According to Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, outside linebacker John Rabold will try out with the Denver Broncos on Thursday.
Rabold won’t be participating in a mini-camp, like inside linebacker Drew Fowler did with the Detroit Lions and running back/receiver/returner Chad Hall did with the Atlanta Falcons. But it’s at least a chance to show what he can do. Calhoun said if Rabold impresses the Broncos, he could get invited to a camp.
Here’s a big problem for all Air Force players trying to catch on with NFL teams: With NFL Europe folding, the NFL now allows teams to have only 80 players on their rosters at the start of training camp. There are no additional exemptions. That cut out about eight players on each of the 30 teams and undoubtedly has made teams less likely to invite kids who will have to serve on active duty in the military for two years before getting a chance to play.
Speaking of that two-year policy …
David Chu, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, has sent a letter to the secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force to clarify the Department of Defense policy regarding officers playing professional sports, Air Force Academy sports information director Troy Garnhart said.
The policy, issued last August and implemented on Jan. 1, 2008, states officers must serve two years of active duty before applying for excess leave or early release from active duty to pursue a professional sports career.
But while Air Force and Navy both are following that policy closely, Army players are able to go straight to the NFL as long as they earn a roster spot. Why? In 2005 the Army instituted what it calls its Alternative Service Option Program. It allows graduates who remain on rosters to play professionally and serve as part-time Army recruiters.
Army basically is saying that program overrules the DoD policy.
While I don’t know this for sure, I’m guessing Chu’s letter was sent to try to rein in Army – to encourage strongly that Army follow the DoD policy to the letter like Air Force and Navy.
Army’s policy came under scrutiny after Caleb Campbell, an Army defensive back, was selected in the seventh round of the recent NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. The selection brought tons of publicity to Campbell and Army. And not all of it was positive.
Folks at both Air Force and Navy think the rules should be the same for all three service academies. They think Army’s policy gives it a recruiting advantage over its service academy rivals. And many question how Army could justify it. The DoD policy, after all, is extremely clear: You must serve two years of active duty before you play pro ball. As Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk told The Annapolis Capital, “Army has redefined active duty to include playing professional sports.”
Whether Chu’s letter will cause the Army to alter its policy is uncertain. When I inquired about Army’s policy shortly after the draft, Lt. Col. Jonathan Withington, a press officer for the department of defense, wrote me an e-mail that stated, in part, “it is up to the Military Departments to interpret and apply that policy.”
I guess Army could stick by its interpretation and contend playing professional sports while serving as a part-time recruiter constitutes active duty service.
But even if it does, I don’t think we’ve heard the last of the discussion on this policy.
Monday, May 12, 2008
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10 comments:
I disagree with all 3 services. IF I were HMFIC, this is what I would do:
1) Let the LT's go Pro right away. Any pro team at any level. Canadian Football, European or D-league Basketball, Single A- Baseball. Any team that will pay them enough to subsist.
2) Don't pay them from first day of training camp to the last game of year.
3) As soon as season ends make them get real training in a real AFSC/MOS. There are a bunch of schools they could knock out in 3-4 months.
4) In subequent off seasons - deploy their ass for a 90 or 120 rotation in OIF/OEF. If they're in the Navy - maybe a 6 month Jan-Jul cruise.
5)Repeat for 3-4 years before they can apply for cushy Reserve Recruiting duty.
6) IF the LT decides his Pro-Athlete dream is not going to work - he goes back to full time Air Force Officer until the full commitment is served.
7) Tack on a month of military commitment for every month missed chasing The Dream.
I guess the reason we don't do this is because the Personnel System is constipated. They like to have months or even years of lead time.
What's described above is far more reasonable that the current DoD policy, and the various services interpretation of that policy.
That said, I still think you wouldn't be fully tapping into the recruiting potential of these folks. You'd get more milage putting them to work recruiting future generations of officers.
It's probably all a moot discussion. Flexibility is not exactly one of the strengths of the military personnel system...
I like the idea of letting people play right away and then using them in something other than recruiting, but the truth is that there really isn't an off-season anymore, at least for the NFL guys. Staying in shape, recovering from injuries, getting treatment fo injuries, breaking down films, etc., goes on year- round. There are some breaks built in to the schedule, but most voluntary workouts begin within weeks of the end of the season, and minicamps and mandatory workouts start in April, after the draft. It's better to keep these guys active for the full two years, let them get some expertise in a career field, and then release them to the Reserves, rather than having them split the time and never get proficient at either job.
If Navy and Air Force policy is not changed, the potential pro atheletes will leave before thier commitment starts thier jr year. The will transfer to a D1AA college and finish playing football with no commitment.
Anthony Schlegel is a great example. He clearly displayed pro potential by his sophomore year at AFA. So he disenrolled, sat out a year, then started at Ohio State (D1A) for two years before getting drafted.
Had there been a clear path for him to at least have a shot at the NFL, he probably would have stayed at AFA, excelled, then become an officer and asset to recruiting. With the silly policy in place, he bolts, and the USAF gets nothing out of him at all.
Anonymous at 12:18 PM makes a good point. The AF already loses plenty of cadets before their junior year and doesn't worry about the cost of educating them at the Academy. I see two current sophomore (3rd class) cadets, and two freshmen (4th cl) who likely have pro potential. Wouldn't the AF rather have these guys finish out their training at USAFA, and allow them to go Pro straight out, rather than have them dis-enroll? Would USAFA even cooperate with a 4th or 3rd class cadet who wants to look at other schools, or do they give him a hard time about leaving? If giving someone a hard time is the usual procedure, then it doesn't seem right that a shot at the Pros is denied this athlete.
My solution: If after 2 yrs the Pros don't work out, then assign the graduate to wherever they were going to be serving otherwise. If the Pros do work out, either give them reserve duty or have them pay the cost of their education back. Does anyone lose out with a plan like this?
DOD, Navy, AF and Army are making this a huge deal, when in fact it shouldn't be a big deal at all. There should be a early release policy, because its a once in a lifetime opportunity for these young men. But just think about how many players will actually leave, maybe 1 or 2 every 5 years. A early release policy will not hurt the SA at all. Not having one, only hurt the young men.
Any word on the Air Force place kicker. He will be a senior next year and has pro potential today.
I think the kicker (Ryan Harrison) will have an opportunity at the next level. And I think there are inherent benefits to his position when it comes to the two-year policy. Harrison will be able to practice on his own (which he pretty much does now) for two years and stay sharp. I think it would be tougher for linebackers, running backs, receivers, etc. to stay sharp without practicing with a team.
And Harrison should have a chance to put up some big numbers this year. With a neophyte offense, expect a whole bunch of drives to stall and Harrison to have plenty of opportunities.
Navy doesn't follow the policy either....they have denied LTJG Jonathan Johnston from playing with the Oakland Athletics even though he has served two years in accordance with DoD Policy
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