What's your opinion on bowl opt outs?
 

Bowl season used to be a good time to watch NFL prospects for the upcoming draft.

Now it seems like any player with NFL prospects doesn't even play, opting out to avoid the risk of an injury.

Do you agree with this practice? It's now commonplace and accepted.

One aspect that isn't publicized enough is an NFL prospect bailing on their teammates. Imagine going through the program for four, five years, being a senior and then your best player bails. You want to finish your college career with a win.

I know college football coaches are scumbags and these colleges make a killing off these players but it just doesn't seem right to me.

These players chose to play a team sport. They decide to be an individual when it's convenient for them. Why bail at the bowl game? Why don't they put four games of tape on film and bail then? If the NFL and their bank account is what matters, what's the purpose of playing the whole regular season and getting an injury?

**** me culture. Does a team even matter anymore?

Seems like if your that afraid and worried, karma will injure you anyway.

**** priest hall

Jake Butt is proof that it’s a smart call.

It’s ruined the bowl season for me though. I barely watch any bowls anymore.

I do wonder how long it will be before a top prospect sits out a playoff game.

I understand it but I hate it.

And I hate the reasoning people use. "The bowl games don't matter." Well, technically, no collegiate game matters for a pro career once the player is confirmed to be a draft pick. So if they know by Week 8, they should opt out for the remainder of the year. If people are being logically consistent.

Any remaining game risks an injury that could derail the career. Pickett should have opted out of the ACC Championship Game as well if he was worried about his pro career. An ACC Championship means nothing to his pro career.

The bowl games mean nothing. These guys have futures in the NFL at stake.

Well, none of the college games mean anything to a player with a NFL future. If you are going to support opting out for bowl games, no one should be upset someday if a player opts during the playoffs or halfway through the season.

If you're already locked in with a good chance of a career in the NFL, why not be a team player and sit out, let the other guys who might not make it ball out and use a bowl game to get drafted?

Not a big college guy at all, but my take on it is as follows:

College is a tool to get people prepared for the next stage in life (presumably): Doctors, Lawyers, Accountants, etc. etc.

In some cases, that "next stage" is a professional athlete. so at the point that an athlete deem themselves ready, who is anyone to say that isn't the right decision for them.

Does it screw up the perception from fan perspectives....absolutely! But to me, it's no different than a Junior declaring early....they are ready and college got them there. So what if it screws with fan perception.

The poll doesn't really work because of course it's a smart decision from the player's perspective, but I still hate it.

The NFL obviously isn't just the ultimate dream, but potentially millions of dollars is at stake for the players and their families... of course you're not going to risk that unless you're playing for a National Championship.

"I helped my team win the Cheez-It Bowl" or "I didn't risk an NFL career and millions of dollars for one college bowl game" ....there's really no argument there.

The bowls are a money grab for the NCAA, so one answer is paying the players, whether it's specifically the bowl games or overall.... you get a college education in return for playing the regular season, so here's a payout for our money grab bowl games (not sure the payout would be enough though in that case).... and sign them to a contract.

Good point, it might actually help teammates in that way.

If you have the talent, its just a smart business decision to protect their investment.

I think it's sickening to be honest. Quit on your team. I'll never forget Hockenson played and Noah Fant didnt.

Completely fine if you wanna sit the entire year out. No problem. But if you're going to play, play.

I can't blame them.

I also bet their teammates understand.

Doesn't mean I like it, though.

Players should be forced to ruin their future careers for the mayo bowl