Apparently, that college education isn't paying off... yet

It's always nice to see an NFL prospect who wants to stay in school. It's rare these days. However, this move makes absolutely no sense.

University of Washington Huskies junior quarterback Jake Locker, a projected top 10 pick and likely top five or even No. 1 overall pick in April's NFL Draft decided to stay in school for another season.

Locker has everything you want in a franchise quarterback prospect: Ability to read coverages, accurate throws, strong arm and mobility. He might not be NFL-ready at the moment, but he's the best QB prospect in the 2010 class.

Well, he was.

Not only did Locker pass up a chance to be a No. 1 overall pick in 2010, he passed up about $40 million in guaranteed money. With the looming lockout in the NFL and a possible rookie salary cap, Locker might have made a costly mistake.

He'll take out an insurance policy, in case he is injured in his senior season, but it probably won't come close to the $40 million he would have been paid by an NFL team.

This is reminiscent of Sam Bradford last year. Bradford, the University of Oklahoma quarterback and 2008 Heisman Trophy winner, came back for another season. He was hurt two times and didn't finish the season. He would have been a top 10 pick in the 2009 draft. Now, he's a fringe first-round prospect. Some people, such as myself, were never that high on him and the injury concerns only hamper his draft status.

Bottom line is, Locker should have played the percentages. He would have performed well at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, cemented himself as a top five pick and would have signed a huge rookie contract.

Instead, he returns to Washington in hopes of improving his game and contending in the always tough Pacific-10 Conference. It doesn't sound like such a bad idea, but the smart money was on declaring for the draft.

There are more important things than money, but in this economic climate, not so much.

Time will tell if this move hurts him financially, as well as physically. I wish him well and hope he has another good season so this column will have been for not.

Then there's always a Bradford situation. Here's hoping this doesn't come back to bite Locker in the backside.