Navy's Eric Kettani wants to play in the NFL

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Antoinette

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After Caleb Campbell was denied last year? I think Eric Kettani will be a SW0 come next fall.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/117078-navy-fullback-awaits-executive-decision

Eric Kettani, Navy Fullback, Awaits Executive Decision on Military Service

Last year the Detroit Lions selected Army linebacker Caleb Campbell late in the 2008 NFL Draft, and there was a lot of debate when the United States Government decided to add a new rule that allowed military academy grads to go straight to the NFL and delay their service.

With the Army’s alternative-service-option policy created in 2005, Campbell would have been allowed to play football while completing his military service as a recruiter and then in the reserves, but then on July 8 the military revised that rule, which forced Campbell to join his West Point classmates and delay his NFL Dream.

This year, a year after Campbell, there is another service academy member who could be facing the same issue come Draft Day 2009. Navy fullback Eric Kettani is scheduled to join us on an

In The Bleachers Podcast in the near future and is fresh off a solid Senior Bowl experience, where he scored a touchdown and had a good week at practice.

The real struggle for Kettani might not be to get drafted, or even signed as a free agent if he isn’t drafted, but whether the new administration reverses the decision by the old one, which would allow Kettani to leap right into the NFL without any wait.

Scouts are saying that Kettani has the tools, and it was evident in his workout, where he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds. He also boasts a 32-inch vertical leap and is able to bench press 395 pounds and clean 335.

Even with all of that, NFL teams might be shying away from him unless there is a clear path that he will be able to play and participate in NFL Camps after the draft.

I am all for letting athletes in the Service Academies postpone their Service to their country in order to try their luck with the NFL or other professional sport. It is good publicity for the Service Academies and might attract other athletes who would not have considered going to Army, Navy, or the Air Force.

But whether the administration decides to postpone his commitment or not, just make a decision and make it quick. This young man does not need to go through the emotional roller coaster that Caleb Campbell went through last season.
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Oh my. I can't believe he is throwing his name into the draft.
There are so many questions I don't know where to start.
Doesn't he know we are a country at war?
Doesn't he know he signed a committment to serve?
Doesn't he know the Naval Academy set out to discredit Caleb Campbell for even trying and worked to reverse policy?
Is he delusional? Are his Navy coaches encouraging him?

Antoinette is right - he doesn't have a chance - unless he somehow pulls a Kyle Eckel. I hope he is a better person than that.

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/01/24/sports/nh394210.txt

I hear a lot of good things," Kettani said. "I'm projected to go in the draft. I've been talking to a lot of teams."

The best he's heard: Rumors that Obama could allow service academy players to put off their obligation to their country in order to play a professional sport — an option that made headlines last summer when Army's Caleb Campbell was drafted in the seventh round by the Detroit Lions, only to have West Point reverse its interpretation of the U.S. Department of Defense's policy on the eve of training camp.

"Everything's been positive. (NFL teams are) really interested," Kettani said. "Hopefully, it might change with Barack Obama in the White House. There's been word that something could happen."
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This makes me sick.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
Doesn't he know he signed a committment to serve?
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Precisely.

This makes me sick.
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I couldn't agree more, and on so many levels.

I remember being equally ticked when Robinson got a deal like this back in the early 1990's.

You made a deal. Now LIVE WITH IT, mister!!! You can PLAY football later!! :mad:
 
If he wants to play in the NFL next season, then he should:

a. RESIGN his appointment
b. Prove to the SecNAV that he really isn't qualified to serve in an enlisted status as he's unworthy, a liar, cheat, fraud, etc.
c. Then go to the NFL and see what comes of it
d. FORGET getting his degree from USNA.

Am I harsh?

YES!

Somewhere in America is a young man or woman that would have DIED to have his appointment...if he had no intention of serving, then he should never have accepted the appointment.

Captain Chad Hennings was drafted by the Cowboys...went to UPT, flew A-10's, and when offered an early out (post DS) he left for the AFReserve, was taken in by the Cowboys and the rest is history. LT Roger Staubach was similar...

THAT is honorable service!
 
Did any of you bother reading all the links. This is nothing but hype from a bunch of bloggers and sportswriters. He was invited to play in the Senior Bowl which is nothing more than a showcase for Pro scouts. He did well. After all was said and done, here is his comment:

"Kettani said he fully intends to fulfill his military obligation and said there was no point in commenting on what the future might bring in terms of pursuing pro football."

He will be drafted in a bottom round just in case he is still viable once he has completed his military obligation. Some team will take a chance on those odds.
 
oldgrad said:
Did any of you bother reading all the links. This is nothing but hype from a bunch of bloggers and sportswriters. He was invited to play in the Senior Bowl which is nothing more than a showcase for Pro scouts. He did well. After all was said and done, here is his comment:

"Kettani said he fully intends to fulfill his military obligation and said there was no point in commenting on what the future might bring in terms of pursuing pro football."

He will be drafted in a bottom round just in case he is still viable once he has completed his military obligation. Some team will take a chance on those odds.
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I tend to agree that Kettani's NFL prospects are just being over-hyped in the media. But the USNA local paper has a lot to say. Is this the article you are referring to, oldgrad?

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/01_23-03/NAS

Kettani was also quoted in that article as saying:
Kettani said he fully intends to fulfill his military obligation and said there was no point in commenting on what the future might bring in terms of pursuing pro football.

"I would love a chance to play in the pros. That's what every kid that plays football grows up dreaming about," he said. "For those who make it to the point of playing college football, obviously there's the thought of taking it to the next level."
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If he is so committed to continuing in the military then why does this newspaper article say this:
Any doubts about whether a Navy fullback has the ability to succeed in the NFL have been dispelled by Kyle Eckel, who spent the bulk of this past season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Eckel, who spent the 2007 season with the New England Patriots, has proven a productive short-yardage back and solid special teams performer.
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And this:
Kettani has talked to Eckel several times over the past year, most recently at the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. Kettani has gone through much of the same evaluation process as Eckel did as a senior in 2005 - filling out questionnaires for various NFL teams and having scouts attend Navy practices. Eckel was able to play in the NFL because he was dismissed from the Navy 17 months after graduation.

"Kyle just tells me to keep working out, to keep my eye on the prize, to be patient and see what happens with the Navy," Kettani said.
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Maybe the Army and Navy programs should reassess why cadets/midshipmen attend an academy.
 
I agree - there were candidates that were willing to make the COMMITMENT for the spot in the class - every year. This shines light on problem of current culture of "hero" - junk..... any athlete, enjoy your pursue for youself - there are other avenues than SA's - DUTY HONOR COUNTRY - play for navy and then serve - after that - go play. Shouldn't matter who sits in white house, your word SHOULD be your bond - SA's games are one last place to see REAL sportsmanship - supposed to be filled with those with higher calling, giving to country, and oh by the way - we play a sport - OF COURSE drive to succeed/win is there, but at end of day - you are training to be a officer - KEEP YOUR WORD. Not good enough that might be more hype - player SHOULD HAVE THE MORAL INTRIGITY to close it down - quickly!
 
Aw, come on LITS, these football players are anomalies. Plus they are so young when they start.

Please do not judge all Army and Navy Academy candidates and cadets/mids from the actions of one or two awesomely talented football players.

:smile:
 
Then one can't also judge two 20-somethings for trying to consolidate their two dreams in life.


[just my apparently unfortunately hugely unpopular point of view there]
 
I'm also including the Navy player who graduated, was drafted by the Patriots, and then purposely committed acts so he would lose his commission and be able to play football.

You want to play football for a living? Go to a football school. That stuff has not place in a service.
 
When you make a Commitment, then you word/contract should be binding. I don't want to hear any of this "Later Bloomer" stuff. Graduate from the academy; serve your minimum commitment; do whatever with your life after that. For the few that do have the skills that make them recruited by the "Pros"; give them the opportunity to BUY BACK their entire academy education. All $400,000 of it. And it CAN'T come from the team that is recruiting them. Now; after the individual has scraped together the money and paid back the military, once they are recruited by a team, that team can reimburse the individual if they want. But put the burden on the cadet/athlete. I don't believe that this is negotiable. There are no legitimate reasons or excuses. If an athlete has any interest in going pro, they should have chosen a different college instead of the academy. If they were just average, and bloomed during their four years at the academy, then too bad. Life doesn't always work out the way you want it to. Hell, you just received a $400,000 education for nothing. Talk about being greedy. Yes, the military expects some pay back with your blood, sweat, and tears. Pretty reasonable request. I've heard every excuse imaginable about why the athlete should be released and be allowed to play professional. I don't buy ANY OF THEM. But as a compromise; make them pay back the $400,000 out of their own means through loans, parents, savings, or whatever. Then let them out. If they can get the pro team to reimburse them for it, great. If not, I hope they get a decent contract.
 
Ok I'm confused. I remember someone mentioning he would (if) serve the time as a recruiting officer and in the Reserves, right?... so he'd be fulfilling his service obligation. No problem imo - everything always needs recruits! Who would a lot the officers lead otherwise??

I personally don't think paying back with money is acceptable. Like most mentioned, the person has to serve, they made a COMMITMENT! and something like a military institution is no place to be overly indecisive. Besides, like a few have also pointed out, other students would have done anything to get an appointment! I mean, mailman stalking is in season again! My fellow '13 hopefuls and I would Definitely not be overly pleased if someone got an app't instead of us only to find out that, in four years time, this person decides to pay it all back with money of all things!! Attending an SA is a brilliant opportunity that needs "blood, sweat and tears" payback, not paper and zinc!

But I'm pretty confused - while recruiting is not the most life-threatening service Kettani or anybody like him could go into, it IS service to the USA -- by getting younger generations into the armed forces.
So... what's the problem with him serving??
Just because he doesn't have a gun in his hand?
 
Well, there's a difference between active and reserve duty. One is considered the "weekend warrior." While his classmates are actively working in their units all week, he is playing football. The amount of work he would be doing for the military is drastically different than his peers who would be on active duty.
 
He would still be doing something though, not jsut paying it back with money.
And yes, very different (thus a longer term), but still paramount.
 
Katie; the biggest difference is the rules. It use to be that an athlete could get done with the academy; be recruited by the pros; and the rule was you could be a recruiter, reserve, etc... and pay your time back. No problem. I might not like the rules, but I can live with them. HOWEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is NO LONGER THE RULE!!!!!! As such, too bad. If you don't like the possibilities, then don't apply to the academy. If after the fact you decide you want to go pro, then 100% restitution needs to be paid. (In my opinion). There is NO OTHER WAY. Not as long as the rule is to serve a minimum of 2 years. As athletes, they should understand this concept BETTER than anyone else. As an athlete, there may be quite a few RULES in the game you play that you don't like or agree with. HOWEVER, you have accepted the fact that if you want to play that particular game, you WILL play by a certain set of rules. Well, welcome to the game of the academy, military, and life. If you don't want to play by the rules, then go find another game to play. later... mike....
 
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