40 minutes ago, The Blackfish said:

 Totally different circumstances, they could find out they have cancer tomorrow, or get shot at a grocery store. Playing football is detrimental to your health as an occupation, and putting yourself in an unnecessary situation just before you’re going to be paid millions is stupid, and not smart business. It’s not unusual for Pro Athletes to sign contracts that won’t let them ski, water or snow, skydive, skateboard, ride motorcycles, etc, because of an injury risk, getting hit by a bus is completely different from blowing out your knee in a football game, the differences are obvious. 
 It’s hypocritical to want someone you don’t know, or care about to play in a meaningless game and not care about the consequences because it doesn’t make a difference in your life whatsoever, unless of course you are willing to subsidize their families bills, plus add on a few million for lost wages. 
 If NFL GM’s come around to your thinking, absolutely, play every game, but I can guarantee you a number of GM’s were thrilled both Ohio St WR’s decided not to play, same for Kyle Hamilton.  On the other side there are a few GM’s praying Matt Corral doesn’t get injured tonight. 
 Here is some estimated salaries for 1st round draft picks, and what it cost Jaylon Smith by playing in a meaningless game.   

 I’ll let Smith know you and few other are willing to compensate him for lost wages, will you will using Venmo?   I have to get RTK’s info as well. 

That’s cute.
 

So why play any games? Ohio State has 5 star freshman playing right now who’ll be draft eligible in 2 years. Can I give them your information so you can enroll in classes for them since you know all of them and their families. But, aren’t teams family too?

 

Btw, was it Henry Ruggs who came back and played in title game last year off surgery when he clearly wasn’t healthy. Didn’t hurt his draft stock. Willis McGahee? Anyway that wasn’t the point. 

 

 

 utah game is crazy

5 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

That’s cute.
 

So why play any games? Ohio State has 5 star freshman playing right now who’ll be draft eligible in 2 years. Can I give them your information so you can enroll in classes for them since you know all of them and their families. But, aren’t teams family too?

 

Btw, was it Henry Ruggs who came back and played in title game last year off surgery when he clearly wasn’t healthy. Didn’t hurt his draft stock. Willis McGahee? Anyway that wasn’t the point. 

 

 

Was the guy on Miami, Waddle 

19 minutes ago, olsilverhair said:

17 was a great song, winger

"Great” song? Ooofff … kind of a loose term there. Lol. 

 

Just now, Shakenbake36 said:

Was the guy on Miami, Waddle 

My mistake … you’re right. 

7 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

It's not a meaningless game.  It's a bowl game.  Biggest bowl game he has been in during his 4 year college career.  

You mean like Jamie Newman being the MVP of the Birmingham Bowl in 2018, and that’s why Howie gave him a week in TC, or was it him playing in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2019 that forced Howie to pick him up as a UDFA, because the rest of the NFL didn’t seem to care. 
 I won’t argue that it’s the nice thing to do, play in the Peach\Chic-Fil-A bowl for Pitt, they did let him start 4 years, plus him saying his decision was partially based on his OC leaving early to go coach Nebraska, I won’t lie it’s not a great look.  The kid was a 4th -5th round pick last season, by staying he made himself a 1st Rounder, setting his family up for generations to never worry about struggling in life.  It was a business decision, he’s going to a sport with the worst union in pro sports where contracts are like the bowl game he missed, meaningless. 

5 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

It's a red flag.  He isn't risking further serious injury to something he already has.  He is abandoning his teammates for purely selfish reasons.  

If it’s a red flag, why don’t NFL GM’s punish players for opting out of bowl games? Why is it ok for NFL teams to bench starters at the end of a season?    Should every starter but Hurts get a break? 

 wow utah

I've mentioned a bunch of times how much I love the aesthetics of the game of football.  One of my favorite things is about to happen.  The 2nd half of the Rose Bowl.  The sunset, the stadium and field are just perfect.

8 minutes ago, The Blackfish said:

You mean like Jamie Newman being the MVP of the Birmingham Bowl in 2018, and that’s why Howie gave him a week in TC, or was it him playing in the Pinstripe Bowl in 2019 that forced Howie to pick him up as a UDFA, because the rest of the NFL didn’t seem to care. 
 I won’t argue that it’s the nice thing to do, play in the Peach\Chic-Fil-A bowl for Pitt, they did let him start 4 years, plus him saying his decision was partially based on his OC leaving early to go coach Nebraska, I won’t lie it’s not a great look.  The kid was a 4th -5th round pick last season, by staying he made himself a 1st Rounder, setting his family up for generations to never worry about struggling in life.  It was a business decision, he’s going to a sport with the worst union in pro sports where contracts are like the bowl game he missed, meaningless. 

If it’s a red flag, why don’t NFL GM’s punish players for opting out of bowl games? Why is it ok for NFL teams to bench starters at the end of a season?    Should every starter but Hurts get a break? 

 

 

"Why don’t NFL GM’s punish players for opting out of bowl games?"

What does this even mean?  It will be docked as a negative in his draft evaluation by GMs.  

 

 

"Why is it ok for NFL teams to bench starters at the end of a season?"

Because either they have the playoffs coming up the next week or it  truly is a meaningless end of season game with the team out of the playoffs.  

15 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

That’s cute.
 

So why play any games? Ohio State has 5 star freshman playing right now who’ll be draft eligible in 2 years. Can I give them your information so you can enroll in classes for them since you know all of them and their families. But, aren’t teams family too?

 

Btw, was it Henry Ruggs who came back and played in title game last year off surgery when he clearly wasn’t healthy. Didn’t hurt his draft stock. Willis McGahee? Anyway that wasn’t the point. 

 

 

 What does enrolling in classes have to with missing a one meaningless game?  
 So and you and RTK both hate it when NFL teams bench starters at the ends of seasons, that’s fair, if you feel guys should always play no matter what, so be it.   Like most of the NFL I think it’s good idea to rest players and make sure they’re healthy and ready to go for the playoffs, as you said, why, "they could get hit by a bus tomorrow”, just different philosophies and I agree with the NFL. 

Just now, RememberTheKoy said:

 

 

"Why don’t NFL GM’s punish players for opting out of bowl games?"

 

What does this even mean?  It be docked as a negative in his draft evaluation by GMs.  

 

 

"Why is it ok for NFL teams to bench starters at the end of a season?"

 

Because either they have the playoffs coming up the next week or it  truly is a meaningless end of season game with the team out of the playoffs.  

 But not the QB right?  He has too play no matter how meaningless?  Sounds good to me!!

Just now, The Blackfish said:

 But not the QB right?  He has too play no matter how meaningless?  Sounds good to me!!

 

It's not a meaningless game though.  It's the biggest bowl game of his college career.  I bet you that game wasn't meaningless to all of his teammates .  

9 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

It's not a meaningless game though.  It's the biggest bowl game of his college career.  I bet you that game wasn't meaningless to all of his teammates .  

 All of his teammates are so happy for him possibly being the 1st or 2nd QB taken off the board and the attention he brought to the team this season only boosting their profiles I guess they forgot to mention how disappointed they were.  
  I can’t wait to see all the GM’s passing on him, while they allow head coaches to bench starters in a game fans paid full price to watch, of course you’ll be mad cause no game is truly meaningless, unless you decide it is.

 

13 minutes ago, The Blackfish said:

 What does enrolling in classes have to with missing a one meaningless game?  
 So and you and RTK both hate it when NFL teams bench starters at the ends of seasons, that’s fair, if you feel guys should always play no matter what, so be it.   Like most of the NFL I think it’s good idea to rest players and make sure they’re healthy and ready to go for the playoffs, as you said, why, "they could get hit by a bus tomorrow”, just different philosophies and I agree with the NFL. 

What does me paying Kyle F’ing Hamilton’s family have to do with it. You brought up that ridiculousness. While I don’t disagree that some GM’s probably don’t care Pickett didn’t play, I’d guess some probably would’ve liked to see him play a good opponent and I’ll bet some of his teammates weren’t overly enthused he quit/“opted out”.

And I’m not sure why you keep saying meaningless game. Is it meaningless to the teams playing? 
There’s about 8-10 teams with the chance of making the college playoff system, with your philosophy all those games are meaningless.

 

I get why players do it. I just don’t agree with it. 

6 hours ago, justrelax said:

You don’t see the bend? SMH.🤦‍♂️

Man I’m real bummed out that I don’t have your approval. 

41 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

It's a red flag.  He isn't risking further serious injury to something he already has.  He is abandoning his teammates for purely selfish reasons.  

His decision potentially affects his whole life. Easy for you to make his decision as you suffer no consequences.

You tough guys wear me out.

3 minutes ago, Shakenbake36 said:

Man I’m real bummed out that I don’t have your approval. 

You’ll survive.

I just noticed that The Rose Bowl is only showing on the ESPN stations.  It's not on ABC.  I know they are the same company but seems strange that you have to have cable to watch the game.  

5 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

What does me paying Kyle F’ing Hamilton’s family have to do with it. You brought up that ridiculousness. While I don’t disagree that some GM’s probably don’t care Pickett didn’t play, I’d guess some probably would’ve liked to see him play a good opponent and I’ll bet some of his teammates weren’t overly enthused he quit/“opted out”.

And I’m not sure why you keep saying meaningless game. Is it meaningless to the teams playing? 
There’s about 8-10 teams with the chance of making the college playoff system, with your philosophy all those games are meaningless.

 

I get why players do it. I just don’t agree with it. 

Those games are far from meaningless to the schools... they are cash cows that fuel the entire machine of D1 NCAA Football.   The real question is, if the top players continually opt out of these games, what will happen to that structure, and what is the fall out?   

 

2 minutes ago, Casey @ Bat said:

What does me paying Kyle F’ing Hamilton’s family have to do with it. You brought up that ridiculousness. While I don’t disagree that some GM’s probably don’t care Pickett didn’t play, I’d guess some probably would’ve liked to see him play a good opponent and I’ll bet some of his teammates weren’t overly enthused he quit/“opted out”.

And I’m not sure why you keep saying meaningless game. Is it meaningless to the teams playing? 
There’s about 8-10 teams with the chance of making the college playoff system, with your philosophy all those games are meaningless.

 

I get why players do it. I just don’t agree with it. 

So do I, but I do to a point.  If Ridder pulled out of the playoff game vs Alabama, that’s sheety because a National Title is on the line, I don’t get the WR’s pulling out of the Rose Bowl from Ohio St, it’s meaningless Championship wise but it’s the Rose Bowl, and while no GM’s will care, you would think playing in that bowl, although meaningless would mean a little something, it’s big time to their QB.  
 In 3 weeks who’s gonna remember the Peach Bowl, lol, no one.  It’s not the Cotton, Rose, Sugar, or even the Orange Bowl, no gives a crap about it, which is why it wasn’t worth Pickett  playing.    There have never been kids in any backyard playing football saying " my dream is to one day play in the Peach Bowl”. 

12 minutes ago, The Blackfish said:

 All of his teammates are so happy for him possibly being the 1st or 2nd QB taken off the board and the attention he brought to the team this season only boosting their profiles I guess they forgot to mention how disappointed they were.  
  I can’t wait to see all the GM’s passing on him, while they allow head coaches to bench starters in a game fans paid full price to watch, of course you’ll be mad cause no game is truly meaningless, unless you decide it is.

 

 

Yeah dude, I'm sure his teammates were thrilled for their QB to turn on them and bail on the bowl game.  I'm sure the other seniors were really happy too to for him to bail on them in the biggest bowl game of their college careers as well.  Many of which the final football game they will ever play.  

 

You keep trying to make this comparison to head coaches benching starters when it isn't even close to being something that can be compared.  

5 minutes ago, justrelax said:

His decision potentially affects his whole life. Easy for you to make his decision as you suffer no consequences.

The big question I wonder about is what is the future fall out of the top players choosing to opt out... what happens to viewership, etc.  Do the sponsors still drop the same amount of money on the bowl games if the top players aren't there, or coaches don't participate because they've already moved on to a different school?  

 

I wonder what the Bowl season ends up looking like in 10 or 20 years.   Its already drastically different from what it was just 20, or even just 10 years ago.  And I'll happily say that I will sound like an old fart in saying... I miss the college football scene of yesteryear.  The Rose Bowl always being between Pac-10 and Big-10 Champs, etc.  

10 minutes ago, justrelax said:

His decision potentially affects his whole life. Easy for you to make his decision as you suffer no consequences.

You tough guys wear me out.

 

He simply does not display the qualities of a guy who loves the game, loves his teammates and has great leadership skills and those are all things you want with any top draft pick, especially one at the QB position.  You look at QBs who bust and they are all failures in those categories.  

7 minutes ago, RememberTheKoy said:

 

He simply does not display the qualities of a guy who loves the game, loves his teammates and has great leadership skills and those are all things you want with any top draft pick, especially one at the QB position.  You look at QBs who bust and they are all failures in those categories.  

Let’s say he is drafted by the Panthers.  I am sure Christian McCaffery, who skipped his last bowl game, won’t give a flying F about it.

12 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Those games are far from meaningless to the schools... they are cash cows that fuel the entire machine of D1 NCAA Football.   The real question is, if the top players continually opt out of these games, what will happen to that structure, and what is the fall out?   

 

Agreed and with players having the ability to make money now you’ll see more and more opt outs. 

4 minutes ago, The Blackfish said:

So do I, but I do to a point.  If Ridder pulled out of the playoff game vs Alabama, that’s sheety because a National Title is on the line, I don’t get the WR’s pulling out of the Rose Bowl from Ohio St, it’s meaningless Championship wise but it’s the Rose Bowl, and while no GM’s will care, you would think playing in that bowl, although meaningless would mean a little something, it’s big time to their QB.  
 In 3 weeks who’s gonna remember the Peach Bowl, lol, no one.  It’s not the Cotton, Rose, Sugar, or even the Orange Bowl, no gives a crap about it, which is why it wasn’t worth Pickett  playing.    There have never been kids in any backyard playing football saying " my dream is to one day play in the Peach Bowl”. 

Who is to say which bowl game is meaningless if any of them are?  Why is the National Title game more meaningful than the Pinstripe Bowl?  If a player is injured in the title game, will it heal better, faster, more completely because it was a 'meaningful' game?    Nah, same risk, and frankly, the same reward for the player.  Chance to lose out on millions of earnings... 

 

You either play for the love of the game, or you don't.  

3 minutes ago, downundermike said:

Let’s say he is drafted by the Panthers.  I am sure Christian McCaffery, who skipped his last bowl game, won’t give a flying F about it.

 

Yeah that's probably accurate.  Birds of a feather.  McCaffery signed his big new deal and then immediately has fallen off of a cliff.  

 

But it's more long term than that.  It's a red flag to show as a player and a person Pickett lacks the necessary leadership qualities, the actual love for the game and is beloved and respected by his teammates.  A QB like that isn't going to become a franchise guy.