There was a lot of discussion on BA about players choosing not play in bowl games.

Last night, the announcers for the Cotton Bowl said Denzel Ward made a "business decision" not play in the bowl game.

I understand that, and the people on here have strong feelings whether its appropriate or not.

Thing is,he was on the sidelines,in his jersey.

Personally,I feel that,when you quit the team,you no longer have the right to act as if you're still a member.

Could be that the coaching staff's permitting him on the sideline had less to do with warm feelings for Mr. Ward and his decision and more to do with projecting a message to future bluechip recruits. (Shame on me for harboring a measure of cynicism during the holidays.)

That could very well be. Regardless, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have been standing there (as a member of the official travel party and in his jersey no less) without the permission of the coaching staff.

As usual, well said rpbobcat!

What I'm waiting for is players to start calling it quits late in the season. Other than the CFP Bowls, are late season games with your team not playing for anything any more meaningful?

Just thought of something. Years ago when I played Fantasy Football, the last week of the year (tomorrow) was always a frustrating crap shoot because you never knew which teams that had already clinched playoff spots would rest/not play some of their key players. Was/is that any different than what is happening now at the college level with players sitting out these meaningless bowl games?

This isnt about ethics or comparing jobs to college kids. If someone has the ability to be a first round draft kid (Mel Kiper has him #1) and doesnt want to jeopardize his future....and the team is informed about it.....then there is no problem. Most of yall wont understand that though....because most of you dont come from poverty and have your families putting all their eggs in one basket on "you" to be the family provider. I suggest you read into the lives of these kids before judging them. Makes me sick to hear people say that a kid should play his last game when coaches bounce on kids for new jobs and get paid millions of dollars. Until you are in that situation and have your family depending on you....you have no room to say whether a kid should sit on the sidelines....after everything that kid did to build your program. And from the looks of the game....they didnt even need him. More experience for the next guy up. I guarantee the LB from Notre Dame (drafted in 2015) would change his mind and not play injuring his ACL and dropping from 1st to 3rd round. Do you know how much money he lost??

Agree, Roger. Welcome back!

ExCat 21 A couple of things: You said it makes you sick when people judge poor kids for not playing so they can make a big payday. First of all that assumes that all of the players come from impoverished backgrounds. Not true at all. Secondly, I would bet I came from less than money than 90% of college athletes today. I never quit on an employer without the customary two week notice in my life, never quit on my team, family, friends etc. I also paid back all of my student loans. I am sure there is a healthy majority of people that can say what I said in the last couple of sentences. It is sad that we are making excuses for those who don't believe that. You quit on your team in that fashion and everything else afterwards is something you can rationalize to quit on as well.

Let repeat what I said about Saquon Barkley, he's the class act that we should emulate. He said he couldn't imagine quitting on his team and not playing. Finally, you said the Notre Dame player who didn't quit on his team probably wishes he would change that decision. At the end of our days on this earth we won't be judged for how much money we accumulated, but the ethics for which we stood.

Mr. Hooper

I know you don't like all of this working class hero talk. Things must be a little tense at the Oceanographic Institute since the Iranian protests flared up. Don't worry, I am sure the Iranian caviar will eventually get delivered.

Quint

Just to be clear.

The purpose of my post wasn't to address the issue of not playing in a bowl game.

That issue was argued in depth,before.

My problem was Denzel Ward,being allowed on the sidelines,and in his jersey.

The poverty example doesnt apply to Christian (obviously his dad was a baller) but you get what I mean. Majority of the top picks in the first round come from areas other than gated neighborhoods and great homes. And you are correct, they are making adult decisions that involves protecting their futures. Everyone has their opinion and I respect your beliefs.....just coming from a former athlete that I have no problem with another teammate looking out for their future. And no problem with them being on the sideline to provide valuable pointers for the game, although they are not playing.I respect Barkley for playing but I wouldnt be mad or "have disgrace" for the player if they chose not too. Those players also didnt play because a National Championship was on the line. Pointless bowl games for Power 5 teams will encourage more in the future to sit. Maybe if they expand the playoffs to 8....less popular players will sit. Another reason to expand

Opting out of anything other than the championship would be ok if I was a teammate of a player who decided not to play. I would just want to know in a reasonable amount of time o that we could get their replacement ready. Denzel Ward is a special case, his dad was a principal that ran marathon's and died suddenly in a spin class, he has a street named after him. Denzel Ward's family was not poor, he grew up in Nordonia. His dad meant a lot to him and I know that he realizes that life is short, so his fight or flight responses may be a lot different than most of ours. The Jake Butt injury will serve as the turning point, more prospects will skip bowl games because it is the sensible thing to do. The average NFL career is 4 years because football life is short. The NCAA should provide insurance for the players with some of the profits that they make from the bowl games and jersey sales.
http://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/praise-for-bedford...