Football-style: Should he be back? - Part I

by Jay Jenkins on December 10th, 2010

As we at CavaliersInsider.com dive into the choices that remain with would-be fifth-year players on the 2011 roster, sensitive cases will evolve.
Right off the bat we dive into one of those situations.

Wide receiver Jared Green, having made all of eight catches this season, was made one of the faces of the program before and after Al Groh was shown the door.
His dad was thrust into the NFL Hall of Fame and he delivered the opening speech. Very Cool.
He was quick to flash a smile and shake a hand, not something always prevalent in the Groh-era from his players.
Putting Green in front of the cameras the day that Groh was fired, however, was a public relations decision few could debate at the time but seemed staged when higher-profile stars snuck into the night.
Greener pastures are in the youngster’s future, but the numbers game will likely keep that from becoming an option for Green as a fifth-year member at Virginia.
He may coach. He may become a politician. He may play elsewhere for a year.
Hauling in eight passes for 95 yards and one touchdown as a pass-catching option on a team that was not deep at the spot, something that was compounded when tight Joe Torchia was lost for the year after four games, is not enough.
Perhaps he could have worked harder in practice. Perhaps he would have flourished at the I-AA level after a prep career that spurned few offers.
It was not a bad investment in a bad era, however, and few should blame Green for Groh.
This is known: Virginia’s coaching staff will get sophomore Tim Smith back after a lost year (maybe not if a medical hardship is granted) and silly reviews have surfaced about E.J. Scott, who was redshirted after serious debate. He sizzled in practice sessions and will push for time from Day One.
The serious potential that fifth-year option Matt Snyder returns after finally landing a scholarship and performing admirably as the third-best option merely clouds the waters for Green.

MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS: All signs point to no.

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