Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Army tells Campbell he can't play.

SuperCy said:
I'm not sure if any of you saw the draft. It was one of the cooler moments when the crowd started chanting "USA!"

I don't think that this is surprising at all. He's not the first person who's had to fulfill their duties before playing pro ball.

Army orders Lions draft pick Campbell to withdraw - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Click to expand...

I might feel for the guy, but he signed a contract with the Army when he enrolled at West Point. He must fulfill his obligations. If David Robinson had to serve on a nuclear sub for a couple of years before he started his hall-of-fame career in San Antonio, then as far as I'm concerned EVERY athlete coming from a service academy should expect the same treatment.
 
No matter what side of the debate you fall on you have to agree that this soldier is doing the honorable thing--he's going to serve his country without using the media to try and get out of it. He made an honorable commitment with our country and he's going to fulfill it--knowing full well it could cost him millions of dollars. The sad fact is that if he does end up serving, this story will go away in a few days and then people will go back to calling NFL players heroes. Mike Vick, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, etc.... not heroes. Good athletes. Not a hero.
 
If the last player from a military academy to win a Heisman can fulfill his military commitment, I think this guy can as well. Roger Staubach was drafted in 1964 but his first year in the NFL was 1969 when he was 27!
 
The difference is prior to the Draft the Army had a policy that stated if he was active on an NFL roster he could service as a recruiter. This is what he was told prior to the draft. Since then they have changed their policy and he was not grandfathered in under the old policy.

I do not want to pretend that I know more then the Army personel who is making this choice and Campbell is handling it unbelievably well. I just think it reflects poorly on the Army to go back on what they had said in the past.
 
The unfortunate part is that he was a seventh-round pick, not a Hall-of-Famer like David Robinson, and when he returns there may not be a spot for him. This could possibly have been his only shot at the NFL.
 
bootcy said:
The unfortunate part is that he was a seventh-round pick, not a Hall-of-Famer like David Robinson, and when he returns there may not be a spot for him. This could possibly have been his only shot at the NFL.
Click to expand...
Roger Staubach was a 10th round pick.
 
CloneAggie said:
Roger Staubach was a 10th round pick.
Click to expand...

I think today's NFL is vastly different than the NFL of the 60s - it was a lot more lucrative to just become a businessman for example and a lot of good players didn't go on to play in the NFL.

I agree that it was unfortunate that the Army said he could be a recruiter and is now changing their mind. If they weren't going to let him do it say so from the start.
 
bootcy said:
The unfortunate part is that he was a seventh-round pick, not a Hall-of-Famer like David Robinson, and when he returns there may not be a spot for him. This could possibly have been his only shot at the NFL.
Click to expand...

Not a lot of 7th round picks around on opening day anyway...
 
He probably wouldn't have made the roster, but it had to be disappointing finding out the night before Training Camp started.
 
CyGuy33 said:
The difference is prior to the Draft the Army had a policy that stated if he was active on an NFL roster he could service as a recruiter. This is what he was told prior to the draft. Since then they have changed their policy and he was not grandfathered in under the old policy.

I do not want to pretend that I know more then the Army personel who is making this choice and Campbell is handling it unbelievably well. I just think it reflects poorly on the Army to go back on what they had said in the past.
Click to expand...

I remember reading about him, and how he would be able to play in the NFL right away. And they just changed their policy?? Laaaame.

However, glad to see that he's not trying to get out of it, he sounds like a good guy, true to his word.
 
SpokaneCY said:
Not a lot of 7th round picks around on opening day anyway...
Click to expand...

I still think he deserved a shot since the Army said he would get that.

Jarrod Page was the 7th round pick for the Chiefs 2 years ago and he started almost every game last year and is definitely going to be the full time guy this season.
 
I wonder how the Lions will handle this. How much is a seventh round pick worth these days. The Army told them he would be available when they drafted him, now they say he is not. Could Detroit have a lawsuit option and would that be a popular decision?
 
Interesting tid bit on ESPN Radio a few minutes ago that there are players in Minor League Baseball and Pro Hockey that in the last year have gone directly from the Academy to pro sports. I wonder if these men will have to quit playing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom