rookie signing question

[combatbengal]

What happens to rookies that don't sign? Can they play for another team? Also, if we draft a guy, he signs a contract but doesn't make the team, what happens?

[walzav29]

I don't think it'll get to that point, but Ricky Hunley did that to Cincy back in 1984, and of course Elway to the Colts. They forced a trade. I guess you can sit out the year and re-enter the draft, but I'm not sure. The team may retain the rights. Good question.

[DesperateDerelict]

The rights remain with the club for a year, then he's back in the pool. The offended club gets a compensatory pick - i think the player actually ends up in the next compensatory draft, depending on the timing of the annual draft.

[Defender]

I think I remember the same thing happening to Bo Jackson. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs with their first pick and refused to play for the owner, Hugh Culverhouse, because he ruined his senior year of the baseball season. He refused to sign, but I'm not sure if he went in the supplemental draft or what...

[jjakq27]

I think I remember the same thing happening to Bo Jackson. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Bucs with their first pick and refused to play for the owner, Hugh Culverhouse, because he ruined his senior year of the baseball season. He refused to sign, but I'm not sure if he went in the supplemental draft or what...

http://espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00016045.html

He went back into the 1987 draft. He was a seventh round pick of the Raiders.

[combatbengal]

Thanks for the info.