of the reasons that he was able to have such a great season and received all of the snaps and throws that he did this year.

Couple different mentalities here and I know the one that I admire the most.

 

[PCHawk]

Why so scared to get hurt in a bowl game but still willing to play vs Nebraska?

 

[PCHawk]

Can't say for sure what I would do in this situation but Hockenson made it clear that he wanted to play in the bowl game with his teammates and his focus would be on that. I am glad that there are players that are looking at the NFL and still want to play their possible last college game of their lives.

This kind of thinking from TJ might be one of the reasons that he was able to have such a great season and received all of the snaps and throws that he did this year.

Couple different mentalities here and I know the one that I admire the most.

I agree. I see both sides of it. You have to compare the chances of getting hurt and the repercussions oif you do vs your competitive desire to play and your loyalty to your team.

 

[mopkins]

Can't say for sure what I would do in this situation but Hockenson made it clear that he wanted to play in the bowl game with his teammates and his focus would be on that. I am glad that there are players that are looking at the NFL and still want to play their possible last college game of their lives.

This kind of thinking from TJ might be one of the reasons that he was able to have such a great season and received all of the snaps and throws that he did this year.

Couple different mentalities here and I know the one that I admire the most.

There are some key differences between Noah and TJ right now. At this point Noah is a better lock than TJ is as far as the draft is concerned. Just wait until the combine, Noah is going to blow people away with his speed.

 

[PCHawk]

It's estimated that former Notre Dame and current Dallas LB Jaylen Smith lost close to $30M when he was hurt in a bowl game.

I wonder how much Drew Ott lost by choosing to play regular season games.

 

[mopkins]

Why so scared to get hurt in a bowl game but still willing to play vs Nebraska?

The bowl is only 50 days from the combine. Even a minor injury could impact your 40 time or shuttle time. A minor injury could also impact your preparation for the combine.

Preparing for a bowl game and training for the combine are two completely separate workouts. You can spend time in December training specifically for the combine rather than practicing and studying up on Mississippi State.

 

[PCHawk]

Those insurance policies aren't even close to what a first or second rounder would make. Not even in the same zip code. Butt potentially lost tens of millions of dollars even after his policy paid out.

I just assumed they were like other insurances where you could pay a higher premium to get insured for more.

 

[PCHawk]

The bowl is only 50 days from the combine. Even a minor injury could impact your 40 time or shuttle time. A minor injury could also impact your preparation for the combine.

Preparing for a bowl game and training for the combine are two completely separate workouts. You can spend time in December training specifically for the combine rather than practicing and studying up on Mississippi State.

Good point.