The Palm Beach Post’s Jorge Milian penned a piece on Thursday discussing Miami’s five early departees and the money they left on the table by not returning for one more year. The biggest “loser”? Wide receiver Tommy Streeter, who might have cost himself upwards of $2M by coming out early.
Some draft analysts graded the 6-foot-5, 219-pound Streeter as a second-round pick, mostly due to his 4.4 time in the forty-yard dash at February’s NFL Combine. By the time last week’s draft arrived, Streeter’s stock had plummeted, with questions over his route-running, as well as the notion he was an NCAA “one year wonder”, having only seen significant playing time his junior season.
Milian stated that according to a long-time NFL agent, with access to contract information, the average second-rounder in 2011 earned $2.2M in guaranteed while a sixth-rounder was in the $101,000 range.
According to ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, Streeter made a crucial mistake.
“Tommy Streeter should have come back to school. He knew the risks. I thought he could have used more time.”
Lamar Miller was another draft day loser. Once pegged as a top five running back and potential first rounder by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr., Miller went in the fourth round due to concerns over his surgically-repaired shoulder. He too fell into that “one year wonder” category as Streeter, showcasing his talents in 2011, but never before.
Milian wrote that blame begins with the players, which is a comforting assessment as so many have pointed the finger at agent Drew Rosenhaus, which has been the scapegoat for fans and outsiders alike.
Again it was stated that UM players chose not to petition the NFL Draft Advisory Board before making their decision – something that still confuses head coach Al Golden.
“In fifteen years of coaching, I’ve never seen that,” Golden said weeks back. “It’s a function of what the young person is listening to.”
Seems this story isn’t going to go away anytime soon, despite the pleas from some UM supporters to drop it and move on. As the paths of Streeter, Miller and the other three early departees rolls on – Olivier Vernon, Brandon Washington and Marcus Forston – there will always be that ‘what if’ question.
Not only did they hurt themselves and lose out on big money, the loss of all five will directly impact the 2012 Hurricanes on the field this fall, which was the last thing a depth-challenged program needed as it looks to rebuild.
there’s no “what if”question.
the question is “who cares?”
I wish all those guys the best!
screw the money, the draft rating and the projections, etc.
We’re in the NFL now baby.
lets prove it on the field!
Go Canes! Whoosh!
Hope a lot of them get to prove it on the field. No guarantee that sixth rounders make the team. Even worse for the undrafted free agents.
As for “who cares?” — time well tell, my friend. Miller and Streeter left a shit-ton of money on the table. Even if they ball for their careers, they each lost millions of dollars they’ll never get back. Period.
Could’ve been in the NFL next year, baby. And gotten paid much more handsomely.
Agree one one thing; Go Canes. Always.
by the way, Miller was no one year wonder.
He brought it from the beginning, albeit not as a starter. He was ripping off the long runs left and right and the big kick off returns and all. You knew he was a stud from the moment he stepped on the field- and he was on the field.
Streeter,on the other, hand didn’t get the playing time until last year, so you can call him a oyw.
Miller came on late in 2010, starting with Maryland in early November.
He sat against Florida State (10/9) and Duke (10/16). He carried three times at Ohio State, eight times at Pittsburgh, seven times at Clemson, six times against Virginia and nine times against South Florida.
Miller was a consistent, every-down back starting in 2011. He really needed to come back for his junior season to prove his consistency.
kickoff return at the big house as a freshman ain’t worth mentioning?
… Michigan is the Big House, not Ohio State, but yes, Miller had a great return there.
He still left too early, left millions of dollars on the table and was truly only a one-year starter, regardless.
Lets be real…..Miller CANNOT block and he can’t shed arm tackles. Speed only goes so far in the league. His whole goal was to reach 1000 yards for the season…..not win games, not improve himself, nothing…Go CANES….dead weight has been lifted!!!