College Football Daily weighs in on the issue.
To him it wasn’t. It was in fact meaningful. I’d also say it’s more likely that outing out as QB could be hurtful to a draft stock bring conducted the ultimate least of a football team vs. a skill player. Though that’s just a theory.
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The player didn’t write the headline.
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Exactly, my point is that the bowls are not meaningless to the kids and coaches involved. Look at the way the Birmingham Bowl Trophy is being taken all over Houston for pictures.
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Maybe not the best example. Bias ODed–didn’t suffer a career ending injury in a game or practice.
No, the point is to take nothing for granted. Because you never know when or where everything could come to an end.
By all accounts, Bias was a good kid. He made one mistake with his friends, celebrating being the #2 player in the draft, and he paid dearly.
One of the more famous incidents of a “Stud” College player being injured in a Bowl Game involves Jaylon Smith of Notre Dame who destroyed one of his knees in a Fiesta Bowl. He was a projected First Round pick.
At present Jaylon has earned nearly $40 million playing in The NFL and apparently will earn $millions more due to his 2020 Cowboys contract.
Jaylon appears to be the Poster Boy for suffering a career-ending injury.
Except that he didn’t.
The Ole Miss QB has an ankle sprain. He might limp his way to The NFL draft.
Next up will be data concerning risks of automobile accidents driving RT Houston-Birmingham.
Should be interesting. I soon will post it.
Forbes estimates that Smith lost upwards of nearly $20M because of that injury. So he could’ve earned 50% more of what he’s earned to date. That’s not chump change.
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Honestly … not being in their shoes at this time, I can’t say. The $$$ in professional sports today vs my playing days makes that comparison impossible. What I can honestly say is, forty years ago in virtually the same situation … I chose to proudly represent my school and my country and felt honored and blessed to have that opportunity. There was absolutely zero consideration of any impact of playing at the next level. But then again … its apples and oranges. A sports injury that occurred my junior year was one of the best things that ever happened in my life. At the time it was thought this closed the door to any professional aspirations … it didn’t. What the injury did do was open my eyes and doors to the other life dream I had, the one I chose over professional sports.
Athletes don’t get a “free” education; some athletes trade their time (mind boggling amounts of time and sweat) for the opportunity to get a degree provided by the university. Other athletes spend the same amount of time and sweat in their sport all for the love of the game; no scholarship, not a nickel of compensation. In the '70’s I could earn enough $$$ working summer jobs in the oil patch to pay for an entire years worth of college. Kids working part time jobs and going to school could pay for school and still have a pretty descent lifestyle. That’s not possible today, so some athletes have the ability to play a sport they supposedly love and walk away with a degree 4 years later. For those of us that have paid the current tuition bills, we understand the value of the scholarship.
We all have the “right” or at least ability to judge a player or anyone else for that matter; but what is the value in that? When you judge another, you don’t define them … you define yourself. I respect their decision even though I may have done something differently (simply defining myself). I am very thankful and appreciative for Logan and Marcus for representing UH in the highest manner. I wish them and their families the very best.
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Let me know when you’ll fund Smith’s $20M that he lost by playing in that game.
Time value of money is a real thing, you know?
The only person that would know (or matter) if it was a loss or not would be Jaylon Smith.
He (or any other player) could have a career ending injury at the NFL combine … do you have a crystal ball?
Plus every player can’t count on Jerry Jones giving them a dumb contract. And Cowboys fans know how amazing the story was of his comeback. The longest time not knowing if nerves would regenerate or not. His injury wasn’t even about playing in the NFL, it was about ever walking without assistance again. Jaylon always seemed to be a great guy so awesome he was able to get paid big bucks, but if it wasn’t for that injury he would probably have been JJ Watt level star/personality.
As some have pointed out, injuries can happen any time but the senior bowl and NFL combine are weighted so heavily that even a small nagging injury could cost a player millions. If Jones isn’t 100% for his 40 time or to show out in the senior bowl, it might be a multiple round swing. Then factor in your importance to the team from where you are drafted, it makes it much harder to get to that second contract.
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Opting out started decades ago. This is nothing new.
Top prospects getting injured in bowl games is nothing new.
We have here or others have debated this same subject for decades.
At the end of the day you have a non paid player having to decide to play or not?
He knows what he is risking.
Who are we to judge?
This is his decision not ours.
Think about the same player having a fourishing career and promoting his Alma matter.
Think of the same player getting his knee blown out in the Chiropractor anonymous bowl game?
He is never to be seen again. Remember the great hope running back in Saturday Nights?
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And…… he sprained his ankle. Not a career ending injury. Could have done that getting the bus. This issue has gotten out of hand.
Huge difference in a player hanging up his cleats for his own personal health over the long term. I have no issue with that. I have no problem with an injured player getting medical help that ends the season for them - Those are two completely different scenarios than sitting out to avoid the very small chance of career ending injury with the expectation of continuing in the sport for a higher paycheck (in most cases).
What about those that skip the bowl and then go on a ski trip over the holidays (Yes, a couple players were talked about doing that on other fan boards from different schools). How is that justifying a player sitting out for their health and not risking injury in the bowl game? Seems to be an issue with their goals. Also what about other players that opt out and then go do other dangerous activities?
PS. a player can take out an insurance policy before the bowl game. Many have done that.
I know he is waiting on an MRI. The X-ray doesn’t always show the whole story. Just an example, in HS Derek popped his shoulder out of socket in a game, came out and had an X-ray the next day. It showed no serious damage so he went on with his business a week later or so. It began to hurt and they performed an MRI. He tore up his entire shoulder and had to completely reconstruct it. Wore a shoulder brace up until last season. Probably not the case with Corral but things aren’t always what they seem on the surface.
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Or he can sit and not have to worry about taking out an insurance policy.
This is more and more sounding like a grumpy old man thread…”back in my
day we played without face masks and looked forward to losing our 2 front teeth
for the team “
It’s their decision. Like it, love it, accept it, find another time pursuit, or judge and criticize them
if that makes you happy.
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It has nothing to do with an old man or young man thread. You are 100% correct the player is the one to choose. A bowl game is a nice reward but it should never mean anything more than that. The “system” is set that way. To play for a National Championship is 100% different. Insurance policies has always been a “taboo” subject. We are in the NIL era.
Question for everyone on Coogfans:
Should the ncaa come up with an insurance policy for the top players to play in their bowl games?
Just think, if Joe Montana had opted out of the 1979 Cotton Bowl we wouldn’t have gotten those righteous Guinness commercials.
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