A slew of lawsuits clearing the way for waived NFL players to re-enter college football has sent shockwaves across the sport. Reaction first poured in from top college coaches like LSU’s Lane Kiffin, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian and Oregon's Dan Lanning. Now, NFL executives are joining the fray, led by Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard, who didn't mince words when asked for his thoughts by reporters on Tuesday.
"No, that’s the stupidest shit I’ve ever heard," Ballard said. "Your entire life, you fight to get up to the NFL. OK, but now we’re gonna go back?
That makes a lot of freakin’ sense." The Colts' 53-man roster is locked in with no players attempting a return to college. Meanwhile, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers edge rusher Jack Pyburn tried heading back to LSU before the Kansas City Chiefs stepped in to claim him off waivers. While he was one of the biggest names publicly expressing interest in playing for Kiffin, he won't be heading back to LSU after all.
Instead, he stayed in the NFL after putting together a dominant preseason for the Buccaneers, where he recorded four sacks in three games. After being waived during the NFL preseason, defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and tight end Dae’Quan Wright attempted to return to college football to play for Kiffin at LSU. As of now, their eligibility is caught in a legal battle over a new SEC policy.
The SEC’s new policy bans certain former pros from returning to college sports, threatening severe penalties for programs like LSU that break the rule. It’s a move that highlights just how chaotic this entire situation has become. Public scrutiny surrounding Kiffin and LSU's portal moves has yet to shake the locker room.
Starting tight end Trey'Dez Green is embracing the added talent and told reporters that he’s staying focused on whatever helps the team win, even if it means sharing reps with Wright. Ballard is the first NFL general manager to speak out so bluntly, but when Rams coach Sean McVay was asked about NFL players returning to college last week he said: "I feel like I took a freakin' gummy."
