Higher Education?
by ChiFan13 on Jan 30, 2009 4:53 PM CST
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PrintA week ago, GeauxBears posted an article detailing Earl Bennett’s decision to return to Vanderbilt to pursue his degree. I originally wrote: “I will never get mad at a kid for wanting to return and get his degree. But why after this year? Especially when he couldn’t crack our stellar WR corps?” Today, we find out that Matt Forte has returned to Tulane to finish up the 15 credits needed for his degree.
I believe that there is a HUGE difference between the two. We have one player who was drafted in the 2nd round, started for us and was an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate. The other was drafted in the 3rd round, played on special teams, but couldn’t beat out Marty “AARP” Booker and Rashied “I play what position again?”
Here’s the thing: School will always be there after your days in the NFL. I realize that both will show up when organized practices start, and both are doing the honorable thing by getting a degree. They are also setting a positive example to all the young’ns out there. Matt Forte has minor aspects of his game to work on. Earl Bennett obviously has bigger issues, especially since, you know, he didn’t play. Personally, I believe that Bennett could have focused more on his game if he stayed in
What’s your take on Bennett and Matt Forte going back to school? Is there a difference between the two or is it a whole lot of nothing?
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Honestly,
It would be pretty tough to go back and finish a degree if a player was away from school for a few years. I’m not sure of any type of statute of limitations, but for the sake of argument, I’ll just keep that statement simple.
On the other hand, it was pointed out that Bennett, of all people, should be putting as much time in as possible with his teammates and coaches. Is there a way to balance off-season workouts and practicing? Sure, but it would be a tough agenda to pull off.
These 2 guys are going to the Southern and Eastern coasts to study… not exactly a short trip down the road from Halas Hall.
Did we expect too much from Bennett this season?… after all, he wasn’t a high draft pick, and isn’t necessarily ever going to be a top receiver in the league. It will definately be interesting to see how he progresses this upcoming season…
Things will get better as they improve...
Bennett was a 3rd rounder
I consider that high, but I realize I might be in the minority.
I don’t think we expected too much from him. Everyone couldn’t get enough of Earl Bennett in training camp and all we heard of him once the season started was crickets. My point is that if he doesn’t progress or play, he can’t be upset.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
Namath finished his.
WAY after starting at Bama.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
Why is there a difference?
2 guys one year away from school go back to polish up their degrees during the offseason? Good for them. Regardless of the success had by either of them, I don’t understand why WE as fans should look at them differently for it.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 30, 2009 5:38 PM CST reply actions
But there is a different
Forte needs the rest. He carried the ball a lot, and so hopefully a restful offseason (with obviously some sort of physical conditioning) will make sure we don’t run him into the ground.
Bennett couldn’t beat out Marty Booker or Rashied Davis. If that doesn’t scream “GET HELP,” I don’t know what will.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
You can go to class and get better at your job
its not like Bennent went back to Vandy to do nothing. And I think the fact that he didn’t get on the field has more do with the coaching staff being stupid and reading the papers saying “first year recievers never make an impact their rookie year” junk.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 30, 2009 5:57 PM CST up reply actions
i agree
15 credits is not that big a deal. Studying and athletics are not mutually exclusive. No correlation between studying and practicing ie just because he is doing one it does not mean he is neglecting the other. thousands of college students do it every day and in the case of our Bears the offseason athletic demands may even be less than those placed on students when the school year and the sports season are one in the same.
They choose to spend their free time during the offseason in classrooms. good for them. there are much worse things they could be doing ie making it rain in strip clubs alla pac man
Another thing to keep in mind...
These guys aren’t just going to school, they are going to be working out at the gym with the people in their football programs that helped them succeed at the college level.
Bennett was a great college player, and now he will be back there in the gym working with the folks in that program… who knows, it may help.
The Other Thing Is
Some of these guys promise their family that they will go back and finish their degrees. I know Nate Davis did in his farewell press release. I have no problem with it. There are a lot of negative stereotypes about athletes and not finishing their degrees, etc, etc.
And from the colleges point of view, its not bad for recruiting to have some prospective freshman as you’re showing him the training facilities: “Oh hey its Matt Forte, he plays for the Bears but he’s here finishing his degree and working out”
The other other thing is that a lot of these athletes go back to their college or hometown and train in the offseason any way, might as well finish your degree while your back on campus any way.
by Sam Householder on Jan 30, 2009 7:10 PM CST reply actions
good points
I remember Vince Carter who went back to graduate right before game 7 of the eastern conference finals a few years ago.
In sports with drafts, timing is cruical. i wonder where forte gets drafted, if he elects to go back to school this past year and tears something in his knee. This is a trend I think you will see more of given the downward turn of the current economy and upcoming labor disputes. If there happens to be a holdout during this terrible economic time, football could be in trouble, much like hockey.. when it comes to sponsors and fans.
Absolutely no difference
There is no difference between the two. You just like one of the players, and don’t like the other player.
And I say good for both of them for finishing school
Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.
visit the mindful mission
?
You just like one of the players, and don’t like the other player.
When did I say that?
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
I am guessing...
I can’t think of many other reasons why you would criticize one player more than another for doing the same thing.
Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.
visit the mindful mission
by big_lowitzki on Jan 30, 2009 9:18 PM CST up reply actions
Here's my reasoning
If you like your job, yet your job performance is poor, you want to do anything you can to get better at what you do so you can stay, right?
I don’t dislike Earl Bennett at all. He’s a high character guy, and when he did get onto the field, he played hard.
Forte did a great job for us this year. Honestly, he needs to rest his legs a little bit this offseason. We had him on the field A LOT for us. Bennett couldn’t start among our WR’s, which is a piss-poor squad. Like I said, I’m not knocking his wanting to finish his degree. BUT, if I was him, I would want to work my ass off this offseason. I’d be getting a hold of every QB I knew trying to find a guy to throw me the ball, I’d be getting in the weight room, etc. etc. I’m sure he’s working out and staying where he needs to be physically. I’m just saying he could have waited a year to finish up. School will always be there, the NFL isn’t.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
But the fact that he's going back to Vandy
doesn’t mean he ISN’T busting his ass to get on the field.
Like someone up there said, he’s probably able to meet up with friends/coaches/advisors to give him to tips to get better in addition to getting his degree.
by halfblindcubbiegirl on Jan 30, 2009 10:47 PM CST up reply actions
well...
If you like your job, yet your job performance is poor, you want to do anything you can to get better at what you do so you can stay, right?
Maybe he is? How do you know that he isn’t?
BUT, if I was him, I would want to work my ass off this offseason. I’d be getting a hold of every QB I knew trying to find a guy to throw me the ball, I’d be getting in the weight room, etc. etc.
Again, how do you know he is not doing these things? You don’t think that they have a weight room at Vandy? No quarterbacks?
And does Forte need “rest?” Sure… but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t ALSO be working his ass off this off season, at all.
Both players need to work hard this off season, and I am sure that both players will.
Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.
visit the mindful mission
by big_lowitzki on Jan 31, 2009 9:01 AM CST up reply actions
And my point is
that Earl Bennett has a lot more to do than Matt Forte does. Do they both have to work hard? Yes. But fundamentals-wise, Forte has more work to do than Bennett.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
having not seen earl bennett on the field...
you sure do have a great grasp on his development, his fundamentals and what he needs to do to get better. i’m the no it all round here mister!
My point exactly
We can say it’s the coaches or whatever, but the bottom line is that he must not have impressed coaches enough to get on the field. Maybe it is the coaches. But, if Earl Bennett is truly a good WR, we would have seen him this year.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
I have no problem with Bennett, Forter, or Manning getting their degrees.
More players should finish up. If the team doesn’t like it, then don’t draft players who aren’t graduated.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
Its 15 credits, no big deal
I’d much rather have him in school this summer after what we have seen some of our Bears pull in the off season. Not saying he may not be partying a little, but he deserves it.
Coaches Eye
i believe that earl bennent not being able to break the line up is more of an indictement on our coaching staff and their ability to judge talent. look at justin gage and bobby engram who could not quite break the line up early on and has flourished elsewhere. That being said i think it was Shakespeare who put it " above all to thine own self be true" education is the only way to achieve self actulization and there fore takes precident over our beloved game. i would much rather see earl bennett become a responsible human being and fail at football than succeed at football and become a criminal ala plax, pac and travis henry
I absolutely agree
I’m not dogging his decision to get his degree; no one seems to get that. I’m actually very happy that both Bennett and Forte are going back to school
My point is that maybe this wasn’t the best offseason to do it for Bennett.
I'M A MAN! I'M 22!
Other than putting in face time in Chicago...
…perhaps he felt his best chance of improving was to work with people who’ve helped nurture his talent for a number of years, rather than the Bears WR coaching staff… who have, let’s face it, not covered themselves in glory.
Who knows? I guess we’ll find out next season whether the generally positive reports we read about him at training camp really did indicate anything.
Maybe it's because he realizes his future is NOT in football...
…and wants to make sure he has a security blanket if he gets cut soon. :-o
Nah, I think Bennett going to school is about #1,244 on the list of worries of the Bears.
Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!
Really? That was one of my first thoughts when I saw this.
We need to use him more often, and as a possession receiver.
For those children who claimed they’ve been a fan of their favorite team all their life, or even since they were about four or five years old: bullshit. There’s always that certain event or certain player that draws to the sport and draws you to a team. For me, Nomar Garciaparra was that reason. - Nick Coviello: I Try To See Rocco, But All I Think Is Nomar; 1/9/09
bennett's development
as a NFL WR is probably best served by not working out with Bear’s coaches.
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