Mark McLeod, Blitz Sports Radio

Entitlement.

The cease-and-desist order sent by Jayden Daniels attorney regarding sophomore D.J. Pickett’s wearing of the #5 isn’t a saga about a player making the most of his training and development at one school only to and discard it so that he can shop his services to secure more money playing for another program. No, while many label that entitlement, that’s just business. 

This is entitlement and it’s on an entirely different level.

This is ego run amok by an NFL player and his inner circle reminding LSU that they are better off without him. There is no purple and gold pride in Daniels’ demand. He and his ilk aren’t elated to see a young tiger making plays that elicit a roar throughout the Bayou? Apparently, not. 

The pride is lodged solidly between their ears. 

First-year LSU head coach Lane Kiffin’s focus should be solely on the practice field and the meeting rooms. Pathetically, Kiffin had to address an ego driven former player and his inner circle over a jersey. 

Former player…jersey. 

The letter actually states that the “Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected” that LSU assigned Pickett the #5. 

I struggle to wrap my head around it. A Heisman Trophy winner playing in the NFL thinks his name, image, and likeness and legacy is being exploited by the wearing of #5. What stirs conversation more…a jersey collecting dust in a trophy case or a jersey being worn by a cornerback who has a potentially amazing upside?  

Psst, Jayden, what if Pickett is taken early in the first round in the ’28 NFL Draft? 

Furthermore, what do Skyler Green, Darius Guice, and Kary Vincent Jr., who also wore #5 deserve from you? Didn’t they help set the #5 table? The established school records too and Vincent hoisted a national championship trophy.  Do you have a picture with one of a national championship trophy? 

Daniels and his camp could learn a lesson from another Heisman Trophy winner, Steve Spurrier. When Spurrier returned to the University of Florida as the Gators head football coach, he pulled his number 11 out of retirement and presented it to linebacker Ben Hanks. It was an honor that Hanks deserved and Spurrier knew it. In fact, the head ball coach was thrilled to do it and enjoyed watching another player in his old jersey makes plays on Florida Field. 

Former LSU star Jayden Daniels and his camp have chosen a hill to die on (metaphorically speaking) and if they don’t walk this back- die on it they will. There is only one solution, apologize to LSU, their fans, and Pickett and happily move on with your lives in Washington. One other suggestion is to seek therapy. Otherwise, you will die on this hill. And by "die on that hill",

Stay the course and what do we call this hill? Entitlement Hill? Pompous Hill? Arrogant Hill? Petty Hill?

Here are excerpts from the letter sent to LSU:

“The Daniels family is deeply disappointed and feels profoundly disrespected by LSU's decision to give Jayden's number to another player," the statement from Daniels' spokesperson said. "Jayden and his family had every reason to believe that his number would remain a meaningful part of his LSU legacy and would be honored and protected in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the university."

"Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected," the statement said. "His Heisman Trophy-winning season and everything he accomplished on and off the field cemented his place in LSU history. To see his number given to another player is incredibly disappointing and feels like a failure to honor the significance of what Jayden accomplished at LSU."

"Accordingly, LSU must immediately cease and desist from any further issue use, display, publication, distribution, promotion, commercialization, or other exploitation of Mr. Daniels' NIL in any manner or medium," Kenner wrote. "Any use of Mr. Daniels' NIL occurring after LSU's receipt of this notice will be deemed knowing and willful and will be pursued vigorously through all available legal and equitable remedies, without further notice."

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