Ever since Andrew Luck returned for one more season of college football, the Stanford quarterback has drawn attention among NFL recruiters and coaches. Luck’s size, skill, and smarts make him a prized possession for NFL teams that are hurting at the quarterback position. He is expected to be the first pick of the 2012 NFL draft. This has sparked the ridiculous “Suck for Luck” campaign among NFL fans.
Some of the fans from the NFL’s worst teams of 2011 want their teams to suck so they can earn the first pick of the 2012 draft and the right to have Luck on their team. Some of the teams in contention for the first pick this year are the St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings and the winless Indianapolis Colts.
The irony of having the Colts lead the way in the “Suck for Luck” campaign is that many of the draft experts consider Luck to be the best college recruit since current Colt quarterback Peyton Manning. The injured Manning hasn’t played a game this season and his NFL future is uncertain. Manning has been dealing with a neck injury that has been bothering him since last spring. If the Colts continue to lose, Luck will probably be wearing a blue and white jersey next year. The four-time MVP is getting thrown under the bus in the wake of a potential star.
Although the future isn’t bright for Peyton Manning, it may be too soon to jump on the Andrew Luck bandwagon. The “Suck for Luck” campaign could quickly turn into the “Out of Luck” campaign if Luck struggles in the NFL. Recent history has shown that greatly hyped college players can become NFL busts in a hurry. JaMarcus Russell, the first pick of the 2007 NFL draft, is a perfect example. In 2007, Russell signed a deal with the Oakland Raiders worth more than $61 million. Since then, Russell has only thrown for 18 touchdowns with 23 interceptions and 4,083 yards in three seasons. He has a career passer rating of 65.2 and was waived after playing three seasons in the NFL.
Luck may not become a huge NFL bust but that does not make the “Suck for Luck” campaign any less absurd. Teams should not lose games just to get him. Football is a team sport with the goal of winning games. A team will only improve if it focuses on getting better in the present and stops worrying about the future.
NFL fans and teams should take a lesson from the player they are idolizing. Luck stayed in school for an extra year to earn his degree and help his team try for a PAC 12 Championship.