Lisa Webster, the mother of Florida Gators junior offensive linemen and twin brothers Mike and Maurkice Pouncey, told Gator Country on Wednesday that her boys will likely return to the University of Florida for their senior seasons unless they are graded by scouts as worthy of a selection in the first two rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft.
“They’re staying put unless they hear first or second round,” Webster said. “That would change everything. They know they have my blessing to go if it’s in the first or second round. For that kind of money, they’re set for life if they invest it right and they can always go back to school to finish up school in the offseason, but if it’s third round … well, I’d just as soon they stay in school. They’re both going to be close to graduating in the summer. The NFL will still be there and they’ll have their education.”
More on this story including the opinion of a local sports agent after the jump…
Sports agent Darren Heitner of Dynasty Athlete Representation spoke with OGGOA about the impact that draft position can have on an athlete’s career earnings. “The Pounceys will have to sign a longer term contract if they are first- or second-round picks than if they are drafted in a later round,” he said. “The second contract is when the real money comes. However, for an early pick, that money is realized immediately. So while the Pounceys may have to play an extra year or two, they will not have to worry about playing for anywhere near minimum salary. They will have a nice chunk of their contract guaranteed, and if invested wisely, that money could last them almost a lifetime. There is a huge decrease in money and security on a first contract if a player is not drafted in one of the first two rounds; many do not even make it to a second contract.”
There are also benefits and detriments to staying in school one more year, especially if the NFL does not reach a new collective bargaining agreement for 2010. “In 2010, there will presumably be no salary cap, but there will also be no salary floor,” Heitner said. “It opens the door to allow teams to spend more money on first- and second-round picks; however, because there is no floor, teams may instead lower the contracts. There is a lot of uncertainty. Worst of all, if they don’t declare for 2010, there is no guarantee that there will not be a lockout in 2011. That would be devastating to potential rookies.”
Staying with the Gators to protect future starting quarterback John Brantley would not necessarily be the worst thing for the Pounceys though. “I can tell you they’re in no rush to leave the University of Florida,” Webster added. “They love it there. They love Coach Meyer and Coach Addazio. I love what everybody up there has done for my boys. They’re happy and they love being Gators. They don’t have to go to the NFL this year.”
It seems Webster was passionate about this subject in response to what Bruce Black, the father of Florida junior safety Ahmad Black, said about the boys’ NFL aspirationsy.
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