Rourke to begin NFL workouts
I wish him the best of luck, but I wouldn't be overly sad to see him back in Vancouver next season.
I think he sticks somewhere, though.
Vernon Adams looked quite good in some games for the Lions. He should get better with a full training camp as starter.
Well of course this news comes as no surprise though I admit I am surprised that it is this soon and not in January.
The shortage for quality starting quarterbacks and decent backups in the NFL is as bad as ever when you look at all the teams with relatively inexperienced starters and quite the carousel of backups usually who are unknown even from their college days but to perhaps alumni.
You have to wonder on the matter of head coaches these days as well, but that's another thread.
Facts are facts - perhaps for a few of these NFL teams now they are down to looking at Rourke or that Chad Powers guy who showed up out of nowhere recently.
Like many, of course I like to see Rourke do well no matter what.
And unless that mysterious kidnapping plot for Chris Streveler that's been bantered about comes to fruition, well may also Streveler either figure it out now in the NFL or come on back if not instead of stomping the sidelines at MetLife Stadium and holiday cameos on Broadway in his fur coat.
Despite a small temptation to cry, I'll do the macho thing & just swear a blue streak instead.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW-Nathan Rourke is a young talent that will find a place somewhere on an NFL team and fade away. Is it better to play and achieve or be on a roster, get paid but not be the man? I hope for the sake of this league that he stays on with the B.C. Lions and develops into the Q.B. I believe he can. Great city, solid ownership, bright future in the CFL. Otherwise uncertainty, and NFL induced media pressure that frankly I don't think the kid needs or deserves. Stay in B.C. Nathan, get your team a Grey Cup then consider options. Win and it can never be taken from you.
Surprised he wouldn’t have let the ankle heal a bit more but maybe for what he needs to show he’ll be good to go?
Wish him the best. It’s likely someone in the NFL will keep him around in some capacity but I wouldn’t rule out a return in a couple of years if he doesn’t see any playing time.
The CFL has lost some excellent QBs to the NFL in the past. Garcia, Theismann & Moon come to mind. If Nathan leaves, I hope that he gets a starter's job & makes us proud. To see him buried in a practice squad, wasting his talents, would be a crying shame. He could earn more here as a star QB than the NFL salary for a practice squad player. The CFL really has to look at ways to keep players like this up here.
Good for Nathan, sad for BC, CFL, Canada.....
apparently more than 2 dozen teams have inquired and he’s using the early window so he can make a decision come January:
I think that Chad Powers has a lot of potential, he reminds me Eli Manning
The CFL's CBA has just bitten themselves in the rear end... BC cannot offer Rourke a proper contract until he completes year three of his entry level contract at the end of next season. An NFL rookie earns over $700K US if he makes the team and more than $200K on the practice roster. An elite CFL contract would struggle to reach $700K CAD. Although I think there could possibly be some significant marketing/endorsement money if he stayed in Canada. Worst case for Rourke would be languishing on an NFL practice roster and never really being given a legitimate opportunity to play... the classic "small fish in a big pond" scenario.
I'll bet my lint collection that New Orleans makes an offer for his services. They have a history of recruiting Canadians, Rourke is 2" taller than Drew Brees was AND they've got nothing behind centre right now.
Dis-honourable mention would go to the Panthers even though they wouldn't recognize a good QB if he bit them in the hiney.
i think seahawks are one of the teams
Check out his NFL draft profile still up on the site.
Add to Rourke's listed strengths and subtract from his weaknesses as listed back when he was out of college, and there's the current bar.
Several teams will interested.
The old saying Money talks and he ain't gonna come close to making NFL money in the CFL
And some of us wonder which teams too!?
I guess we have time to speculate based on current rosters.
@Maaax already mentioned the Saints and Panthers.
Yes. I did that. Rourke signs with either the Saints or the Panthers.
But don't jump the gun early Paolo. Mark me down for greatness LATER when one of my predictions comes to pass.
The CFL's ludicrous rookie contract clause makes even a NFL practice squad job look like a lottery win for a young player. No better way to make a player look south. Best case scenario for us is he makes some bucks in their practice squad somewhere then comes back here, no longer designated as a rookie, to a realistic contract as a starting QB. Are you paying attention, Randy?
Previous reports about Rourke's injury/surgery indicated he would have to undergo further surgery to, at least, remove the metal plate and screws inserted to maintain stability for an earlier return to play. There was no indication of recovery time from this procedure.
Would this not dissuade NFL teams from considering him until this issue is fully resolved? He may show well in workouts but any question of availability would not be a mark in his favor.
If I’m a betting person I’m guessing no and we’ll continue to see the problem.