'25 Portal Thread

#14,452
#14,452
RikidyBones said:
The last couple of players that tried to use the media to create pressure has failed. Starting CB and now QB1. Maybe the tide is turning against the players from a fan perspective. No more chicken little reactions, instead it's a negative thing for it to get out for the player.

This didn't come from Tennessee, they don't want this out there and they aren't ahead of the game to notice that the tide is turning. That'd have been a huge risk at this point. It came from Nicos camp imo, whether it was pops or agent. Likely agent.
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Im not sure what you're saying.

Many have said these contract negotiations were out there for months.

Should Tennessee have been out in front more? Probably. None of us but Eric know.

@Ericvol2096
 
#14,458
#14,458
MarcoVol said:
These players all understand there’s a business side to this now. Their feelings won’t be hurt, just fans.
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Pros do it. He has us by the bandsaw.

Pay him, lets practice. Get better, be straight with him that next year he is auditioning for jis starting role, and for the league for 26. If he doesnt show vast improvement.

Looks what coming in...

What's best for the team is to grt better with better talent, and speed. If he's going to do whats best for him, we sure as hell are too.
 
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#14,461
#14,461
"That the UTAD and Nico's representatives are in "active negotiations" for what his deal should be going into the upcoming season. The Dean and I have been hearing rumors about this for some time but On3.com, whose UT website is volquest, had enough to publish a story. Insiders say Nico's dad "Big Nic" has been not so quietly trying to make a market for his son to either get a raise from his maybe $2.3 million salary or bolt to another school for more and perhaps a better offense."

"Seems to be around $3 million or more and many quarterbacks will be overpaid in 2025, just like in the NFL. Insiders say Southern Cal is a potential landing spot for Nico and his family still lives in the region, even though they have a home in Knoxville and hang there during football season. Only a hunch but I think Nico and UT stay married for next season."

From Basilio for what it's worth....
 
#14,462
#14,462
rockytop25 said:
"That the UTAD and Nico's representatives are in "active negotiations" for what his deal should be going into the upcoming season. The Dean and I have been hearing rumors about this for some time but On3.com, whose UT website is volquest, had enough to publish a story. Insiders say Nico's dad "Big Nic" has been not so quietly trying to make a market for his son to either get a raise from his maybe $2.3 million salary or bolt to another school for more and perhaps a better offense."

"Seems to be around $3 million or more and many quarterbacks will be overpaid in 2025, just like in the NFL. Insiders say Southern Cal is a potential landing spot for Nico and his family still lives in the region, even though they have a home in Knoxville and hang there during football season. Only a hunch but I think Nico and UT stay married for next season."

From Basilio for what it's worth....
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"Literally and figuratively ... This is as 2025 as you can get.

Here's what I know. Tennessee has NEVER missed a payment. They've been nothing but above board with Nico and his handlers and his family. Yet TWICE in the past 4 months Team Nico has initiated with other schools around college football and tried to drive up his price in Knoxville. Last time (late December) they used moderate interest from Miami to get a moderate raise for an OK SEC QB. You could even say Nico was average last year by SEC standards. Scuttlebutt is that team Nico has been shopping him to a few west coast schools including (I hear as Throatie reported above) USC. This has been rumored for a few weeks among SEC coaching staffs as there are no secrets in the profession. In fact my understanding is that this word bounced back to UT's staff (that team Nico was trying to get something going elsewhere). I hear Nico really wants to stay here and he's been nothing but a really solid human being to deal with the entire time he's been in Knoxville. Yet his team is trying to prime the pump one more time for some more money."

A little more from Basilio...
 
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#14,463
#14,463
I've always been on the SA side especially in regards to compensation but the pendulum has swung all the way in the SA's favor. These kids have ALL the leverage.

Not sure if any of this stuff is true with Nico and ultimately I think it works itself out but the NCAA really screwed up this whole thing.
 
#14,464
#14,464
rockytop25 said:
"That the UTAD and Nico's representatives are in "active negotiations" for what his deal should be going into the upcoming season. The Dean and I have been hearing rumors about this for some time but On3.com, whose UT website is volquest, had enough to publish a story. Insiders say Nico's dad "Big Nic" has been not so quietly trying to make a market for his son to either get a raise from his maybe $2.3 million salary or bolt to another school for more and perhaps a better offense."

"Seems to be around $3 million or more and many quarterbacks will be overpaid in 2025, just like in the NFL. Insiders say Southern Cal is a potential landing spot for Nico and his family still lives in the region, even though they have a home in Knoxville and hang there during football season. Only a hunch but I think Nico and UT stay married for next season."

From Basilio for what it's worth....
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His market is not what he thinks it is and USC is not a better team.

It’s not even Nico — it’s his Dad/handlers.

Some may act like it’s a nothing burger but this affects how they approach their holes going into the summer which makes the team worse.
 
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#14,466
#14,466
Nighthawkvol10 said:
This is from a bball insider in the Trilly discord that has plenty of connections:

"Nico’s inner circle has been trying to drum up interest from some west coast schools but I don’t think they’ve found a legitimate taker. They reached out to Oregon and Lanning called Heupel to let him know haha"

"There’s no market for Nico at the price point his family thinks. He’s sat out practices this spring and this has become a headache for the staff so getting this out there and painting the family in a bad light is fine from Tennessee’s perspective. It’s been pretty ridiculous over the last 4-5 months."
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So this unfortunately seems to have been true. He's apparently missed 4-5 practices this spring and Big Nic was obviously lying in those tweets last night.

USC people are saying UCLA has a deal in place for him and Madden to join the team together
 
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#14,467
#14,467
Nighthawkvol10 said:
So this unfortunately seems to have been true. He's apparently missed 4-5 practices this spring and Big Nic was obviously lying in those tweets last night.

USC people are saying UCLA has a deal in place for him and Madden to join the team together
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Madden isn’t at UCLA

Unless you mean they’re both being promised NIL deals
 
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#14,469
#14,469
Nighthawkvol10 said:
So this unfortunately seems to have been true. He's apparently missed 4-5 practices this spring and Big Nic was obviously lying in those tweets last night.

USC people are saying UCLA has a deal in place for him and Madden to join the team together
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If Nico has missed 4-5 practices, then why is he included in the write up for every practice we have had this spring?
 
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#14,471
#14,471
Nighthawkvol10 said:
So this unfortunately seems to have been true. He's apparently missed 4-5 practices this spring and Big Nic was obviously lying in those tweets last night.

USC people are saying UCLA has a deal in place for him and Madden to join the team together
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He was in every practice report though???

If he goes to UCLA that is literally career suicide. Both for his reputation and for his NFL hopes. They suck so bad and making this kind of move doesn’t look good to NFL scouts.
 
#14,474
#14,474
PowerT. said:



I think it’s best for both parties if he leaves at this point. Can’t imagine lockeroom dynamics will be good
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Not to mention the enormous pressure this charade puts on him, whether it be him or his dad who is responsible...fans won't care. Can you imagine the hellfire fans will bring down on him if he goes down to Florida and struggles in a loss, now? The situation is just becoming untenable.
 
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