Former University of Kansas record-breaker chooses the Canadian Football League over the NFL.
Yesterday, I was asked an interesting question when I was interviewed by aStupidRadio. The question was something along the lines of “How could you tell a client that he should accept a smaller offer than the highest one that he is presented?” I responded by saying that one of the worst things to have happen is to be overvalued when entering a league, because a team will quickly realize that the player is being overvalued, and that player will not have an ability to perform and increase his value. It appears that Jon Cornish is a follower of my theory.
Jon Cornish just graduated from the University of Kansas. You may have never heard of him, but last year, he ran for more yards in a single year than any previous RB at the University of Kansas. He did not get drafted, but received numerous offers from NFL teams to join their rosters as a free-agent [Record-setting back joining Stamps]. He could have accepted an offer, make a meager amount of guaranteed dollars and most likely get cut before he made anything substantial. Instead, it seems that he will sign with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. In the CFL, Cornish will have an opportunity to grow and improve on his strengths. Maybe in a couple of years we will see him in the NFL.
Just another thought to throw out there for Sports Agents. Would you ever promote the CFL over joining an NFL team as a free-agent after not being drafted?
-Darren Heitner
p.s. – My official “letter of intent” for law school will be posted at midnight! Yeah…I’m a dork.
3 replies on “Choosing A Different Route”
Hey I love your site. I was wondering if you would like to link our blogs together. I write at http://www.thesportsflow.blogspot.com – come by and please let me know with a comment or shoot me an email and let me know what you think.
Thank you,
grittysquirrels
It honestly depends on your opinion as to whether the athletes potential to make the NFL team as a free agent out weighs the risk of getting cut and losing out on a CFL contract. Any athlete will have much more opportunity to grow in an NFL system, but there are so many risk factors involved. Quiet frankly, if one of my clients did not get drafted and they had a CFL team offering a contract I would have to urge them to take it. Make what money you can, not everyone is cut out for the Pros…
I’m not so sure about advising a running back to join the CFL if he could potentially make an NFL team, even a practise squad. As a Torontonian I catch a few games a year and the CFL is much more a passing game than a running game. It has helped guys like Moon, Flutie and Garcia showcase their talents and fine tune them. However, since you only get 3 downs and not 4, running backs not accustomed to the game can be in for somewhat of a suprise. There have been some great running backs in the CFL like Pringle and Clemons, but off the top of my head I can not think of many who have ended up going back to the NFL.