DETROIT draft pick unallowed to play due to US ARMY

[Matt_in_KW]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-lions-campbellarmy&prov=ap&type=lgns


AP - Jul 23, 5:03 pm EDT

DETROIT (AP)—Caleb Campbell will not get a chance to play for the Detroit Lions because of a change in military policy.
Campbell was a seventh-round draft pick for the Lions in April. At the time, Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.
But a subsequent Department of Defense policy has superseded the 2005 Army policy.
In a letter to Lions president Matt Millen dated Wednesday, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan P. Liba wrote that Campbell has been ordered to give up professional football for “full-time traditional military duties.”
Liba wrote that 2nd Lt. Campbell may ask to be released from his active duty obligations in May 2010.
Liba said Campbell was allowed to enter the draft “in good faith.”

[Whiskeyrbl]

Hope he still has a shot in 2010.

[zanth91]

I don't care if the Army did not allow him to go to the NFL originally, but telling him he can't just days before training camp, and wasting a Lion's 7th round pick is BS.

[RichieVar]

This is such a hard debate to find a side for. While I do believe the guy should play, he also signed a comittment to help his country in time of need.

I do think as well though that anything can happen in his year of duty. What's to stop him from getting his leg blown off while overseas? The Lions won't obviously want him after that even though they used a 7th round pick on him. Sure it was the last round, but we've all seen diamonds in the rough that appear from the later rounds (Tom Brady in the 6th anyone?).

I think if this got polled nationwide, it would probably be a very close vote around 50/50 60/40.

And as for the timing, I agree with you zanth91. To tell this guy that he can't play days before training camp is a VERY bad descision that might turn some people off toward the military.

[Matt_in_KW]

To me, this is what makes this BS. Otherwise i would say yea he signed up for the ARMY he has to do what they ask.

Army policy would have allowed the West Point graduate to serve as a recruiter if he made the team.

That means on draft day he was told on or before he would sit at a desk and recruit for the ARMY, if he made the team. So, he enters the draft and Detroit takes him in the 7th. The kid is ARMY, I would imagine PS atleast. So, to hit him and change the rule I quoted before camp. That is TOTAL BS, it's like the ARMY saying "Haha, you thought we'd let you play". Kid must be devistated.

[1337texansfan]

if you served then you should know. the military is all about crushing your hopes and dreams.

[wildroot]

WTF is unallowed?!? Is that like "not allowed"?

Reading his quotes, he said he was very dissapointed but said he was a Soldier first and foremost. So he'll wind up doing what he signed up to do 4 years ago when the Army paid for his education in return for his service. He'll probably be assigned to the West Point Football team as an assistant coach so at least he'll be able to stay close to the game.
Anyway, he can try again in 2010 which is the earliest he'll be allowed to play.

I wish him luck and hope to see him then.

[SuperstarII]

To me, this is what makes this BS. Otherwise i would say yea he signed up for the ARMY he has to do what they ask.



That means on draft day he was told on or before he would sit at a desk and recruit for the ARMY, if he made the team. So, he enters the draft and Detroit takes him in the 7th. The kid is ARMY, I would imagine PS atleast. So, to hit him and change the rule I quoted before camp. That is TOTAL BS, it's like the ARMY saying "Haha, you thought we'd let you play". Kid must be devistated.

The military better pray that kid doesn't get killed in combat or it would really hinder them from recruiting. I think it is BS personally. I think somebody got pissed at him and found some way to bring him back.