Go Pro James!!

[PhPanther1]

Thanks for your services and dedication to Pitt. Based upon what happens in the NFL, you should go there as soon as possible as a RB. The league doesn't care where you were drafted and as long as you put forth maximum effort and produce, you will play. 18/32 running backs were drafted in round 3 or later...with 5 of them not even being drafted. No matter when you get drafted, you'll be the man! Go get the clock ticking towards your 2nd NFL contract and do Pitt proud.

Chargers Gordon 1st round
Vikings Peterson 1st round
Cowboys Elliott 1st round
Eagles Matthews 1st round
Rams Gurley 1st round
Buccaneers Martin 1st round
Saints Ingramm 1st round
Panthers Stewart 1st round
Steeles Bell 2nd round
Bengals Hill 2nd round
Bills McCoy 2nd round
Jets Forte 2nd round
Packers Lacy 2nd round
49ers Hyde 2nd round
Ravens West 3rd round
Colts Gore 3rd round
Titans Murray 3rd round
Chiefs Charles 3rd round
Cardinals Johnson 3rd round
Texans Miller 4th round
Broncos Booker 4th round
Falcons Freeman 4th round
Dolphins Ajaye 5th round
Bears Howard 5th round
Raiders Murray 6th round
Lions Riddick 6th round
Giants Jennings 7th round
Browns Crowell Undrafted
Patriots Blount Undrafted
Jaguars Ivory Undrafted
Redskins Kelly Undrafted
Seahawks Rawls Undrafted

 

[Swervin27]

Stay in college. The world is a scary place, having a 6 figure bank account is over rated (I've heard), stay here where it is safe and warm.

 

[MIPittfan]

Wish he could stay a Panther, but bigger things are ahead for Mr Connor. The total epitome of class and valor. A true role model.
H2P

 

[Las Panteras]

He has to go. The costs of staying far outweigh the benefits.

 

[JokePa]

OK, you guys are nuts.

He has to get his numbers up. If he can get the 40 times and the lifting numbers up, then go. But based on this year stats, which are good, but not amazing, people will drop him on the charts due to the uncertainty of his injury last year. If he is a 5th round draft choice, I say stay in school.

 

[Swervin27]

OK, you guys are nuts.

He has to get his numbers up. If he can get the 40 times and the lifting numbers up, then go. But based on this year stats, which are good, but not amazing, people will drop him on the charts due to the uncertainty of his injury last year. If he is a 5th round draft choice, I say stay in school.

we are nuts? Listen, I want him to stay more than anyone, but i'll admit it's purely selfish reasons.. As much as I'd love to see him come back, he'd be very foolish to come back.. Coming back wont help his 40 time, his stock won't get any higher than it is now..

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Stay in college. The world is a scary place, having a 6 figure bank account is over rated (I've heard), stay here where it is safe and warm.

All that money just complicates a tax return its not worth it.
Yes tax returns, agents, attorneys, tax attorneys, buying a house with a theater and indoor pool, all stressful stuff.

 

[Swervin27]

All that money just complicates a tax return its not worth it.
Yes tax returns, agents, attorneys, tax attorneys, buying a house with a theater and indoor pool, all stressful stuff.

don't forget the chicks, All over you cause of your bank account? Who needs that nightmare, girls wanting you for your money, yuck. If you stay at pitt, at least you'll know the chicks going home with you aren't using you for your money.. look at me, im ugly and broke, I know any girl that likes me truly likes me for who I am. Now if I can just find that lucky lady..

 

[LeftCoastPanther]

James' pass-catching skills, which are highly underrated, will help land him at the tail end of the third round when teams are drafting with awarded compensatory picks, or early in the fourth round.

Conner is so gone, so enjoy his final rodeo at Heinz Field this Saturday.

 

[JokePa]

we are nuts? Listen, I want him to stay more than anyone, but i'll admit it's purely selfish reasons.. As much as I'd love to see him come back, he'd be very foolish to come back.. Coming back wont help his 40 time, his stock won't get any higher than it is now..

I dont want him to stay.

I want him to make the best decision for his future. I think coming back and dominating may make him more money in the long run, vs. a very late draft choice and making a few hundred grand.

True, injuries happen, and could happen. But, I think he will have help making this choice, and I think he will make a good choice whatever it may be.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

He is rated as the 17th best RB by Walter Football. Right now he probably gets drafted as a 2nd or 3rd RB and sees time on 3rd down and goal line situations. He could work his way up to be a feature back. I'm not sure if his situation really improves by staying a year. And he has really improved as a pass catcher this year, something that should solidify his draft stock.

I'd love to see him come back and continue to rack up the yards, compete for the Heisman, etc... But I think its probably his time to go to the NFL and secure his financial future. And while his loss will be big, I think we will be fine with the stable of backs we have along with Sibley coming in.

 

[Swervin27]

we used a 3rd rd pick to draft Dri Freakin Archer. Never underestimate the ignorant and foolish. you don't need every team/GM to believe in you, you only need one...

With regards to JC, I think he would be well worth a 4th rd pick.. Many teams have done much worse..

 

[CaptainMurphy]

we used a 3rd rd pick to draft Dri Freakin Archer. Never underestimate the ignorant and foolish. you don't need every team/GM to believe in you, you only need one...

With regards to JC, I think he would be well worth a 4th rd pick.. Many teams have done much worse..

The Steelers could be a decent landing spot for him with Williams being a FA.

 

[Swervin27]

The Steelers could be a decent landing spot for him with Williams being a FA.

honestly, love for JC aside, I think he'd be a good pickup for steelers in fourth.. Maybe you franchise Bell but you aren't signing him long term and DeAngelo has one more year and is 32 now. You got to find a backup RB and toussant makes me sick, sumbeetch single handedly lost that Denver game last year..

 

[BuffetParrothead]

James' pass-catching skills, which are highly underrated, will help land him at the tail end of the third round when teams are drafting with awarded compensatory picks, or early in the fourth round.

Conner is so gone, so enjoy his final rodeo at Heinz Field this Saturday.

He also is an aggressive blocker who takes on his defensive target.
Most good running backs make a " half" effort when blocking opponents.
Run, catch, block, size, tough, hard working, runs over and around defensive guys what more would an NFL team want? Plus he seems to have character, and stays away from trouble!

 

[JoseLind13]

We all love Conner and hope he has a HOF career and makes millions, but honestly, I'm a bit concerned how his style translates to today's NFL. His ceiling at that level is tricky. I think he finds a role and has a career, but unfortunately, there seem to be more NFL underachieving backs with his college power running style than huge success stories. Staying another year probably doesn't change that situation, so I say go make the money as soon as possible. I will always root for him regardless of the uniform.

 

[rpost3]

He's starting to look like his old self, he's proven he can catch, and he's all ready picking up blitzers like an NFL RB.

He's history. Gonna miss seeing him out there.

 

[Jpripper88]

OK, you guys are nuts.

He has to get his numbers up. If he can get the 40 times and the lifting numbers up, then go. But based on this year stats, which are good, but not amazing, people will drop him on the charts due to the uncertainty of his injury last year. If he is a 5th round draft choice, I say stay in school.

I'd love for him to stay, but what is the upside? He goes 3rd round next year? Meanwhile he gives up $475k he can never get back. He won't make any real money unless he goes 2nd or higher and that has basically 0% chance of happening. 3rd is best case this year or next and likely 4th-6th, either way.

 

[Gregory25]

I've always thought that James had a better NFL shot by moving to DE or LB.

 

[maxxwell]

Come back, switch to linebacker (unless he really has his heart set at a shot at being an NFL RB), dominate next year's D and potentially become a first round pick at LB, enjoy a longer and more lucrative NFL career. In the very least, talk to some NFL scouts about his prospects as a RB at the next level. As much as I enjoy him running the ball for Pitt I've always wondered if his game will carry to the next level.

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Come back, switch to linebacker (unless he really has his heart set at a shot at being an NFL RB), dominate next year's D and potentially become a first round pick at LB, enjoy a longer and more lucrative NFL career. In the very least, talk to some NFL scouts about his prospects as a RB at the next level. As much as I enjoy him running the ball for Pitt I've always wondered if his game will carry to the next level.

Forget NFL DE he's to short but your LB thought has some merit!
He'd be a killer LB. But the NFL doesn't like on the job training.

 

[Teh Teh]

I'd love for him to stay, but what is the upside? He goes 3rd round next year? Meanwhile he gives up $475k he can never get back. He won't make any real money unless he goes 2nd or higher and that has basically 0% chance of happening. 3rd is best case this year or next and likely 4th-6th, either way.

I think the assessment is if he is 3rd or better, go pro. If not stay.

Price came back and certainly upped his stock... NO question! He will make more money now over his life than if he came out last year. I can see Conner doing the same.

 

[steel_curtain]

I think the assessment is if he is 3rd or better, go pro. If not stay.

Price came back and certainly upped his stock... NO question! He will make more money now over his life than if he came out last year. I can see Conner doing the same.

-According to Walterfootball.com, sources have indicated its in James Conners best interest to return for his senior season because he looks a half step slower and because this is a very deep draft pool for rb talent. Conner likely returns to significantly boost his stock next year against a much weaker rb class.

 

[Jpripper88]

I think the assessment is if he is 3rd or better, go pro. If not stay.

Price came back and certainly upped his stock... NO question! He will make more money now over his life than if he came out last year. I can see Conner doing the same.

Conner has 0 chance to be a 1st rounder. He has almost 0 chance to be a 2nd rounder. So, once you are talking about 3rd round or later, there really isn't much difference. In fact, the difference is less than a year of minimum salary, and you are getting paid for those carries and are a year closer to FA and a 2nd contract, if you succeed. If you are calculating that his odds of sticking in the NFL are roughly the same whether he goes in 2017 or 2018, there is no financial advantage to staying in school if you are going to be drafted and you have essentially no shot at being a top 50 or so pick.

Ejuan Price was likely an undrafted player or, at best, a 6th or 7th rounder last year. Now, he might be as high as the 4th, but more likely to go in the 5th or 6th round. So, really, he has made himself very little money and, likely, lost money in the long run. His bonus difference will be less than what he would have made in minimum salary last season, if he made a team. Of course, he is also one year further away from getting pension or a 2nd contract, with age and injuries an even bigger worry for him.

I'm very happy Price came back, but the math says he is unlikely to have made a wise NFL financial decision, if you agree the chances of him making a team are roughly the same.