SI: Undrafted Underclassmen, Shawnbrey

[Harry0569]

Great article about underclassmen not being drafted.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... ?eref=sihp

Shawnbrey's part:

The on-field success of 2010 underclassmen like Sam Bradford and Ndakumong Suh has been well documented. But the journeys of players like Basped, Darius Marshall and Shawnbrey McNeal, who belong to this last group of 52 underclassmen who have yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game, haven't.

A wispy running back from SMU, McNeal endured what he called the "devastation" of sitting with his mother and closest relatives last April and watching pick after pick until, with the last selection of the seventh round, the confidence that led him to leave school early was crushed. "Not letting my mom hear my name get called that day, it was hard," he said. "Hard, hard, hard. To the point where I almost shut down. It was the biggest letdown of my life."

He signed a free-agent contract with the Chargers for $2,500 and lasted the entire preseason before being released. The Falcons picked him up and he spent the first half of the 2010 season on their practice squad, and the second half on the Redskins' practice squad. With its running back situation unsettled, Washington signed McNeal to a reserve/futures contract in January, giving him protection during a tumultuous offseason. He would never have said so a year ago, but today McNeal calls leaving SMU early "the best decision I've ever made."

"I know I can't go around and spend money like I was drafted in the first round," he says. "My pockets aren't as deep as theirs, so guys like me have to spend wisely and manage our money. The good thing is, that's where a lot of maturity can develop. And some of the things I learned from an early age, being raised by my mom in a little apartment in south Dallas, those skills will help me now."

Undrafted players this year will face an entirely different set of circumstances. Even if Monday's court ruling holds up and the lockout ends, undrafted free agents probably won't be allowed to sign with a team until a new CBA is reached.

NFL Network draft analyst Charles Davis believes that the most important criteria for underclassmen to consider when deciding to make the jump is "emotional maturity."

"These guys are about to leave the cocoon," Davis said, "and they won't be able to get away with staying up all night playing video games anymore." As for the physical requirements, Davis said: "Obviously there's a reason high school players don't jump to the NFL the way they do in the NBA or in baseball."

McNeal appears to have both areas covered. The Redskins recently sent him an offseason workout program and told him "to use everything that's going on right now with the lockout as motivation."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1KkgV8yPO

[mavsrage311]

Interesting that UFA's can't sign after the draft...very strange indeed. Leaves them in limbo wondering when/if they'll get a shot at the pros

[Peruna 2K5]

Good read. I Wish Shawnbrey the best of luck in the NFL.

[PoconoPony]

I really question Shawnbrey when he states that leaving SMU was the best decision he ever made. At the current rate/status he has roughly 2 more years to make it before his chances of an NFL career are over. His prospects of making the NFL are limited as well as the career span he might have if he makes it in the league ( just my opinion when you are on the low end of the bubble). Then what???? What is he trained and prepared to do to support himself and his kids when the paltry NFL $$$ stop?? Yes paltry when you consider that the minimum roster wage really does not give you much after taxes, insurances, agents, housing and training expenses. You need to live your dream; however, a touch of reality is needed. If he had stayed at SMU the chances are that he might have reached the level to be drafted which would have been a huge boost. This puts a whole different status on things with the drafting club who will give drafted players a longer and better shot at making the team. He might actually have had a college degree which would have greatly enhansed his chances for a reasonable job if he did not make the NFL. Bottom line is that he pursuing a dream and we wish him well, but the reality is that window of playing and economic opportunity is very restricted and he then has to live the rest of his life with few if any tools.

In my career I had three kids who worked temporarily for me that mirror Shawnbrey's plight. We had long discussion re the realities and politics involved. After their NFL dream fell through and floating for 3 years on various NFL practice squads two players ended up playing some limited Canadian ball ( casualties of being on the bubble and foreign player quotas in Canada) and the 3d was a kicker who for 3 years in a row lead an NFL combine in kick off distance and field goal % and field goal range. Kicker played pro soccer in Europe for 4 years before huge crowds yet NFL people informed him that they were not sure he could perform before big NFL crowds because he had been away from football for 4 years while in Europe. All were undrafted from big name colleges who picked the wrong initial agents and lost in the agent political games based on other agents having multiple player clients on a given roster and the wheeling and dealing on salaries, rostor bonuses, past clients, agent relationship with the GM....etc. Hopefully, Shwnbrey has a good agent and cultivates a special coach friend along the way.

[friarwolf]

He was never going to be able to get a degree from SMU. He made the right decision......

[Stallion]

BS-I agree 100% Pocono. He was never going to get a degree because he has a history of not working hard academically whereever he has been in college or even community college. The guy has about a 3% chance of ever playing(ie sitting on the bench) a full season in the NFL and now is trying to convince himself that his poor decisions in life were GREAT!!!

[friarwolf]

That was my point - he was never interested in getting a degree so he might as well swing for the fences and try to play a year or two. Doesn't mean he is going to be successful in making the nfl, just that he might as well try to follow his passion in playing football because it sure as hell wasn't going to class to learn........

[PoconoPony]

BS-I agree 100% Pocono. He was never going to get a degree because he has a history of not working hard academically whereever he has been in college or even community college. The guy has about a 3% chance of ever playing(ie sitting on the bench) a full season in the NFL and now is trying to convince himself that his poor decisions in life were GREAT!!!

I cannot disagree with your assessment. SMU handed him a golden opportunity and he simply did not take advantage although I still think with some self discipline and desire that he could have earned a degree. Life is a matter of choices, he made his and only time will tell with his chances not very good.