...is that, unlike the NBA, there seems to be very little in the way of handshake deals i.e. the following:
-player uses leverage to steer himself to or away from certain teams (rare examples are Eli, Elway) or more likely....based on a promise from a team, a player either shuts down his workouts or meetings with other teams
this is all fairly common in the NBA but surprisingly rare in the NFL (at least based on all I've read)
Example: let's say Haskins, a NJ native, friend of Barkley, NYG fan and most importantly, sees a situation that is ideal in terms of his opportunity AND NYG expressed the same, i don't see what would stand in the way of him "shutting it down" with an early promise.
That promise or apparent elevated interest isn't there in this case but I could totally envision this type of mutual interest resulting in what you often see in the NBA.
Example: let's say Haskins, a NJ native, friend of Barkley, NYG fan and most importantly, sees a situation that is ideal in terms of his opportunity AND NYG expressed the same, i don't see what would stand in the way of him "shutting it down" with an early promise.
That promise or apparent elevated interest isn't there in this case but I could totally envision this type of mutual interest resulting in what you often see in the NBA.
Why would a player shut it down? That is so ridiculous to me. Why should the NFL be like the NBA. It should be the other way around. The NBA is not a league to be modeled after. So, a team says they'll take you and what happens when they don't? We are supposed to believe people never lie? How many players have said that a team promised them something only to not follow through on it? It happens more often than you think. So, why should a player hurt his stock with other teams because someone said something to him from a team with a higher pick? Or what about a team with a lower pick that you impress them so much they want to trade up for you.
I would like Haskins or Lock, but I fear they are so married to Eli that we're going to end up settling for somebody they perceive to be a decent facsimile of him and an uncomplicated succession plan. Pathetic if true.