Perhaps he would have made a few more dollars...but, he would have come here and played, risked injury, etc. for another season that ends with an outtadawoodwerks bowl ban.
I hate to side with ol Olivier, but he has been justified leaving. Guy is making good coin, playing a lot, and is productive in the NFL. He'll more than make up for that lost coin by getting a big contract a year earlier.
LOL! GTFOOH! Vernon was far being a finished product. His numbers sucked balls and his salary reflects that of a player with potential rather than production. Another year under Golden would have reaped him huge rewards regardless of a bowl game. Bowl games mean jack in the grand scheme of things. You think NFL scouts are going to drop their bid because a player hasn't played in some meaningless bowl game? What a joke!
Sorry Vernon! You didn't play in the weedeater bowl so we're not going to throw cash at you? LOL!!!
What if he tore up his knee? Suffered a series of concussions? Who knows. He was coasting after he came back from suspension last year in the first place, but ultimately...Point being he would have come back for very little gain in the long run. No team success, no unit success...perhaps some personal success as a collegiate, but none of that is guaranteed for a slew of reasons.
He ended up being the highest drafted 'Cane last year...third rounder...the difference between his contract and say that of Nick Perry, was about five million dollars (a little more than 3M in guaranteed money), but, Vernon will get a contract extension or new contract, sooner than the late first round pick. Nevermind receiving a contract extension sooner than if he was a first round pick this year.