signing bonus. I guess he did the right thing by leaving early after all. I didn't realize that a player at the end of the 2nd round would get that much money.
He might have wanted his money up front...Check the total amount of his contract...He might have opted for up front money rather than a fat long-term, end-loaded contract...
There have been articles predicting him to be a stater this year. 1.5 is not great money for starting rookies. If he keeps smacking opponents in the mouth he will get his cash.
Deterred by a 2004 draft with good DL talent and being an anchor of what's sure to be another outstanding LSU defense in 2004, Hill's stock would only have gone up had he stayed another year. As it was, he only went 6th out of 19 DEs picked in the first 5 rounds, a draft position one can only assume he could have bettered had he stayed and been a likely All-American candidate in 2004. As for the contract, FIRST round draft picks have well over 90% of their contracts/salaries determined by historical precedent (i.e., the 8th pick overall in 2004 will see money pretty damn close to what the 8th pick in 2003 got). If that's the case, then a 2nd rounder likely gets 99.999999999999% of what a 2003 2nd rounder picked in that slot gets. Unlike his decision to turn pro, Hill made a smart move here because he will get a real chance to start for a great team. Sitting or holding out for an extended period of time to try and squeeze 0.000001% worth of difference in salary out of a team that, frankly, doesn't f**k around when it comes to contracts (ask Lawyer Malloy) is a wise move.
I got to agree on this one. Nick pointed out last year that the first 15 draft picks average $13 million signing bonuses, while the second half of the first round averages less than $5 million. If he had the potential to be a first rounder as a senior, leaving early may have cost him $3.5 million to $11 million.
If you're saying he did the right thing because of that signing bonus, I disagree. If he had played through his senior year, his stock would have undoubtedly gone up and he would have most likely had an even bigger signing bonus. $1.15 mill isn't THAT much.
I always have trouble saying that a kid made the wrong decision turning pro early when he gets paid - regardless of what happens, Marquise Hill is a millionaire less than 4 years after his high school graduation. A million dollars may be less and less as time goes on, but it is still a landmark amount of money in America and it still has 6 Zeros behind it. Becoming a millionaire with one signing of your name blows my mind. IMO, Hill will be the most missed player on LSU's defense this year. Marquise Hill absolutely took over games on his own last year and I look for him to have a good NFL career if he stays healthy, fit and develops with quality coaches. Like someone posted before, if he keeps hitting people in the mouth he'll get his cash the next time he sits at the table with his agent...
We'll miss Marquise, certainly, but I think Lavalais' shoes will be tougher to fill. NO ONE could run up the middle on us last year, and there was a reason for that...
I agree that its never a mistake when you get guaranteed money. there is no tomorrow when it comes to that opportunity. Sure odds are he may have signed for somewhat more but hey, he was known for lack of effort and finally started to realize his potential last year. Maybe he wouldnt have put in the work and effort like that this offseason and had a worse season and labelled with a bad attitude/ head case. No one knows...its easy to speculate but to say he made a mistake is foolish. Agree with Stace...defense starts with the interior linemen. you have to stop the run before the guys on the outside can make a difference. no doubt we will miss both.
