A Look Down the Road: NFL Lockout

Every sport has had a lockout at one time or another, but it may be the NFL's turn according to players union head DeMaurice Smith.

Smith announced on Thursday that a possible lockout is becoming a viable option when collective bargaining ends between the union and the league owners in 2011. The lockout would mean big things not just for the NFL, but college football as well.

Looking down the road a lockout could be both good and bad for college football. It could be good for revenues and exposure with a competitor literally watching from the sidelines. But it could be bad if you're looking to enter the NFL draft.

A pending lockout could mean a year off for many players, that is if they league doesn't use replacement players again. If players choose to leave college early to enter the draft they would be giving up eligibility to come back and play.

But what does this mean for the Wisconsin Badgers...everything.

The Badgers this year may be showcasing quite possibly the best back in the country in John Clay. If the lockout appears to be a realistic possibility it is possible that many players will not enter the draft early and take their chances playing one more year in college.

While there has been no word to this point that John Clay will enter the draft next season, and don't expect any official word until after the next season is over. One could put some money on the fact that if Clay has a solid year he could be heading to the NFL after his junior season.

A lockout could mean that Clay could be back in cardinal and white for another season. Signing with another team and joining the players union right before the lockout would mean that Clay would need to sit for another year, and not play.

Coming back to college would mean another year of exposure and practice. I know what some of you might be thinking...what about the money? Good point.

If you have a significant chance at becoming a high draft pick in the NFL, or any other professional league for that matter, you can take out an insurance policy on yourself just in case you get hurt. While the policy would not give you as much as an NFL contract will; it will give you a large sum of money that you can bank on.

So over the next year as the collective bargaining period ends for the NFL...keep an eye on the situation. A lockout will have more than just an impact on the NFL. Expect college football to be greatly impacted as well.