It would be hard to think he would get to the fall camp part without signing for millions.
The Bubba Starling Thread
- Thread starter corncraze
- Start date
flatwaterfan
Starter
I think the fact that he didnt sign up for classes tips the scales towards him leaning pro
I have said all along he will not play football, but the fact he would even drive up here is puzzling.
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
99.99% of us have been saying he'll play baseball all along, for the record. And the trip to Nebraska is most likely a negotiating tactic aimed at the Royals. That makes the most sense.
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
See him in Lincoln or see him playing on Saturdays for the Huskers? I believe he'll be here today, but that doesn't mean he'll play football.
What I think will be interesting is to see if he actually works out with the team. I can't imagine the Royals being too happy about him doing even light-contact or no-contact drills with a football team. If he actually practices in any capacity, that may bode well for him coming here.
I have yet to see another article or quote from the parents saying they want him to come to college - at least not since before the Draft. Anyone have any links to such articles?
They've gone quiet since the draft, which is the right thing to do. They shouldn't negotiate in public, and they probably don't even want to appear to be using Nebraska as a negotiating tactic.
Personally, I think that if Starling does come up to Nebraska this weekend, that tells me that there is at least some possibility he will remain in Nebraska. Most Nebraska fans see Starling's move to Nebraska as a transparent bluff, and I'm sure the Royals would see through it too. The only way that tactic works is if it's not entirely a bluff.
I still think it's about a 98% chance he goes to Kansas City, but I do think that if he moves up to Nebraska, if he gets settles in, starts working out with the team, and has a month to make friends on the team or around campus, familiarize himself with the culture of the program and the University - it could get interesting. This is an 18-year-old kid, and while most of us can't dream of turning down 6 million dollars, money may not be the most important thing to him, and he may be confident enough in his own abilities to think that he can get the same amount of money a few years down the road. He may think he doesn't have to choose one life or the other - he may want to have both.
Still, I think it's about a 98% chance he goes to the Royals.
Treand3
All-Conference
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
knapplc
International Man of Mystery
I think you're right. And I don't know that, if this is a negotiating tactic, that it has even a remote chance of being successful.
This is how I see it:
- The deal Bubba signs is being negotiated right now, via direct contact and via his actions/statements. Everything he says and does is being analyzed by the Royals' front office. In order to get the contract and the bonus he (or Boras) wants, the Royals must believe Nebraska is a viable option.
- Bubba and his folks have publicly stated that there is a strong chance he'll come to Nebraka, and they have set a date for his arrival - today. That sets in motion a chain of events which MUST HAPPEN, or the negotiation benefit of this ploy (if that's what it is) is lost.
- Bubba must show up to Nebraska, today or very near today.
- Bubba must participate in Fall Camp, and not do it half-assed. He must go full out, as if he's trying to win the starting spot or, failing that, as if he truly means to play football here.
- The Royals will not want their multi-million dollar investment, and their top-ten pick, injured in Fall Camp. Therefore they are likely to put restrictions on Bubba's activity in Lincoln.
- If Bubba flouts those restrictions, he stands to lose millions in signing bonuses or in salary.
- If he does abide by the Royals' restrictions, however, he sends a clear indication that he's likely playing pro ball, again weakening his bargaining position. He also runs the significant risk of alienating Pelini by listening to the Royals rather than Bo.
- If he has zero intention of coming to Nebraska at all, the risk to his body physically by participating in Fall Camp is ridiculous. But by committing himself to come here, he must or the ploy fails.
I don't see anything he gains by coming here that the Royals can't easily undermine by setting a few simple rules on his behavior here. His hand is too-easily forced by the Royals simply by choosing to come to Nebraska.
huskersrule95
All-Conference
Nah,
he's going football all the way. You read it here first
GBR
00.01% yeah baby
So you're telling me there's a chance? Yeaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!
See him in Lincoln, today or tommorrow. Months ago, I think in the KC Star, mom said she thought going to college would help him alot, as far as maturing. He had a sister that went to college and Mom said it helped her to grow up alot and thought Bubba should go this route also!
How much influence Mom has, only Bubba knows!