Haden, several Florida juniors weigh NFL options
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Florida cornerback Joe Haden already has made a decision about his senior season.
Haden declined to reveal his intentions this week, saying he would likely make an announcement after Friday night's Sugar Bowl against No. 4 Cincinnati.
"I know what I'm going to do," Haden said.
It probably won't be good news for the fifth-ranked Gators.
Haden is widely considered college football's top cornerback and played all season with the most disability insurance he could get from the NCAA. Haden could be part of a mass exodus at Florida that would leave the program's depth chart as unsettled as its coaching staff.
"That's all part of a great program," said offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, who will fill in for coach Urban Meyer during his indefinite leave of absence. "With a great program, there's going to be some change."
Florida's changes could be significant.
The Gators are losing several seniors, including quarterback Tim Tebow, receiver Riley Cooper, defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, kick returner Brandon James and linebackers Brandon Spikes, Ryan Stamper and Dustin Doe. The departure of some underclassmen could be even more devastating.
Defensive end Carlos Dunlap, tight end Aaron Hernandez, running back Chris Rainey, safeties Ahmad Black and Major Wright, and offensive linemen Mike Pouncey, Maurkice Pouncey, Carl Johnson and Marcus Gilbert submitted paperwork to see where they project in the NFL draft.
Haden, Dunlap, Hernandez and the Pouncey twins are considered the most likely to turn pro.
"We'll wait until after the game, maybe a couple days," Maurkice Pouncey said.
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MEYER'S FUTURE: Florida coach Urban Meyer says he expects to be back next season. One of his close friends isn't so sure.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, one of just a few people Meyer called after he resigned last weekend, said during a conference call Wednesday that Meyer's change of heart about 20 hours later could have been a ploy to help Florida get through the Sugar Bowl and the recruiting season.
"The only thing left to believe is that Florida's just trying to get through this bowl game and get through recruiting and let him make a real decision after he's had some time to think about it," Herbstreit said. "That's the only thing I can think about."
Meyer's decision came three weeks after he complained of chest pains, passed out trying to get out of bed and was rushed to the hospital. Meyer has declined to reveal what doctors told him about his condition or whether he could be was risking more harm by coaching.
Nonetheless, his announcement left Florida in coaching limbo. Safety Matt Elam, a senior at Palm Beach Dwyer High, switched his commitment from the Gators to cross-state rival Florida State because of Florida's uncertainty.
"Does it put Florida in a tough position? Absolutely," Herbstreit said. "You think Lane Kiffin and Nick Saban and Randy Shannon are talking to recruits about this? My guess is yeah."
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BEARCAT BOON: Bourbon Street, the French Quarter and other parts of The Big Easy have been overrun by Cincinnati Bearcats fans. Florida's faithful? Well, they're outnumbered considerably.
It shouldn't be a huge surprise that the Gators failed to sell 6,500 of their 17,500 tickets to the New Year's Day game. After all, players and fans talked all season about perfection, getting to Pasadena, Calif., for the Bowl Championship Series title game and repeating. Losing to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game was a huge letdown for the program.
It was reflected in and around the Louisiana Superdome.
"I didn't know that about the tickets," Meyer said Thursday. "If I could get the phone and start calling season-ticket holders and say, 'Go buy these tickets,' I'd probably do it. Believe it or not, I've done that at some other places I've coached.
"I remember getting up at 4:30 in the morning because I had to drive an hour to get on a train, a tram in Salt Lake City. Unbelievable. And to ride the tram back and forth selling tickets to people to come to the Utah football games. So I'm all in it for doing it the right way. So if I could help, I'd help. But I think we're beyond that right now."
