Why Can't Luck Join His Team Right Away?

[Mufasa]

Reports are that Luck has to finish up his year at Stanford and won't join the team until June 7th. Why? He's a senior; he was eligible for the draft last year. What is it preventing him from joining his team when all other rookies do? Is it just that he want to stay so he graduates and it's a personal choice, or is it an NFL rule preventing him?

[phlysac]

It's a rule. Players cannot join their teams until the session/finals/graduation of their schools is complete. This isn't new, and impacts far more players/schools than just Luck/Stanford.

[Mufasa]

Yeah, I guess I do remember hearing about similar situations in past years. But it seems odd to force a player to stay a few extra weeks when they could have left a whole year earlier. Although I guess it does kind of help to protect them from losing a semester worth of credits should they need their education later in life.

[Asteinebach]

It's got something to do with the PAC-12 calender. They don't finish their academic year until June, which is a little later than most the other schools. It's not going to make any difference, he'll still be into training camp on time.

[descendency]

Taylor Price wasn't allowed to join the Patriots until almost August. A 3rd rounder from Ohio is by far more impacted than a #1 overall pick from Stanford will be.

[underscore]

It typically affects players from schools on the quarter system, which end their final quarter later than schools on the semester system. Ohio State is another one whose players are commonly affected.