News: PFT: La’el Collins glad NFL made exception so he could attend symposium

[NewsBot]

The NFL typically reserves the rookie symposium for players who were actually drafted. But since Cowboys offensive lineman La’El Collins is kind of an exception anyway, they let him in. Collins told Gil Brandt and Alex Marvez on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he was grateful to be included in the program. “My agent and [the Cowboys’] PR guys…http://youwillnotrackme2.net/b.gif?host=profootballtalk.nbcsports.com&blog=&post=2335053&subd=nbcprofootballtalk&ref=&feed=1

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[DallasEast]

Of course, all rookies, drafted or otherwise, would certainly benefit from the program. But the league’s not going to buy enough hotel rooms for all the undrafteds to show up, which is why one of the top players like Collins had to get special permission.

I'm sure total expenses do not begin and end with lodging for rookies but the NFL should make the symposium available to as many rookies as possible. A good number of them will not make final cuts but the potential benefit for positively influencing any young man is worth the investment even if the societal gain will be found outside the league. I think the NFL should make its program as inclusive as possible for all rookie UDFAs for this reason.

 

[BotchedLobotomy]

I'm sure total expenses do not begin and end with lodging for rookies but the NFL should make the symposium available to as many rookies as possible. A good number of them will not make final cuts but the potential benefit for positively influencing any young man is worth the investment even if the societal gain will be found outside the league. I think the NFL should make its program as inclusive as possible for all rookie UDFAs for this reason.

I agree, I think it shows the short sightedness and greed that is the norm for the NFL front office. I'm not sure how many undrafted rookies are out there, but even if it costs them another 200K to include them, that's barely a dent in the piles and piles of money the NFL is sitting on.

 

[Fredd]

IMO, once a rookie signs on the dotted line (at whatever price), they should be included...anything else is nonsense

 

[Longboysfan]

Yes. Include them all. There may be too many for a one place get together.
Separate it by teams. 16 going to one place the other 16 to Vegas.

 

[Bullflop]

Sometimes, special circumstances call for special allowances. It's fitting that the league saw fit to allow La'el to participate in the symposium as they did. It certainly wasn't of his doing that he was forced to attend the legal hearing that excluded him from participating in the draft process. Nice to see that he was so appreciative of being afforded the special treatment that he had gotten. He seems deserving of everything he's earned.

 

[Fletch]

After taking "Throat-Zilla" out for pizza, he better be holding Herm Edwards hand.

 

[Carl23]

. A good number of them will not make final cuts but the potential benefit for positively influencing any young man is worth the investment even if the societal gain will be found outside the league. I think the NFL should make its program as inclusive as possible for all rookie UDFAs for this reason.

I agree. I can't see how it would cost *that* much money. Sheesh.

Worst-case, have it set up to be viewed as a webinar...

 

[CATCH17]

Wow the NFL actually did something that made sense for a change.

 

[Chuck 54]

The option for undrafted players to attend should be left up to the teams who can foot the bill themselves. A team pays to send a free agent like Leary or Collins because it's a step towards protecting themselves, but for undrafted "camp" bodies or long shots, they would opt to not send them.

 

[jrumann59]

I'm sure total expenses do not begin and end with lodging for rookies but the NFL should make the symposium available to as many rookies as possible. A good number of them will not make final cuts but the potential benefit for positively influencing any young man is worth the investment even if the societal gain will be found outside the league. I think the NFL should make its program as inclusive as possible for all rookie UDFAs for this reason.

Yep basically tells the UDFAs they won't amount to a hill of beans. But if they are any good they could be Vet journeyman while that does not pay millions it does pay well. Better than most "middle class" high education careers.