UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 30
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Will Stafford, Moreno turn pro in ‘09
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The NFL draft was completed on Sunday. Which, of course, meant that the 2009 mock drafts came out on Monday. If you’re a fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, they certainly made for some interesting reading.
It appears to be the general consensus among the draft gurus that quarterback Matthew Stafford not only will turn pro after this, his junior season, but that he’s the odds-on favorite to be the top quarterback picked in the 2009 draft. Sportsillustrated.cnn.com and CBSSportsline.com both saw it that way. So did ESPN and a few others.
That’s nothing new for Stafford. He was, after all, projected to be an eventual No. 1 NFL draft pick by ESPN’s Mel Kiper when Stafford was still at Highland Park High. But the fervor extends to Georgia tailback Knowshon Moreno as well. One columnist for ESPN.com not only has Stafford going third to the Kansas City Chiefs, but also has Knowshon Moreno going 10th to the New York Jets. Something called walterfootball.com has Moreno, a redshirt sophomore next season, going 15th to the Texans and Stafford not going anywhere (but Tim Tebow going fourth overall and the first quarterback taken).
The accuracy of such speculative drafts aside, it is clear there is is going to be some strong appeal for Georgia’s two offensive stars to come out after next season. I’m interested in finding out where y’all stand on that.
Would anybody have a problem with that? Granted, most fans just want all their teams’ players to exhaust their eligibility before moving on to play for pay. But if Stafford or Moreno either one is assured (is there such a thing in a competitive draft?) of becoming a top 10 pick after next season, there’s not much of a question whether they should come out. That’s a lifetime opportunity that may never come again.
Conversely, should achieving their college goals and completing their educations be the first priority?
For what it’s worth, Stafford told me in an interview this past season it has always been his intention to play all four years in college. And, historically, quarterbacks appear to benefit more from staying through their senior senior seasons. It’s an incredibly cerebral position.
It’s a different story for running backs. Because of the physical demands of the position, they have a limited shelf life on the next level. The average NFL tenure for a tailback remains less than five years. So you better take what you can get while you’re healthy. I’ve never asked Moreno about it but will next time we talk.
I still think what the Bulldogs do on the field this fall will have some bearing on their decisions. Both are very outspoken in their desire to bring a national championship to Georgia. If the Dogs do what a lot of people are projecting them to do, certainly no one could begrudge either of these guys for leaving. But what if the Dogs come up short? Is that even more incentive to come back and try again?
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