Will Haloti stay or go to the NFL ? As he was walking off the field I asked him if this was the last time he would be wearing a Ducks uniform. He said probably not.

When a couple more reporters came in to join our conversation he backed off and said he wasn't sure what he was going to do.

After the hoopla of the game wears off and the realty of life sets in I think Ngata is gone. And with good reason.

Right now he's a top 10 pick. That's million of dollars. After tweaking his knee in the second half of the Holiday Bowl I would hope he realizes that a second major knee injury would make those millions of dollars disappear.

He's already said his family back in Utah isn't well off. His father died tragicially a couple years back. If he can follow his dream of playing professional football, while at the same time take care of his loved ones, the decision becomes pretty easy.

By the way it's pronounced Na-da, not Na-ta. How do I know. I asked him when he came to Eugne as a freshman.

One more note on Ngata. He played rugby in high school. That's scary.

I remember seeing Onterrio Smith after the Seattle Bowl a few years back when he was talking about turning pro. I asked him if he was seriously thinking of coming back like he had been saying all along. He said he wasn't sure. Then faster than you can say Whizzinator he was gone.

I think emotions get the best of you when you just finished a game and see your friends and teammates around you. Then when you get people talking about the pros and cons of staying in college versus the NFL (especially for a sure fire top 10 pick like Hgata), the decision becomes a no-brainer.

By the way keep your ears open for this story in the spring. If the Ducks don't keep Brady Leaf happy I hear he may want to transfer to a pass happy Division 1-AA school in the west.

Ron
RPivo@kgw.com