Andrew Luck: Sometimes Not Being No. 1 is Respected

For those of you who might be unaware, redshirt sophomore Stanford QB Andrew Luck has decided to forgo the upcoming NFL Draft and remain in school for one more year. Most of us who know what being the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft means are left shaking our heads.

"How can he do this, passing up all that money?" one might say. Or, "What if he gets injured in school playing next year and his career is over?" Even, "Look at what happened to Jake Locker, a surefire No. 1 pick just one year ago. Now look at him."

Relax. 

Before all the naysayers bash and criticize him for making a Jake Locker-type of mistake, let's look at the quality decision he made.

First, some in the NFL aren't quite sure if the 2011 NFL season will even take place come September. With the potential lockout looming for next season, what will NFL owners do come draft time in April? Recently, first round draft picks have been making ludicrous amounts of money for simply signing their name on the dotted line.

And from much of the reports I've read, the NFLPA (players' association) would like to keep those contracts intact, while the owners would like to significantly drop those large numbers. So say Luck did come out for the draft in April, but we find out later that the 2011 season has been suspended for the time being. I don't think any of these draft picks will be making any money from their new teams.

Second, the Carolina Panthers are in disarray as a franchise. I'm not saying going to any of the other top five teams picking is being in any better position, but that's what happens when you're good. Maybe come next season, if there is one, a team will just completely falter and snatch up the No. 1 pick and Luck will have better luck (pun intended).

Third and most importantly, he's obviously a smart kid. Stanford is considered an Ivy-League caliber school. He's going there to study Architectural Design, which in my estimation, is not an easy thing to major in. If his career in the NFL doesn't work out for whatever reason, he has that degree to fall back on. 

I don't blame the kid for staying in school for one more year, especially if his coach and mentor Jim Harbaugh stays on for one more season as well. By going back to school, he can potentially win a Heisman Trophy.

But once again, and most importantly, he will achieve that degree, which will allow him the freedom to play sports for a living or be an atypical white collar worker.

So for now, let's leave the Andrew Luck bashing alone and applaud him for doing what he felt was in his best interests and not his wallet's.