Indiana WR James Hardy Turns Pro

SteveRobWhatever · #1 01-04-2008, 03:44 PM

2008 NFL Draft Good Decision: Indiana WR James Hardy Turns Pro

Quote:

Indiana wide receiver James Hardy has all the talent to be a top-notch NFL player. He could stand to be a little faster, but he's tall (listed at 6-foot-7) and athletic (also played on Indiana's basketball team) and has good hands, and he owns the Indiana records for career receiving touchdowns (36), receiving yards (2,740) and receptions (191) and single-season receiving touchdowns (16) and receptions (79). Hardy announced today that he's entering the NFL draft, and that's the right move.

That's not to say he'll be a first-round pick, though. In fact, I don't think he will be. In Roger Goodell's NFL, teams are increasingly leery of drafting players with character concerns, and Hardy has some. In May of 2006 he was arrested on battery charges in what authorities said was an attack on his girlfriend and their infant son. Four months later he was suspended by the team for two games for still-undisclosed personal reasons that were apparently unrelated to the arrest.

That will scare a lot of teams off from taking Hardy in the first round, but the fact is, even if he had returned to school in 2008 and been a choir boy, those teams would have been just as scared off. As a football player, Hardy doesn't need another year of college to be ready for the NFL. As a person, teams will either think Hardy is worthy of a chance or think he's too big a risk. Another year at Indiana wouldn't change that.

DallasArmor09 · #2 01-04-2008, 05:46 PM

He will add to the WR class. He has nice upside and a chance to be a playmaker in the NFL. Adarius Bowman out did him in the Bowl Game but for being from Indiana and his skillz-I would take a flyer on this guy everyday of the week!!!!

URL54MVP · #3 01-26-2008, 02:23 AM

I think the character issues mentioned in that article are over exaggerated. The feeling around the program was that James grew up A LOT after those issues in 2006. He's big, strong, good hands, decent speed....I think he should be a first round pick but we'll see.

49erGenius · #4 01-26-2008, 03:29 AM

When do you think he'd get pick....early first round, or will he still be there in the second?

DallasArmor09 · #5 01-26-2008, 03:37 AM

James Hardy is going to be a damn good WR. He posted solid numbers in Indiana!!!!!! Think about that, He is a fucking monster and if he posts a solid combine look out!!! Right now i have him in RD1. If his combine is anywere near dominate he will be a rd1 pick. If this kid falls too RD2 im going to be screaming that Dallas does everything possible to move up to get this kid.