BIG ERN That’s why even we veteran bowlers work our way, tournament to tournament. We need the supplemental income. ROYSupplemental income? BIG ERNSupplemental — it means “extra.” You interested? ROYInterested? BIG ERNWould you be interested in some extra income? ROYExtra income? BIG ERNWant to make more money?(pause)Why don’t you go eat that outside and then come on back in.” - From “Kingpin“
The NFL Supplemental Draft is Thursday, which isn’t big news at all. In fact, most casual sports fans aren’t even aware of its existence. The term supplemental is also a little tricky here. There’s nothing extra or additional about the draft, really. If a team selects a player in any round, then the team has to give up the corresponding pick in the next year’s draft. For example, if the Falcons burn a third round pick on ex-Terrapin T Jared Gaither, they automatically lose a 2008 third-round pick. That, paired with having to fit the player’s salary into both the alloted rookie pool and salary cap, usually steers most teams away from making supplemental selections.
This year’s class, however, is a little bigger, and better, than the usual crop, and as a result it should garner more attention. Also, teams have more cap room than any offseason I can recall. The Browns still have $22 million to burn. Considering that some of these guys would be first- or second-rounders next year, teams could be getting a bargain if they do decided to pick them. If Gaither ends up being a force at left tackle for somebody, then sacrificing only a third-round pick on him and paying the corresponding salary will be a joke.
The problem is that there’s a stigma around these guys, like they’re all Chris Henrys in training or something. That perception, at least to me, is a little off base.
Being a student athlete is difficult (about ten years ago I was one). Being a student athlete is even more difficult when you know you’re going pro and have little interest in being a student (I have absolutely no clue about that, so I’m just making an educated guess). Some of these guys just don’t give a fuck about school any more, and that sentiment is intensified by the fact that they aren’t paid or allowed to really get a job (like they have the time to do that anyway). Each of this supplemental draft classes’ three top talents — Gaither, CB Paul Oliver and G Chris Patrick (not to be confused with Chris “Mother Fucker Looks Like The Predator” Kirkpatrick ) — aren’t major character concerns. Gaither and Oliver were declared academically ineligible due to poor grades, and the rumor is that Patrick would have been deemed ineligible due to illegal substance usage.
If you have any idea how many college football players stick needles in their asses, than you know that’s not a huge ordeal. I’m not condoning his behavior, I’m just saying that the behavior isn’t unusual at all. The San Diego Chargers didn’t flinch to draft DT Luis Castillo with the 28th overall pick a few years back, and he had just failed a steroid test. Simply put — getting busted for ‘roids isn’t that big of a deal. Just ask Shawne Merriman.
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