Greene makes his decision known

by The Mexican't on Jan 1, 2009 3:22 PM CST Comment 21 comments

Per ESPN's Outback Bowl recap.

After leading Iowa over South Carolina 31-10 Thursday in the Outback Bowl, the Big Ten's most valuable player said he'll skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

"I don't think there's really a lot more I can do here," Greene said. "People talk about the Heisman, but I think that's a lot of politics. I don't like getting caught up in all of that, so I just figure I'll try my chances."

It's been a great ride, and we all saw it coming, and now it's official. I really hope he lands somewhere that will allow him to use his talents properly, with the NFL becoming a platoon RB league, maybe his "lack of top end speed" that Todd McShay is worried about will be less of a factor than initially assumed.

It seems to me that a zone running team is where he needs to go, as it is his vision and cut back skills that have resulted in his largest runs. However, with Shanahan out at Denver, I have no idea which team could be the best fit for him.

The Jewel Hampton era at Iowa has officially begun.

EDIT: One last image of Greene clearly enjoying his final game as a Hawkeye. Photos found in the Des Moines Register's Outback photo gallery.

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Smart decision

even if it would have been awesome having him back. Best RB I’ve ever seen wear the Iowa uniform. Any team that gets him is getting a hell of a player!

by The Nihilist on Jan 1, 2009 3:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The best thing for him and his family

He’s already shown a good head on his shoulders, so hopefully he’ll be smart with his coming money.

by chitownhawkeye on Jan 1, 2009 4:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Texans run a Denver type scheme

and need a powerback to pair with Slaton, but Greene on one of the Colts division rivals would make me sad.

Shonn Greene for Heisman
Doak Walker award winner
144 yards per game
6.2 yards per carry
08 TDs per game > 06 GPA

by shake n bake on Jan 1, 2009 5:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hate to see him leave but I love to watch him go.

Rawrrr!

If he goes in the 2nd Round then at least 1 player personnel director will be looking for work in 2 years (prolly the one who selects Beanie Wells over Shonn).

by jebushchrist on Jan 1, 2009 5:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good for him

Selfishly I’d have loved to have another year of him, but he’d have been an idiot to stay. I think he’ll do well regardless of what sort of blocking scheme he’s running behind. His quickness, power, and vision are going to translate to traditional schemes too.

by NorseHawk on Jan 1, 2009 8:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

just getting home from tampa Im still beaming with pride of our hawkeyes and the class and humbleness of shonn greene and really all the hawkeyes! yes we wanted him to come back but like he said…and he said it best…“I don’t think there’s really a lot more I can do here,” Greene said. “People talk about the Heisman, but I think that’s a lot of politics. I don’t like getting caught up in all of that, so I just figure I’ll try my chances.”

yes shonn the politics of college football and the heisman…we will be watching you proudly in the pros like all the rest…bob sanders, dallas clark, etc

OH FOR SHONN TO BE A COLT!?!

and Im just going to add there are no fans like the iowa hawkeyes! NONE. nada. zippo. those suc teams can go on and on how they are this and they are that but after being in the stadium of raymond james for the 3rd time watching my hawks and after watching my hawks in orlando with the all up, 2/3rds hawk fans each and everytime filling the stadiums, hawk fans not wanting to leave the stadium, dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmn I feel so prideful today to be a HAWK FAN! whether Im pretty much delirious of no sleep or not!

thank you shonn! the best back iowa has ever had next to the great one…nile is not rolling in his grave today and the politics of the heisman. nile is smiling in hawkeye heaven at you!

by kinnickcolt on Jan 2, 2009 8:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good Luck Shonn

You are now forever entrenched in Hawkeye football lore along with Long and Kinnick.

What? They don't have TV in the D-League? Don't watch me, watch TV.

by Mac G on Jan 2, 2009 11:13 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Walter Football's mock draft says Saints getting him in a robbery in the third...

Pairing him with Reggie Bush, replacing McAllister. That’d be interesting.

Viva la nuance! Reading comprehension rules!!!

by tyger1147 on Jan 2, 2009 11:55 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

3rd round?

I hope Greene’s NFL career makes any selection after the 1st round look silly

by Duez I say on Jan 2, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd guess somewhere realtively early in the 2nd

Even though he might deserve it, 1st round seems unlikely if everyone who is expected to leave early does so. 3rd round wouldn’t shock me if he has a worse than expected 40 time.

by NorseHawk on Jan 2, 2009 5:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

3rd round isn't all that far off

He’s a great power runner, but he’s not much faster than your average NFL linebacker. And for a top-level RB, that’s not good. It isn’t like he’d run through Bobby Sanders like he did to the Purdue safety, after all.

by imadirtyoldman on Jan 2, 2009 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But Bob Sanders isn't your average NFL safety.

Of course, neither is Duong, but Greene will probably floor his fair share of safeties at the next level.

¿Quieres chiclets?

by The Mexican't on Jan 2, 2009 9:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo.

I think the better question is what would Greene do in that matchup against, say, Ken Hamlin. Frankly, I’ll take that matchup (especially with another year or two of NFL-level conditioning) and I bet a lot of GMs would too.

I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks

by Oops Pow Surprise on Jan 2, 2009 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

True

He’d fuck Hamlin up.

My point was more that he would be better used as a change-of-pace guy (somebody mentioned Slaton earlier; he’d be a great “thunder” to somebody’s "lightning"), as opposed to solely the man. And if that’s the truth, then 3rd-round is a better target than 1st. All I was saying.

by imadirtyoldman on Jan 2, 2009 10:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I hear ya, but

Look at Lendale White, or Jonathon Stewart. Both are 1st rounders, and both are earning their money by running thru safeties. Hell, Stewart is even the same size as Greene.

I think the biggest factor for Greene going into the draft is his age. Being a 24 year old rookie (Stewart, by comparison is 21, and White just turned 24 in his 3rd year) is probably going to hurt him. That being said, I think the 3rd round would be an absolute steal, and cannot see any reason for him not to go early to mid second.

¿Quieres chiclets?

by The Mexican't on Jan 3, 2009 9:34 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Difference

Stewart has wheels. Shonn is fast, but not that fast. You’re dead-on with Lendale White, but he’s got Chris Johnson as a change-of-pace back. And he didn’t start really making his money until this year, either (in my opinion, at least), due in large part to having Johnson alongside him.

Also, pros look more towards wear and tear on the legs, as opposed to a pure age analysis. Greene is older than most rookies, but he’s also only got one real year of starting college RB wear on him. He’s got a solid 10 years of good leg use left in him.

And I’ve got no issues with 2nd-round. I was saying that 1st round was a bit high.

by imadirtyoldman on Jan 3, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the age is going to be a concern

GM’s are far more concerned with the attempts odometer. He’s 24, but he basically played one season to get there. Running backs have such a short shelf life in the NFL these days (even elite backs are past their prime after 4-5 seasons) that any concerns over a 30-year old running back should be discounted.

storminspank: "Or we could join you can take our pants off."

by Hawkeye State on Jan 3, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably should have read all of ODB's comment before I wrote

storminspank: "Or we could join you can take our pants off."

by Hawkeye State on Jan 3, 2009 6:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Top 10 reasons Shonn will go late 2nd round (in no specific order)

1) only has one year of work to evaluate
2) needs to shore up his body…if he is going to pound in the NFL he needs to get in better shape
3) probably won’t be that impressive at combine
4) age concerns
5) not great break away speed or cut back speed/quickness
6) no hands (proven at least)
7) needs to prove he can block consistently
8) other compelling RBs likely to be in draft
9) not a huge demand for RBs this year
10) played in a zone blocking scheme not often utilized in pros (maybe 7 or 8 teams use it)

In the last five drafts, only 14 RBs (out of 160 possible selections) were drafted in first round. Of those selections, only one has been an unmitigated bust (Cedric Benson). However, most of those backs selected were not “surprise” selections. Most draft experts agree Shonn will not be a first round selection. In fact, most agree he is a late second rounder.

He still should go. He will make good, not great money, and could set himself up financially for a good long time. He was never academically oriented so that is also a likely future concern (could he say eligible).

If he is selected by the right team…I think Green Bay would be an ideal place for him to go—they zone block…he should play fairly early and should emerge as a decent back.

"I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."
- George Rogers, one-time South Carolina RB

by StoopsMyAss on Jan 3, 2009 3:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

2nd round

Greene is not a big enough name to get selected high in the first and all of the playoff teams have good two-back tandems already. I see him being selected in the first half of the second round. I would be a bit surprised if he dropped all the way to the 3rd but it happens.

In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
- Thomas Jefferson

by Hawkeyewith49Jackrabbits on Jan 4, 2009 5:21 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not to nit-pick

But the Eagles don’t have a back that can actually run the ball. Edge is probably done in Arizona. I am sure I am forgetting a couple other teams. Anyway, it’s irrelevant, I just felt like pointing out your over sights. I also don’t want him to get picked by a team that would use him as a second back a la Ladell Betts, whom the Redskins have handcuffed to the bench with money for 10 years so he would not be the featured back somewhere else.
Also, I hate to be a nay-sayer because Greene had an incredible year, but I don’t see him going on the first day. I think early third.

by shada's revenge on Jan 6, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs