Dae'Quan Wright's Move From NFL to Transfer Portal Sparks Backlash
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Former NFL back Damien Harris slams the decision to return to college football as 'embarrassing' and 'bush league.'
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright has become the first active player to move from an NFL training camp into the NCAA transfer portal, as CBS Sports first reported. Wright, a former Ole Miss player, previously signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and spent time on the Cleveland Browns practice squad, where he dressed for a preseason game before being waived on Aug. 24.
Wright has reached an agreement to play for LSU, provided he clears waivers. To facilitate the move, Wright and other athletes filed a lawsuit in Louisiana, resulting in a temporary restraining order that allows him to return to college for one more year. This comes as a new NCAA rule granting most Division I athletes five years of eligibility will not take effect until next season, CBS Sports reports.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from former NFL running back Damien Harris. Speaking to CBS Sports, the former Alabama player called the decision "embarrassing," "elementary," and "bush league." Harris argued that returning to college takes a roster spot from a deserving player and stated that if he were an NFL GM, such a move would make him question a player's competitiveness and work ethic.
Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken also commented on the situation, describing it as "crazy" and noting that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin had reached out to him a week prior, per CBS Sports.