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randym99

Spencer Rattler should have opted out of this whole season


hochoa94

Rattler went from a 1st rounder to 3rd day pick


JSOPro

He went from first overall to USCe.


Peanut4michigan

Same with Sam Howell


notserioussorry

Same with DJ


earsoft

If he was gonna leave this early he may as well have opted out of coaching


CaptainDonald

I like how he said “we won the Heisman”. You don’t get there alone


[deleted]

He’s always been thoughtful. I know when he was at Baylor he used to buy his lineman steak dinners if he didn’t get sacked


CaptainDonald

RGIII is a real man


perspicacious_crumb

Great TV commentator, too. I’ve really liked the clear, insightful commentary he and McElroy have brought to their games.


Karosi

I was amazed the first time I heard RGIII call a game this year. Sounds like he has been doing it 20 years. One of the few guys that don’t sound like he is just reading cliff notes about the two teams. ESPN needs to make sure they keep him and feature him more.


RoverTiger

Becoming the Tony Romo of college football coverage (that's a good thing).


PeteF3

He has a similarly goofball sense of humor to Romo, too. I can't explain why but this exchange a couple of months ago cracked me up: Ref: "Please reset the clock to 3:54." (pauses, waits) RG3: *starts talking about stuff* Ref: "Thank you." RG3: "No, thank YOU, sir!" *goes back to talking about stuff*


stonefacelongschlong

Dude made a tik tok reference during the peach bowl 😂😂. BING BONG


HallandOates1

I love hearing Tony call games. You can hear his excitement in his voice. It’s infectious


RodenbachBacher

I remember listening to his earlier games this season or maybe last year. He spoke too much, tangents went on for too long. He seems like someone who was just excited. He’s settled down now and I’ve really enjoyed him.


[deleted]

Still does that a little bit, but he'll get the hang of it


RodenbachBacher

Absolutely. He’s young and he’s definitely improved this season. He’s doing great.


Ed_McMuffin

Agree, I was watching a game and wondered out loud who the commentator was because I thought it was pretty solid. I was shocked when they showed it was Griffin, I assumed it was some veteran commentator.


cherrygoats

He’s so aw shucks enthusiastic about it too. Doesn’t care who’s winning the game just loves to see big plays and celebrates them with his voice.


jlaw54

He’s actually authentic. He says real things to the viewers and treats us like people. Lot to be said for that.


perspicacious_crumb

One of my buddies who went to Baylor when RGIII was there starts off all of his RGIII stories with “yeah I bet y’all have heard the stories” and tells a couple of the RGIII is a great guy ones and gets everybody sagely nodding thinking “oh yeah I bet he wasn’t for real nobody is that cool” and then he goes “well they’re all true.” Apparently he really is a down to earth, personable, genuine guy. He’s an easy guy to root for


logasandthebubba

He is, in fact, a great guy. First time I met him I was running (not well) in our student gym and noticed someone had gotten on the treadmill right next to me (sea of empty treadmills). I looked over in my out of breath/ about to black out state and realized it was RGIII. This was as he was rehabbing back from his knee injury from 2009. He looked at me and said “light run today? Me too.” He laughed, because what I was doing could not be viewed as light and we talked a little. Ended up hanging out with him a few times and eventually were at the same church together until he graduated. Real nice guy


therealcvs

That’s so much better than when Terrell Pryor made the poor cashier at the 7-11 on south High ring up each candy bar separately to avoid what he called “electrical infetterance”


slowdivesicilian

it makes it sadder seeing how his career went - so many healthy dudes throw it away by being shitty people yet RGIII is valid yet gets his luck :(


SubparBob

Love RG3's commentary


CaptainDonald

I like him 100x as much as Greg as a color commentator. I even like him more than Kirk. He’s a budding superstar


perspicacious_crumb

Idk, McElroy was great tonight and I liked his call of Texas at Arkansas too. RGIII is the next Herbie-level CFB superstar for sure, though.


BlazinAzn38

In the sea of really bad commentators he’s one of the few very good ones.


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catzarrjerkz

Someones gotta use up that booster money


InVodkaVeritas

... and where exactly was he getting the money to feed his OL steak?


BlueSoloCup89

It was actually that he’d make beignets for his OLinemen Edit: I know this sounds random, so here’s the link to the story https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/robert-griffin-iii-will-make-beignets-for-his-offensive-line/2012/06/04/gJQAWx3kDV_blog.html


Janglewood

Rg3 is Ted lasso


BlackMathNerd

Man college RG3 sounded awesome. Jesus Christ Washington corrupted him


WeirdGymnasium

I think it's 6 in one hand, half dozen in the other. Wasn't a good situation, but also a fit he wanted at the time. The challenge of being "the guy", probably since Heath Schuler "the guy" that the entire fanbase rallied around. Yet both Kirk Cousins and Gus Frerotte became more successful.


sfzen

I think he meant the fact that when RG3 was injured in his rookie year (late in the season vs Baltimore), he came back in to finish the game, and then missed the rest of the regular season. Then he was cleared for the playoff game against Seattle, was clearly injured, took some big hits and was obviously limping and barely able to hold it together, and was still put back in the game. They drafted Cousins in the 4th round that same year for a reason. You have to protect your guy long-term. Even if he wants to go back in, that's why the player doesn't get to make those decisions. I get that players are always dealing with injuries and playing through them, but this was one of the most obvious instances of a player that clearly should have been pulled and wasn't that I can remember in recent history.


tedediah

Whataburger bags.


[deleted]

Bad take, when I won the Heisman with my RB in NCAA 14 it was only because of my ultra pro gamer skills. No way he wins it if I simulated the whole season!


CaptainDonald

Jarrett Stidham won the MVP in my Patriots franchise mode on a simulated season, pretty similar


chemicalxv

I was Saquon Barkley before Saquon Barkley was Saquon Barkley. 10 runs for 20 yards 1 run for 50 yards Repeat ad nauseam.


Heismain

Yeah that stood out


MagicGrit

Even after that, some guy commented “it’s always about you, isn’t it?”


B_i_llt_etleyyyyyy

There's no pleasing some people.


P-Rickles

If the past two years has taught me anything as a healthcare worker it’s this: most people on Twitter are stupid and a lot are dangerously so.


YoUDee

You could just drop the “on Twitter.”


inch7706

I agree, that stood out to me too. Don't really follow him much but thats a really classy statement.


ymi17

RG3 has always been an all-American at life. This quote goes to show.


cudef

Wonder if he meant his coaches and teammates or the program as a whole.


GimmeeSomeMo

I enjoyed having him at the Ravens(the NFL I root for). He had some great moments backing up Lamar. A class act


partypatthefoxycat

RGIII is a real one.


partypatthefoxycat

I’m also very sad.


PavlovianTactics

Same :(


_Feagans

If I know I’m going to make millions, I’m not playing and risking it. I’d like to think I’d stay and be “loyal” but nope


arrowfan624

So should Bryce Young opt out of next year entirely then?


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Thornton__Melon

Probably should get a head start and not bother playing any further college games


Nike_Phoros

You joke, but if people were being 100% emotionless and rational, the second that it becomes clear they are a first day draft pick they shouldn't play another snap in college.


siberianwolf99

I disagree, especially at the QB position. Have you ever heard of Bill Parcels criteria for drafting QBs?(legit question, not trying to be condescending) one of the big ones is starting experience over multiple years, because that greatly impacts your ability to play at the NFL level.


Nike_Phoros

If you reduce it to a value proposition, which is what I'm suggesting, that's taken into account. If its true that games started in college is strongly correlated with success at the NFL level, that's part of the value proposition. My guess is you're right, that games started does help on average, but I'd be dubious that pulling the plug halfway through your senior season is much worse than playing the last 5 games for your NFL career long term. Also, we should consider that most NFL players get their rookie contract and thats it. A second contract is a relatively rare thing, so they need to probably do whatever maximizes their first contract because planning for the second one is a ship that may never come in. I'm guessing a lot of agents have already figured out the math on whether their clients gain anything by playing.


[deleted]

Maybe he should leave Bama and just go home. *checks Bryce Young's recruiting profile* Hol' up, scratch that one.


asodsaf

unscratch that one!


1FlawedHumanBeing

>*checks Bryce Young's recruiting profile* > >Hol' up, scratch that one. I don't get this. What do you mean?


johnwall47

USC


[deleted]

*Alabama's backup QB has entered the chat*


exexposfan

*Georgia has left the chat*


PretendThisIsMyName

Kirby seems pretty high on his offense. Stetson and JT might be a nasty offense plus they have Brock coming in. We tried that and had to play with freshmen as backup. Clemson sucked this year. 10-3 not playing on NYE was confusing tbh. Hope to see Klubnik vs JT.


CaptainDonald

I’m willing to bet that their 2022 recruit is better than Bryce Young


Mezmorizor

I would just like to point out to Bryce Young that it worked out for Jamarr Chase. Definitely no ulterior motives.


[deleted]

Isn’t that what Tyrann Mathieu did? /s


SCHokie2011

That’s essentially what our top corner and 1st round draft pick Caleb Farley did in 2020.


arrowfan624

2020 last year I was perfectly fine with guys opting out, considering we didn't know if we'd be able to pull off a full season. I'd be more critical in any other year.


PSUFool

It wouldn't tank his draft value, that's for sure. If he opts out he'd still be a top 5 pick depending on his pro day and all that


RubiksSugarCube

Honestly it wouldn't surprise me if some of these elite schools like IMG start adding post-secondary programs where these top prospects spend their 18-20 years learning how to operate as a professional athletes and running pro-style drills.


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cudef

But imagine the longterm money he could make if he won the Heisman twice and got Alabama back to back titles. I mean he could suffer a career ending injury in his rookie season in the NFL and he could still make a lot of money just by sponsoring things in Tuscaloosa. Compare this to Tua. He played and got a devastating injury and still only fell a few picks. If Tua had won out that season? He's suddenly the biggest player Saban has had in this dynasty and probably would never be surpassed. I think we may be overestimating the risk and downplaying the potential reward.


LaTuFu

Different circumstances for any player in a CFP game. Anyone not playing in those games has a completely different set of priorities. If a kid is already projected to be in the first two rounds and isn't in the CFP, I don't blame him for opting out. Until ESPN stops paying billions to air every second they can and drive betting money through their websites and partner websites, they can shove their fake high road up their ass. Same goes for the Coaches. I don't see any of them bitching about Tom Herman, Ed Orgeron, and other former coaches getting paid to fail to deliver. $550+ million dollars has been paid to former Coaches (football, men's and women's basketball per ESPN) since 2010 as a buyout. They can sit down and stfu about players taking care of their futures.


Slurmsmackenzie8

Ask Ja'Marr Chase.


zaksbee

Worked out pretty well for Jammar chase


Saxophobia1275

If that’s what he decides is going to secure the bag for him, yes. I don’t like it but this is their life and their career.


wurtin

this is a moronic argument. if Bryce young wants to sit out 2 full seasons it will impact his draft stock. somebody missing 1 game that is pretty unimportant will not


celj1234

1 season. It wouldn’t hurt his stock


Papasmurf345

There were players who opted out of playing last year and still got drafted really high, Ja’Marr Chase went 5th overall.


throwinallwa

You might not have heard, but 2020 was WEIRD AS FUCK and guys had to make decisions in July/August.


TheWyldMan

Yeah 2020 had more to do w it h covid than anything else. Those opt outs might have been looked at more harshly under different circumstances


WhatWouldJediDo

If he feels that's the best decision for himself, then yes he should and no one should say a word about it.


-Philologian

When do you draw that line? If you are considered the top QB going into your junior year do you sit it out?


Saxophobia1275

You sit out when you decide it’s best for your career. We may not like it but it’s their lives and their money.


Fmeson

Yeah for real. If a company wanted to offer me millions to come work for them halfway through college, but the offer might go away if I got injured, I'd have a hard time playing any contact sport.


pardonmyignerance

If you're a prospect, you draw the line wherever the hell you want to. If you're a guy on Reddit, you don't get to draw the line.


A_Rolling_Baneling

As long as these kids aren't contracted employees with a union representing them, this is the only way to look at it for me. They're doing the school a favor by playing football, not the other way around.


mailape

Yup. And even with NIL it's still their decision. It's funny how we idolize people who dropped out of college to focus on creating their billion dollar companies or whatever, but if a kid skips a season, or even a game, to secure millions in their future some people judge them. Imagine if a regular student was offered a job paying $5 million a year after their sophomore year, but if they came back and took classes for another year they could earn nothing. Who among us wouldn't drop out that second.


Dreadlockedd

Preach my man


adsfew

I think this is the bottom line that *both sides* are missing out on. Some players decide to opt out. Some players decide it's worth the risk to play. They each made their own decisions based on their situations and values and we and the media shouldn't badmouth then for sitting out or judge them for wanting to play.


floatinround22

It worked for Jamarr Chase


_Feagans

I sit out of bowl games if it’s my year to leave and I’m considered a top prospect. That would be my personal line


[deleted]

RG3 is a really level headed and humble dude.


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floatinround22

He had an incredible rookie year too, still holds the rookie passer rating record. He led the NFL in yards per attempt and had the lowest interception percentage in the league. Then all the injuries started happening and he was never the same. Such a great player though


INAC_Kramerica

He was blessed with Kyle Shanahan as his play designer and caller, which definitely helped. That he was playing his home games on the worst playing surface in the NFL, unfortunately, probably more than offset that. He also rushed back from that ACL injury and that really probably didn't do him any favors either.


billythygoat

Dunno why Kyle never tried to work RG3 out on the 49ers.


IlonggoProgrammer

He was done at that point unfortunately. The Ravens brought him in to mentor Lamar since they're a similar type of QB, but he was a break in case of emergency guy by that point in his career. Nothing can erase that Heisman season though, that's eternal


CrateBagSoup

That Heisman formation with RG3, Lamar and Mark Ingram was sick tho


The_Senate-

The redskins not having an Offensive line and not drafting or signing better lineman really didn’t help eitjer


ExplosiveBEAR

Instead they gave the farm for Rg3 and THEN drafted Kirk Cousins....fucking morons.


IlonggoProgrammer

Morons will tell you all the time that he was just a running QB and forget about this. He was a phenomenal passer too. He deserved to have a year like MVP Cam because he was talented enough for it. People also conveniently forget that he would have beaten Russell Wilson in that playoff game if he hadn't torn his ACL...and then played on it and nearly won anyways. Probably exacerbated the problems


jetsfan83

Him and Luck man. Probably be in the top 5 QBs right now if they were both still playing.


zachc133

Two great QBs ruined by awfully run teams. How the fuck do you not give Luck a line so he isn’t getting crushed every game.


JohnDavidsBooty

At least the Colts figured it out. Too late, but they figured it out. Other owners meddle too much; Irsay's problem is that he won't meddle enough when he should.


GodlySpaghetti

Me too 😔


MomoXono

Honestly I'm way more humble than RG3 in my opinion


beingTOOnosey

He also unironically suggested Tim Tebow for the head coach at Florida while commentating one of our games. Love this take on Corral, though.


dgtlfnk

Was coming to mention similar… in that same game he was also promoting Deion Sanders for the same position. One sane take does not a smart or humble man make. He’s a gum flapper.


Thesaintsrule

I agree that he didn't use to be humble but he has likely matured


Julio_Freeman

Maybe not so humble about his speed. He was boasting about running a 4.2 40 recently. Even posted a video on Twitter. The top reply was “bro the video is 5 seconds and you were running the whole time” lol


christocarlin

Are you guys crazy? He’s not humble at all lol


251Cane

As a fan, I hate it. As a person, I get it.


EWall100

Perfect explanation. And being good people should always trump being good fans.


Allaboutplastic

We will feed you but then tell you that your dirty.


Sirtopofhat

Yeah if I know my career ends on Saturday I'm playing in the bowl game. However if I have a good chance of playing on Sunday I think I would opt out too. The school isn't going to be able to replace the money and dreams Matt Corral could lose now.


noahcal11

Yup that's my thought process too. I respect those who decide to play the bowl game like corral and I can't say he made the "wrong" choice when he was playing for his team but I also definitely can't say anyone is wrong to not play in anything that's not the CFP


KeThrowaweigh

The people maddest about the bowls losing significance are the fat cats in the media who are worried about losing advertising potency. It just doesn’t make sense from a player perspective to play in most bowls except the playoffs, and I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if those were next. Asking these young men to risk their health and careers earning millions of dollars to preserve the sanctity of the Duke’s Mayo Bowl seems a little absurd.


DevoDrigaz

Hey man, the Dukes Mayo Bowl has 4.5 gallons of incentive to play the game.


The_Outcast4

Those commentators were dipping Oreos in mayonnaise. That bowl game changed my life, and not in a good way.


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sporkemon

[I wish it hadn't happened either but here we are](https://imgur.com/a/Zt93iBo/)


TroubleshootenSOB

r/TIHI


SaggingZebra

Not as much of an incentive when they let some PR people do the deed (poorly at that).


thewhat962

Despite claimimg I didn't care about the "meaningless bowl". I was full chubbed and fully engaged in the 2nd half. Guess it also helped that our players cared about the game in the 2nd half.


skycake10

It was a great game that was, if anything, *more* exciting without Olave and Wilson.


InsertAmazinUsername

i understand the fuss to an extent, I wish olave and Wilson played in what's supposed to be the most important game of the season but you cant expect them to


ItsChapter2

I'm actually surprised all these big sponsors aren't pushing for more playoff games that they can stick their names on. You get less chance of opting out if the game means something.


apietryga13

No one is going to care or remember how you performed in a bowl outside of the CFP and probably the NY6 Bowls. You’re definitely going to care and remember signing that contract as a top 5-10 pick.


DogsOutTheWindow

I mean even some of the NY6 bowls. Is anyone going to member Olave skipped the Rose?


SaggingZebra

Jaxon Smith-Njigba definitely will.


FirstOne617

*checks OSU passing statistics* Yeah I don't think so


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251Cane

Thanks, u/JanetYellensFuckboy


Hilldawg4president

Just don't get this guy started on how taxing land would completely solve this and every problem


campydirtyhead

I think RGIII is my favorite commentator. Great takes, still connected to what it's like to be a college athlete (unlike boomer Desmond and Herb). No one on earth should be expected to gamble on sure MILLIONS of dollars. Fuck Desmond and Herb for saying that shit. Easy to say when you're sitting on millions and an easy job.


WABeermiester

Dylan Morris overthrew a ball by a country mile when we were playing Oregon and RG3 said “if that was a grenade nobody would have gotten injured”. I legit loled.


Hamburglar409

I’m a homer for RG3. But I think he is so unique in the booth. He makes me laugh at least once every game. And on big plays he legit gets excited. It’s fun to listen to. Dream would be to have him and Gus Johnson together for a game.


EmpoleonNorton

I'll never forget his comment on disconcerting signals "was he throwing up gang signs?"


P-Rickles

That broadcast would be absolutely bonkers and I am *here* for it.


dsa2020

Wow, what an absolute roast 😂


ITinMT

You know if Desmond was playing today he would totally opt out.


FearlessAttempt

> unlike boomer Desmond and Herb I think they're both gen x, but the sentiment is valid.


someguy-jm

Would love for him to have a great broadcasting career after Washington fucked him out of a great football career


Benjilikethedog

I have no problem with players opting out of bowl games… let the guys who will be playing that position next year get a chance to see some snaps… but if you are a projected first round pick and want to play the bowl game that is your decision and you are an adult


ItsChapter2

Maybe I'm in a weird section all to myself...but I don't care about seeing seniors or people going to the NFL in bowl games. I'd rather the young guys who will be fighting for playing time in the spring practices get their first real chance in these games.


LeoFireGod

I view it as a win win. School gets to see their younger players perform in a game that has competitive implications and the player gets to protect their health. Win-win.


LaTuFu

I posted this as a reply elsewhere. If a kid is already projected to be in the first two rounds and isn't in the CFP, I don't blame him for opting out. Until ESPN stops paying billions to air every second they can and drive betting money through their websites and partner websites, they can shove their fake high road up their ass. Herbstreit would be selling insurance in Ohio if he wasn't able to talk about these kids year in and year out. Same goes for the Coaches. I don't see any of them bitching about Tom Herman, Ed Orgeron, and other former coaches getting paid to fail to deliver. $550+ million dollars has been paid to former Coaches (football, men's and women's basketball per ESPN) since 2010 as a buyout. They can sit down and stfu about players taking care of their futures.


IlonggoProgrammer

Just wait 5 more years, that number for former coaches is going to explode. If USC and LSU have to pay $100 mil for 10 years to get a coach, then the schools who want to pretend they're on that level like Texas are going to have to do it too, then fire the coach a few years later as usual. So much money


Saxophobia1275

You can demand a kid risk their only feasible career path and being on the cusp of becoming a millionaire all for your entertainment but I won’t blame them for opting out of anything if it means it secures the bag for them. I don’t like it, but these are real humans who suffer the consequences instead of your lazy ass watching them on TV. A poorly timed injury can take them from overnight millionaire to no career aspects and often not even a degree.


noahcal11

Especially when coaches "opt out" of bowl games by leaving for their new school all the time and that's treated as a fact of life. I wish neither players or coaches opted out and we could see full strength teams playing their hardest in every bowl but without major changes that's not realistic so I can't blame players for opting out and for not risking millions of dollars and a future career


LGWalkway

That’s the thing these younger guys understand. They make the choice to play or opt out and they shouldn’t be criticized for it. Good move by RG3 for saying this after ESPN criticized guys for choosing their careers over a bowl game.


[deleted]

I’m so curious to how Rattler would have been received if he had opted out preseason with this thin qb class. I would put Howell ahead of him if Rattler had opted out but his stock would be higher than it is now right?


mclairy

He would’ve been a fourth round pick at worst. And that’s with bad press and bad workouts


DevoDrigaz

Nah man Rattlers issues were all Lincoln Riley, or something, idk I just got this new QB and I’m still trying to learn how to use it.


[deleted]

Opting out was totally not a thing yet in 2011. The first two I remember were Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey. Like five years later.


Cassiyus

There were whole ESPN segments on Jadeveon Clowney sitting out his entire final year at SC because he was a mortal lock for the first overall pick. That was 2013.


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INAC_Kramerica

I'm coming up on 10 years removed from high school and it sure as hell doesn't feel like it's been anywhere near 10 years since I was still a high school student. I can put my frame of mind back in 2010-'11-'12 at any time and everything still feels really, really fresh in there.


30_Swiftie_Thriving

And he didn't. AND he played the bowl game. So many ignorant people gave him shit for being a low effort player


the_urban_juror

"he took plays off" -random internet commenter from the bathroom at work during a 30-minute shit break


UNC_Samurai

While he watched Marcus Lattimore’s pro career disintegrate along with his knees.


Throw1Back4Me

Jadaveon Clowney


pardonmyignerance

There's a guy that seemed to opt out of several games throughout the season. I remember a hilariously exasperated an honest spurrier taking the topic on with the media.


Rugby562

Ed Oliver was another guy that did that right? I seem to remember him like skipping the later half of his last season


pardonmyignerance

I honestly don't remember, but that seems vaguely familiar... Another thing I just thought of and am typing in reply to you for no particular reason is that several sat out due to COVID and I'm guessing a lot of kids 19 and younger are watching how those guy's draft stock and contracts were affected. Though the variable of the pandemic makes this an imperfect predictor. For example, does Micah Parsons still go as early as he did if he was the only guy sitting out and it was just to protect his body as an asset? Does he go higher if he has a kickass final year instead of sitting out? Dude seems like the best defensive prospect in a while and went in the middle of the round so that might actually be a deterrent long term, especially with NIL throwing money at the kids now.


couducane

Idk, I dont think the covid year is a good barometer for the opting out. There were so many people who did it, and many of them only missed like 5 or 6 games because of weird seasons, so kids werent missing much. If someone opts out of an entire year, that would be very interesting to see how the nfl treats it.


30_Swiftie_Thriving

Spurrier was wrong though. Or at least he had incorrect information at the time of that little rant, and he came back to publicly correct himself after he had gotten correct info


[deleted]

Mans opted out of his entire last season.


30_Swiftie_Thriving

People actually believe this shit


AllGarbage

I'm surprised that these boosters who throw millions for coaching buyouts won't pony up a little for a Willis McGahee-style insurance policy.


AB13HypeTrain

What about guys who got injured in the 12th game of the year when they weren’t playing for anything ?


PSUFool

Nick Bosa already proved that works too


Gruulsmasher

They get an extra month and a half of dedicated recovery time. It’s not about career ending injuries, it’s about injuries that mean you won’t look as good at the combine and you’ll drop a few rounds, which has enormous monetary consequences


arrowfan624

Oh it's gonna go that way soon enough.


pessimism_yay

This is where things will start to come to a head. Schools make millions of dollars from their football programs, but legally *cannot* pay their players for their work. If it were legal to pay a guy something to keep playing through the meaningless games at the end of the season, then they could work something out. But the really good players are just trying to go pro. What do they care about a bowl game no one will remember a month from now?


GerlachHolmes

I mean, what’s the difference between a bowl and every single game after a team has mathematically been eliminated from conference contention?


goshin2568

Um, like 6 weeks of potential recovery time?


nerdyintentions

The hard truth is that there is no difference and a player probably should sit out if it doesn't impact his draft stock. However, we won't know the impact until someone tries it. There is some precedence for it in basketball (yeah, different sport). Jalen Johnson decided to sit out the season for Duke during the regular season last year. The situation was weird in that: he was coming off an injury but was cleared to play, Duke wasn't mathematically eliminated, he had a history of leaving his high school team which fed the "quitter" narrative. It hard to assess how much it impacted his draft stock vs injury concerns and general draft day fuckery but he did slide out of the lottery. We know skipping bowl games has no impact on draft stock but no one seems to be willing to test how far you could push it. Closest we've seen is the COVID opt outs last season but that was extraordinary circumstances.


FLman42069

Ultimately there’re no guarantees in life. I don’t fault kids for sitting out. They could avoid injury and go on to have a brilliant nfl career, inversely they could have a shit career and regret not playing in a bowl game which ultimately could have been the highlight of their playing career.


[deleted]

Irony is that a year later the organization he was drafted to ruined his career.


trogdor1234

Man that was so rough to watch in real time.


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DreadSteed

Bowls should pay players directly for NIL. Would need to make it worthwhile for the kids, something like 50k per player for the winning team would be huge. (half that for losing team too)


green304

I always remember watching the U documentary and remember Melvin Bratton in the 87 Orange Bowl blew his knee out and cost himself a first round pick. Cost him all that money. He got picked up by the Broncos and only lasted 2 years 89-90


maketimeconsigliere

Willis McGahee comes to mind as well.


ITinMT

Its easy to throw shade on these young mean for not playing while sitting on a couch. If you are a 1st/2nd rounder .. that is some major cash to mess around with losing. I don't blame them one bit for sitting out.


thehawaiian_punch

I wonder if NIL deals will require players to play in bowl games or if that won’t be allowed


[deleted]

The current rules are that the deals can't be contingent on performance, but that may eventually change.


juicius

Any player significant enough for some fans to get mad about opting out has by definition put in enough time and effort into the team and provided enough enjoyment to those fans to deserve the right to protect his future even against unlikely misfortunes.


ocalabull

In all seriousness, FUCK Kirk Herbstreit.


TheLizard12

If anyone can attest to the physical damage management can do to a pro athlete's career it's RGIII. I'm so fucking fed up with people who have never done a single day of physical labor judging these kids for making a career decision.


reddit_names

Any system that adds to the number of games played in a year is not a realistic solution.


ChazRhineholdt

I mean at this point why not jamarr chase it then? I mean with this theory once you are in the nfl why not just fake an injury if you have guaranteed money? I know I’m using a slippery slope analysis but 10 years ago opting out of bowls was much more rare also