Dustin Fox has the right view on this.

They are.

If you're Leonard Fournette, who is probably a Top 10 Draft Pick even with his injury issues, what's the point in playing Louisville in the Citrus Bowl when any of the following could possibly happen?

-career-ending injury which leads to not getting drafted

-career-changing injury which leads to depleted draft stock

-more wear and tear on a body that's already been put through the ringer in one of the hardest hitting conferences in college football

-more wear and tear on the brain, because concussions and head trauma actually do cause problems later on in life

Playing in the Citrus Bowl holds virtually no value to him. He's shown what he can do at the college level against top competition. What more would a good to great performance in this game prove what we already know? He's making the smart financial and health conscious decision.

Had this game had some actual meaning to it (Playoff, NY6) I could see the reason for staying and playing, but not for this game. But the Citrus Bowl essentially is meaningless for a guy like him.

In the context of this discussion, how do the NY6 games have any more meaning than the other bowls?

Wait until someone skips a whole season.

I blame the NFL three years after high school to enter draft rule.

I've got no problem with it.

I would draft both these kids. But, not with a top 10 pick. WR and RB aren't worth it.

Indeed, this is the flip side.

In any case, it's hard to fault the players, though, when the coaches started it first. If coaches can head off to a better job, rather that working a "meaningless bowl", why can't players do the same?

I'm sure there is a sizable policy on file at Lloyd's protecting against career ending injury

can you say that they have made millions from that one player? Big time schools have built in and almost guaranteed income. Yes, it relies on having good players, but does it rely specifically on them? Did they make more because Fournette was there? Can you quantify that? Subtract the value of a five-year free ride to Stanford (what, 250k?)

Your scenario skips the whole part about the guy's education being paid for in return for his participation in such activities. Plus the new stipend, of course.

Quite frankly, I don't think Fournette is that good. He's just another SEC pretty boy running back that when he runs into a defense he doesn't do squat. I'm sorry, I think he's overhyped.

The blame is TV and especially ESPN/Disney.
Games on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, six win season celebrations are regression to the mean of a unsustainable buffet of substandard fare.

As Billy pointed out above, the part of the discussion related to "the risk of injury" versus the "potential earnings from being drafted high" isn't really relevant. These kids have an insurance policy to protect against that risk.

I'll ask again, though, if coaches can leave before their season is complete, why can't kids do the same?

I recently caught Mike Golic on his Mike and Mike morning show talking about it. He said it would not be in his nature to ever skip a game and let down his team. I am glad someone still thinks this way. A couple of points; if I am an NFL GM and a kid is taking a pass, I wonder what else will he take a pass on? Some NFL GM's and coaches have total different opinions. I seem to remember a story from a couple of years ago about the Patriots and Belichick being upset at some WR draft prospect from Notre Dame who was finishing his degree at the school Spring semester by taking a chemistry class, which was all he needed to graduate. Others GM's and coaches love the fact the the kid stuck it out and finished the class. Two total different ways of looking at things. One other thing to consider, some of these colleges, especially places like Stanford don't come cheap. I bet a lot of kids would love to have a free four stint at Stanford.

Correct me if I am wrong, didn't Willis McGahee get injured against Ohio State in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl. Didn't his mother take out a pretty extensive insurance policy on him? These policies have been available for a long time. I don't know what brought all of this on now?