Tillman agrees: Give players power

I got a call from Spencer Tillman on Wednesday. The former OU halfback, now a CBS broadcaster living in Greater Houston, read my column about empowering players checking out the NFL draft. And he agrees wholeheartedly.

“There are no holes in it,” Tillman said.

Tillman said there has been collusion between the NFL and college football, keeping players in the dark about what their options are.

They in effect are playing Let’s Make A Deal with the draft. Come out for the draft, and you still don’t know what your status is. Door No. 1? Door No. 2? Door No. 3?

I say let players retain their eligibility until they have signed with an agent or signed with a franchise.

“All the points you made were right on,” Tillman said. “The NFL itself would benefit.”

Tillman said he has talked with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who expresses dismay at the big money given to untested rookies.

I don’t know how much that would change under my system, but I do know that fewer players would leave school early.

“The player is powerless and always has been,” Tillman said. “Unless something changes, always will be.”