FB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[footballfan413]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman
#Bears currently have 4 QBs on their roster: Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard, who made team after tryout in May.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
By waiving QB Nathan Enderle, #Bears give Matt Blanchard from Wis-Whitewater potential shot at practice squad job http://trib.in/Mu5iwP

From Briggs' article:

Enderle was cut loose giving Matt Blanchard, the undrafted rookie free agent from Wisconsin-Whitewater, an opportunity to be the fourth quarterback in training camp. Blanchard will not challenge veteran Josh McCown for the No. 3 job on the roster, but a strong showing could lead the Bears to consider a role for him on the eight-man practice squad.

We were thinking the exact same thing.  He now has a real shot at the practice squad, at least, with a great chance to develop.  Oh no, the Bears developing talent successfully?     Well, thank goodness, it's Matt and that gives them a real shot at developing this QB, at least!  LOL     

[BoBo]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman
#Bears currently have 4 QBs on their roster: Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard, who made team after tryout in May.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
By waiving QB Nathan Enderle, #Bears give Matt Blanchard from Wis-Whitewater potential shot at practice squad job http://trib.in/Mu5iwP

From Briggs' article:

Enderle was cut loose giving Matt Blanchard, the undrafted rookie free agent from Wisconsin-Whitewater, an opportunity to be the fourth quarterback in training camp. Blanchard will not challenge veteran Josh McCown for the No. 3 job on the roster, but a strong showing could lead the Bears to consider a role for him on the eight-man practice squad.

We were thinking the exact same thing.  He now has a real shot at the practice squad, at least, with a great chance to develop.  Oh no, the Bears developing talent successfully?     Well, thank goodness, it's Matt and that gives them a real shot at developing this QB, at least!  LOL 

A strong showing in camp could potentially provide him the opportunity to sign on with another team's practice squad as well, if they come calling...especially a team with a stronger and proven track record in QB development in recent times. I realize that will bum out you UWW flatlanders, but all options should be explored, IMO. I can think of one team in particular a bit due north of Chicago that does a pretty decent job at developing QB's!! 

[Pat Coleman]

And you can make a good living on the practice squad -- the practice squad salary is between $5,000 and $6,000 per week in-season. I'm less clear on the details of what these guys get during the offseason (per diem? nothing?).

[BoBo]

And you can make a good living on the practice squad -- the practice squad salary is between $5,000 and $6,000 per week in-season. I'm less clear on the details of what these guys get during the offseason (per diem? nothing?).

The minimum salary for a Practice Squad player for 2012 is $5,700/week or $96,900 based on a full 17 week season. The minimum salary for a rookie on the 53 man roster this year is $390,000 ($22,941.18/week).  Additionally, a rookie receives a minimum $155/day for any voluntary offseason workout or classroom instruction a player participates in (I guess that includes OTA's and mini-camp). Per Diem during training camp for a rookie is $850/week + room/board.

NFL CBA

When you add in your medical, too, for a drafted or UDFA, it's not a bad gig if you can get it!!   

[footballfan413]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman
#Bears currently have 4 QBs on their roster: Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Josh McCown and Matt Blanchard, who made team after tryout in May.

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs
By waiving QB Nathan Enderle, #Bears give Matt Blanchard from Wis-Whitewater potential shot at practice squad job http://trib.in/Mu5iwP

From Briggs' article:

Enderle was cut loose giving Matt Blanchard, the undrafted rookie free agent from Wisconsin-Whitewater, an opportunity to be the fourth quarterback in training camp. Blanchard will not challenge veteran Josh McCown for the No. 3 job on the roster, but a strong showing could lead the Bears to consider a role for him on the eight-man practice squad.

We were thinking the exact same thing.  He now has a real shot at the practice squad, at least, with a great chance to develop.  Oh no, the Bears developing talent successfully?     Well, thank goodness, it's Matt and that gives them a real shot at developing this QB, at least!  LOL 

A strong showing in camp could potentially provide him the opportunity to sign on with another team's practice squad as well, if they come calling...especially a team with a stronger and proven track record in QB development in recent times. I realize that will bum out you UWW flatlanders, but all options should be explored, IMO. I can think of one team in particular a bit due north of Chicago that does a pretty decent job at developing QB's!!

Oh, absolutely.  He is clearly impressing and there are 31 other teams out there and the Pack has a great track record with QB's.  Problem is, they only need a new one every 15 years or so.   

[footballfan413]

Happy Fathers Day, Gentlemen!  Hope you all have a wonderful day!   

[02 Warhawk]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

[voice]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

I was intregued watching Chris during spring practice.  What stuck out to me was Davis' size at 6'6".   One thing I noticed was how much he was being "coached up" during spring drills.  Obviously, having not played football since 2006 at Madison East there was some "football rust" to work out.   As a senior at East Davis earned 1st Team All-Big Eight honors with 41 receptions for 558 yards and nine TDs.  At tight end for Whitewater, blocking is No. 1. How did Chris do blocking this spring.  It was definitely a "learning process" with plenty of upside. 

What Chris Davis does possess is the "heart of a champion" coming off his team's National Championship run in basketball this past spring.  Chris told me that he is primed for the challenge of UWW football this fall.  No guarantees at this point at making the team but remember he was in the same boat when he first arrived on campus prior to his junior season. 

It has the potential to be a great story.

[badgerwarhawk]

The story confirms what I had been hearing about how good his hands were in catching the ball.  Now if he can learn to block he may be able to make a contribution more significant that one might have thought. 

Good luck, Chris.  We're all pulling for you. 

[02 Warhawk]

The UW-W Athletic Facilities will be featured in "A Sporting Chance." It is scheduled to debut on ESPN2 at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 23.

[BoBo]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being no chance), how would you rate his chances on, 1.  making the team and 2.  being a productive or contributing member of the 2012 roster? Personally, I'm wondering if they should take a chance on putting him on the roster if he's going to be a backup in his only year of playing at the expense of a younger player who might have 3 or 4 years to develop into a starting player.  I didn't realize they are that low on depth at the TE position. Thoughts?

[02 Warhawk]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being no chance), how would you rate his chances on, 1.  making the team and 2.  being a productive or contributing member of the 2012 roster? Personally, I'm wondering if they should take a chance on putting him on the roster if he's going to be a backup in his only year of playing at the expense of a younger player who might have 3 or 4 years to develop into a starting player.  I didn't realize they are that low on depth at the TE position. Thoughts?

He'll make the team. Sounds like he was stud football player in high school. I think he'll contribute, and will be a part of the TE rotation. But it'll come down to blocking. He still has to work on his blocking technique, but he might have one of the best set of hands on the team from what I'm reading. Maybe he'll just be a 3rd down TE, depending on how he develops this preseason.

[emma17]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being no chance), how would you rate his chances on, 1.  making the team and 2.  being a productive or contributing member of the 2012 roster? Personally, I'm wondering if they should take a chance on putting him on the roster if he's going to be a backup in his only year of playing at the expense of a younger player who might have 3 or 4 years to develop into a starting player.  I didn't realize they are that low on depth at the TE position. Thoughts?

Another unknown is whether he'll even want to stay w the game once the real grind starts. Assuming he will stay w it:

Making the team- 9
Contributing- 7.5

[WarhawkDad]

Private schools don't offer merit scholarships for athletic achievement. That would be an athletic scholarship and we're in D-III. Not saying a public or private school has never fudged the rules, but you're implying that private schools are regularly giving something illegal that public schools don't and that's simply not true. The rules are the same whether you're public or private.

I have a tendency to tell it like it is.....I don't get caught up in semantics.   My son was offered "merit" scholarships by two different private D-III schools.  His academics are solid, but not spectacular.   It was an obvious  attempt to level the playing field and cost.   Public DIII school's academic scholarships are significantly harder to receive. 

[WarhawkDad]

Warhawk basketball star giving football a good college try this year at Tight End.

Chris Davis

On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being no chance), how would you rate his chances on, 1.  making the team and 2.  being a productive or contributing member of the 2012 roster? Personally, I'm wondering if they should take a chance on putting him on the roster if he's going to be a backup in his only year of playing at the expense of a younger player who might have 3 or 4 years to develop into a starting player.  I didn't realize they are that low on depth at the TE position. Thoughts?

Another unknown is whether he'll even want to stay w the game once the real grind starts. Assuming he will stay w it:

Making the team- 9
Contributing- 7.5

I agree, we have seen many start the preseason and not survive the first couple weeks of "the real grind".  His size and hands are obviously attractive.  Time will tell.