Shareef O’Neal probably isn’t going to qualify academically for fUCLA. They are a young team but have the sixth best recruiting class in the nation with O’Neal who is the son of Shaq.
Oregon dismisses Fotu Leaito after a second arrest. A senior linebacker for them. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/Article/Fotu-Leiato-dismissed-from-the-Oregon-Ducks-football-team-118501466/Amp
Maybe Leaito will get invited to the Kyle Whittingham Home for Wayward Linebackers.
LOL
Tony I am having trouble with the reply box, it isn’t there when I try and reply. I was only able to do this after I submitted and then edited.
And I’m not using my Atari 800, its a real computer 🙂
Dominoes boxing guy has outplayed Durant in this series.
They were great. It’s a grind and they chose to retire I guess. Neither of them had great or complete combine numbers, and I think that speaks to their desire to keep going. Wishing them well.
Just hope it doesn’t color Utah DL, in general, as uncommitted. Kind of looks bad to sign, take signing bonus, and then quit all within two weeks.
I agree. Kind of a dirt bag move on both their parts. We don’t know the details but on the surface it feels like they played the system and collected the money. If you’re not into it and don’t have the desire to truly give it all you got – then allow the FA contract go to someone who really wants the chance to fulfill their dreams
Lowell returned his money…not sure about Moko but he probably did as well. They were both banged up last year and it won’t reflect negatively on the DL unless it becomes a consistent pattern which it won’t. It’s not as uncommon as you think for a free agent.
If your heart is not in playing in “The League” you’re in big trouble. It was explained to me like this once by one of our guys who played for about 5 years:
”They’re animals and they literally are trying to kill you everyday, in every drill. They might be great guys off the field but some of these guys had nothing growing up and it’s like they know if they don’t make it they’re back to where they came from with nothing.”
I remember thinking…going to work every day and literally getting into a fistfight with a 320 pound freak of nature that wanted to beat the hell out of me every chance he had would be exhausting from a mental standpoint. The mental toughness those guys show is unreal.
I thought the grind was not so much on getting beat up by other players (there are limited drills with pads) rather in the amount of conditioning that is required to compete for a roster spot at that level. Given how much many people dream of playing in the big leagues of any sport, seems crazy to hang up cleats so suddenly after being handed an opportunity — maybe its just me being stubborn and relentless in pursuing what I decide to pursue.
Did they live up to hype I think is a better question.
Lotulelei hurt himself so I don’t fault him for that. Mokofisi idk I think he overperformed to his hype if he had any.
they were not even close to great their senior years. They had a few great games at the end of the season, but the rest of the season they were basically non existent.
The tragedy here is that they could have been All Americans, and that would have made our defensive ends, linebackers, and DBs that much better. Unfortunately, these two not playing up to their skill level is why we lost a few games last year.
Colorado and West Virginia are terrible teams to try and evaluate anybody against.
Question- Were Lowell and Mokofisi part of the group upset with the Huntley over Williams decision?
That question seems irrelevant. What does that have to do with their leaving the league? So you are saying their decrease in stats was due to their disagreement with the starting QB? Seems asinine.
So, you are saying that a persons attitude and performance at work are not related? Seems asinine.
Wtf? Completely relevant question in reply to “they were not even close to great their senior years. They had a few great games at the end of the season, but the rest of the season they were basically non existent” try to keep up…
Yeah, west virginia was terrible, as was colorado… I’m not arguing that one bit. Just saying that they played really well toward the end of the season, whatever the reason.
I’d be the first to tell you I was disgusted with how they played last year. If that had played up to potential, we would have won the south easily.
Oh please give me a break on feeling bad for the poor NFL even if they didnt have to pay back their signing bonuses. No other league is more of a business with the owners looking after their interests above and beyond those of any players. They cut (without pay in many cases) players routinely who they perceive to be under performing and don’t have to pay more for over performance.
https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/999041201163550720?s=20
Just saw that today is Tony’s wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary Tony, and thank you for this website, all the golf learnin’, and delicious brats and brews at 69 by the Dumpster. You’re good people, brother. GO UTES!
Thanks brother. Taking bride of admin to din tonight at the Red Iguana for our 8 year. It was her choice and I’m totally down.
*too
What is the reason for a “retirement” announcement (versus just no longer trying out for a team)? Is there some requirement that they officially retire to alert other teams that the player does not want to be contacted, some financial aspect, collective bargaining agreement aspect, or is it just to let people know that the NFL did not reject them, they rejected the NFL? If they later change their mind, do they need to officially “unretire” or can they just start playing again?
I think it has to do with the fact that a player who is under contract can’t just decide it’s not working out with a particular team and go try somewhere else. The only way they can “opt out” is to formally retire and let the clock run out on their contract, although this may not be as simple as time passing on the calendar (because under the CBA the clock might be based on accrued seasons, i.e. periods in which you were active etc). I think paying back the full signing bonus helps facilitate moving on either because of some impact on how the clock counts in that instance or because the team is more likely to cut the player loose if they’re not out any money. More detail can be found here:
Retirement section highlights below:
“Retirements
Teams can end a contract at any time, but so can players. In a player’s case, though, the only way they can do this is by retiring. In the end, though, the math looks pretty much the same as if the player had been cut — and the June 1 rule applies here, too.
For instance, if our player from the example above had retired instead of being cut, his money would account the same way as if he had been cut by the team. If he files his retirement paperwork on or after June 1, the money counts as if he was cut on or after June 1.
Just like anything else in the NFL, though, there is a “but” for this rule, too: if the player retires with time remaining on his contract, then chooses to come back into the league later, he is not a free agent. Contracts apply, in most cases, to accrued seasons, not calendar years. If the player doesn’t play, he doesn’t accrue a season. Therefore, his return to the field would put him back under the control of the same team, unless that team chooses to cut him. This rule is part of the reason why Barry Sanders chose to retire: the Lions refused to cut him, and he decided he’d rather stop playing altogether than play another season for Detroit. Conversely, Brett Favreretired, and then the team chose to cut him while he was retired. He was then able to return to the league later as a free agent.
Okay, there are actually two “buts” for retirements. When a player retires, the team has the option to pursue the return of a portion of the signing bonus equal to the unplayed portions of the contract, and that money is no longer counted against the salary cap. This is typically done through an arbitrator. This is known as the “Barry Sanders Rule” because this is exactly how the situation played out in his case, as he was required to pay back a portion of his bonus. The difference between now and then is there was no precedent when Sanders played; now, it’s explicitly written into the CBA to allow for this arbitration.”
Great explanation, thank you.
So any idea why Mokofisi and Lowell issued a formal “retirement”? Are they trying to sign on with another team? If not, and they just don’t want to play football anymore, is there a reason to announce a formal retirement?
In Lowell’s case, he has said since the announcement that he wants to get into coaching, so he may actually be done (apparently scouts had real doubts about how committed he was to playing, which is why he didn’t get drafted). Flip’s agent says he’s taking some “time off” which makes me think that maybe he wasn’t going to make the team or it wasn’t a good fit and he’s not ready to hang it up for good just yet… but that’s just speculation since there’s not much reporting beyond the issued statements at this point.
I think it has to do with the fact that a player who is under contract can’t just decide it’s not working out with a particular team and go try somewhere else. The only way they can “opt out” is to formally retire and let the clock run out on their contract, although this may not be as simple as time passing on the calendar (because under the CBA the clock might be based on accrued seasons, i.e. periods in which you were active etc). I think paying back the full signing bonus helps facilitate moving on either because of some impact on how the clock counts in that instance or because the team is more likely to cut the player loose if they’re not out any money. More detail can be found here:
Retirement section highlights below:
“Retirements
Teams can end a contract at any time, but so can players. In a player’s case, though, the only way they can do this is by retiring. In the end, though, the math looks pretty much the same as if the player had been cut — and the June 1 rule applies here, too.
For instance, if our player from the example above had retired instead of being cut, his money would account the same way as if he had been cut by the team. If he files his retirement paperwork on or after June 1, the money counts as if he was cut on or after June 1.
Just like anything else in the NFL, though, there is a “but” for this rule, too: if the player retires with time remaining on his contract, then chooses to come back into the league later, he is not a free agent. Contracts apply, in most cases, to accrued seasons, not calendar years. If the player doesn’t play, he doesn’t accrue a season. Therefore, his return to the field would put him back under the control of the same team, unless that team chooses to cut him. This rule is part of the reason why Barry Sanders chose to retire: the Lions refused to cut him, and he decided he’d rather stop playing altogether than play another season for Detroit. Conversely, Brett Favreretired, and then the team chose to cut him while he was retired. He was then able to return to the league later as a free agent.
Okay, there are actually two “buts” for retirements. When a player retires, the team has the option to pursue the return of a portion of the signing bonus equal to the unplayed portions of the contract, and that money is no longer counted against the salary cap. This is typically done through an arbitrator. This is known as the “Barry Sanders Rule” because this is exactly how the situation played out in his case, as he was required to pay back a portion of his bonus. The difference between now and then is there was no precedent when Sanders played; now, it’s explicitly written into the CBA to allow for this arbitration.”
You stop that with your optimism. We are utes dammit. We need nothing but cynicism and rage.
Fire Coach X,Y and Z
Much better.
Lets hope there are no off-season shenanigans resulting in Ute player suspensions or disqualifications.
Meanwhile I am sure the Provostan folks will provide some unintended comedy/entertainment value at some point during the summer.
Dude you just jinxed it,
While I refuse to post a link to their board, I will admit to perusing it for the entertainment. Just laighed my ass off at a thread wherein they were arguing with each other about how they’re a better, more prestigious program than Boise State. BUT THEY DON’T EVEN HAVE A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. You really can’t make this stuff up.
So excited for the upcoming season! Now what to do with the next 99 days….
What are the most pressing needs for the football team? Who does it appear that we are going after the hardest?
Moss was credited with 75 total Missed Tackles, good for number two behind only Bryce Love(80). Forcing those missed tackles creates a lot of yards, and plenty of highlight clips.
Interesting to see how the touches pan out for these backs. Taylor has an abundance of options in the rush attack which might help more in controlling the clock.
Moss definitely needs to work on his tackling skills, definitely. ;–)
https://twitter.com/Penny_1/status/998623537580523526
More like 7 highly effective ways to make you FAF.
I dont know what that means?
Fast As F**k
Please see update on posting tweets.
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