Politicians scrambled to alter the language of a recently passed Congressional bill that clears the path to the upcoming NFL draft for Army star linebacker Andre Carter II.
Carter and other current academy upperclassmen at Army, Navy and Air Force will be able to defer military service to pursue professional sports if new language is restored in the end-of-year legislation.
Carter and other current academy upperclassmen will be eligible for a waivers that will allow them to play pro sports if the Omnibus Appropriations Measure passes this week. There is a provision on the Senate website.
The Senate passed a bill last week. Carter, who is projected as the No. 22 pick in next year's NFL draft, played his last regular-season game in December. The recently passed amendment only applies to a cadet or midshipman who first enrolls in the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, or the United States Air Force Academy.
A bipartisan effort began in Washington to find a way to exempt Carter from the ruling after it was revealed that Carter's family and Army officials were disappointed by the ruling. Carter and others who went to Army and other academies expecting to be allowed a deferral of service will be able to do so.
The president is expected to approve the language as soon as Friday. Carter's family received a wave of relief when the language was included.
"Thank you to the members of congress who spoke out and worked quickly in support of the service academy cadets and midshipmen who made decisions in reliance on the policy allowing deferral of service," Carter's parents wrote in a text message. The goodness we saw in people this week will stay with us.
Carter is poised to be the highest drafted Army player in more than 50 years. Carter would be the highest-drafted player from the academy since 1947 if he were to be drafted.
Carter decided not to transfer after leading the country in sacks per game in 2021, in part because of the policy that allows athletes at academies to pursue professional athletics immediately after graduation.
Carter's family was worried that he would have to pay back $400,000 to the government if he left the Army without graduating. After two years with the Army, Carter had committed to both serve and pay back tuition if he did not graduate.
Army coach Jeff Monken, former Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and Carter's parents spoke about the lack of fairness in the timing of the ruling, with Carter on the verge of going pro.
According to sources, word of Carter's story spread quickly through Washington, grabbing the attention of the highest-ranking officials at the Pentagon and members of Congress.
A source familiar with the legislation said that it's not normal for an issue to be highlighted and less than a week later have an opportunity for a bill to go through the House, Senate and get a presidential signature.
One of the draft's most intriguing stories will be that of Carter, who will play in the Senior Bowl and participate in the scouting combine.
The United States Military Academy leadership, the Long Gray Line, and many other people throughout the country were thanked by Carter's parents.
While this is an important short-term exception for Carter and others, the passage of the bill still looms as a significant obstacle for the football programs at Army, Navy and Air Force, which compete at the highest level of the sport.
Is it better to have a handful of players drafted each year and bask in the publicity, or have a policy that honors the importance of military service but doesn't lose that publicity?
The bill was introduced by a Republican congressman. He remained steadfast about the bill being passed despite the pressure surrounding Carter's situation.
"U.S. military service academies exist to produce warfighters, not professional athletes," he said.
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