re: Why would anyone even want Nico?

. . . the Vols ascended to a higher plane in 2024, reaching the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Iamaleava . . . threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions (including the playoff game). Tennessee averaged over 35 points per game last season in a 10-3 campaign.

There are several teams that would like to get that kind of production from the QB and are willing to pay the going rate, whether that is $4 million or $3 million IDK but Nico thinks it is more than $2 million.

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It is just hilarious that 2 days ago he was worth 2 million and now suddenly he’s a bum that no team will want. All I know is someone will pay him because the QB whisperer thought he was worth 2 million on Thursday

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That's kind of the point, his value has decreased since that original deal was signed. Tennessee isn't going to call him on it because he's talented and they're hoping that he'd improve with more experience and some time in their system.

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I don’t think he’ll get 4 million but even if he gets $1 more it’s a win. Players of today don’t care about the school. And the NFL won’t care where he played because they draft portal players every year.

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Money terms, yes, but not in the big picture.

If he goes to, say, UCLA for $3 million then he's undoubtedly in a worse situation. 2025 will likely be a lost year as he will have little time in whatever system he lands in and will probably be below average to average as a player. If he'd have stayed at Tennessee, maybe he has an above average year just due to experience and familiarity with the system.

$1 million isn't really worth setting your career and development back a year if you have legitimate, top end NFL aspirations.

That's assuming anyone actually pays him more.

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There are several teams that would like to get that kind of production from the QB and are willing to pay the going rate, whether that is $4 million or $3 million IDK but Nico thinks it is more than $2 million.

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Per Matt Rhule a little over a year ago, the going rate for a "good quarterback" was $1-2 million.

I would assume that Nico would give Tennessee a bit of a "hometown discount" so if he's asking for $4 million, that seems like he believes he can get more, which is insane.

Auburn would pay that in 2 seconds. Yella Fella would pay that in seconds.

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Players of today don’t care about the school.

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The schools don’t care about the players either unless they’re very good. Everyone wants the best deal for their own interests. There’s no loyalty from either side.

So, somehow, if he gets 3 million but it’s not from Tennessee he didn’t win? What?

Is Tennessee the only school that the NFL looks for QB’s from?

Listen, over the next 2 weeks a lot of players, not just Nico, will enter the portal and change teams. Tennessee will lose additional players and they’ll buy new players as will my team and every other team. To make it sound as if this one player is now the poster boy for all that is wrong with college spots is hilarious. He’s not even a blip on the radar. Meanwhile, Tennessee fans will lose their collective minds if they lose 6-7 games this year.