Does Calvin Johnson jump to the NFL or does he stay in Atlanta for his senior season? There's little doubt that Calvin will be a top 3-5 pick if he does declare, so there's a pile of money involved that most of us cannot even imagine. He put on an absolute show this afternoon in the Gator Bowl to cap a monster junior season and has already broken every major GT receiving record. The physical talent is unquestioned, his attitude and work ethic make him a dream to coach and he's proved it all with his performance while in school. Under almost any circumstances, he's as good as gone.
That being said, Calvin is something of an odd duck. His work developing sanitation systems for 3rd world countries is well documented (and he's traveling to Bolivia shortly as part of that project). He chose to go to GT at a time the football program was really not much more than average because of the academic strength of the school, and he's something of a quiet and unpretentious guy with a mother who's strongly involved in his studies and is probably the key player in this process. He seems to genuinely be in college, and he's avoided the limelight as much as he could for the past 3 years. Jumping to the NFL would thrust him out of a situation he seems perfectly happy to be in.
All things considered, I believe that Calvin will declare for the draft - but I will also not be surprised in the least if he returns. This GT team only had 3 seniors on the field most of the day, and Taylor Bennett showed he can get the ball to #21 on a regular basis. If he returns GT is probably the favorite to win the ACC, a goal he has openly talked about for his career. If he leaves, he'll be an immediate gamebreaker at the NFL level and an exemplary citizen wherever he ends up.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-02-2007 @ 10:19AM
paulwesterdawg said...
It would be financially reckless to return for his senior year. There are several reasons to return, but his mother's comment that she wants him to get a college degree is without a doubt the most absurd.
The kid would sign a $40-50 million contract. Around $10 million of that would end up being guaranteed money. It's not like he wouldn't be able to afford to return to college upon completion of his NFL career. It's not like he would be some college dropout unable to get a job in the real world.
The only good reasons to stay are the Matt Leinart reasons.....
1. You don't want to play for the Raiders, Lions or Bucs or Browns. However, 3 of those will likely be drafting at the top of the pile again next year if history is any indicator.
2. You want "the college experience."
Leinart's decision likely cost him $4-5 million bucks. He went from the sure fire #1 overall pick to the #10 pick, and he missed the opportunity to have an NFL career that lasted 1 more year. And for what? To not win a second heisman and not win the national title? Just to chase chicks?
If Calvin got hurt and ended up with only $2-3 million in insurance money his family would never forgive themselves for encouraging him to come back.
Sometimes you have to be practical.
It wouldn't shock me if he came back either. But he's not as smart as I think he is if he comes back.
pwd
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