Where do you stand on players opting out of post-season games (with no injuries) to "prepare for the draft"?

[volfan102455]

The risk is double sided. Yes, a player could get hurt and that is what drives some decisions. But a game against a quality opponent could result with a performance that sets a player apart from another player who may be drafted over them. The player who opts out loses that chance to showcase their skills in action. I assume some are thinking and being told they have done enough - but there is always that chance that a player who plays has a performance that now puts them to the fore front.

In the workplace, those that get the promotion and get ahead are the ones that sometimes put themselves out there even when there is a chance they will fail - knowing that if they succeed the visibility will be what secures that which they want most.

And there is also the idea of seeing what you started to the end.

I get some of the bowl games are considered to be less important and serve the purpose to allow the team to have more time to prepare for next year. But playoff games or the bigger bowls with quality matchups are additional opportunities for a player to showcase their ability to a potential future employer. Those that opt out are rolling the dice that they have done enough and that someone who plays lights out will not lessen their opportunity.

 

[Mccage]

Nope. We're customers who pay for a product, which is to watch them p[lay a game. The employers are, the state if money if scholarship money is provided by the state, the school if grant or endowment money is provided by the school, and/or the federal government if money is provided by federal funds associated with their major field of study. As a customer, you can opt to reject the product by not paying for a ticket and now with NIL, associated items or events they participate. As a seller, they can refuse to serve a customer. It's capitalism at its finest.

Well Customer service has gone to hell then!

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Well Customer service has gone to hell then!

Late for the show, aren't you? Been gone to hell for a while now, all across the social spectrum.

 

[wmcovol]

I dont mind. Players have to look out for themselves. We're talking about lifestyle changes for them and their families.

 

[vols40]

HAW, HAW, HAW, how do you think Terry Finley, Dana Sinkler and Alex Dzieduszycki , Paul English, Andy Schamisso, Shep and Ian Murray, Rick Wetzel and Bill Phelps, Andy Schamisso, Kim and Beaver Raymond, Rocky Patel, just to name a few, made their money? They all quit very good, very high paying jobs to venture into something else, and filthy rich. The opt-out players are no different. Long live capitalism!!!

All I am saying is that the agent and the player become responsible for everything when you " opt out" capitalism is always a two way street.

 

[vols40]

Whatever, dude, players make their own personal decisions, whether we like it or not. Just like any businessman. It's a free country (in theory) after all.

See we agree. Where we differ is at what point the agent starts paying

 

[DuckinVol]

Without players, is fans wouldn’t have sports to watch.

Those guys gave up more that most can imagine to get where they are.

Wake up, run, weight room, school, practice, position meetings, eat, team meetings and film, study, go to bed and then start again.

Most have done this since jr high for the most part. If they don’t pan out or mess up fans will turn on them in a heartbeat. If they get hurt, or transfer most of them will be quickly forgotten.

They don’t owe us ANYTHING!!!

They have earned their way. It’s their life and they most definitely should do what’s best for them.

I played tackle from third grade through high school. Didn’t have the size, speed or athleticism to play at the next level, but I would have done it in a second for the free degree and the joy of playing. And now they’ve added the opportunity to make some real money while playing.

All of that is available because of fans. I know several current and past players. They all have said the fans are responsible for everything they have.

 

[DuckinVol]

You are delusional. There will always be another fan. Someone will always want your seats. The fans are the revenue stream, true. But the players owe fans zero. They are the ones putting in the blood sweat and tears. They are the Vols. We are fans. I will never root against someone doing what is best for their future. Even if it hurts on the fan level.

I could respond with insults in kind, but no point when a person refuses to even consider a different opinion. There will always be someone willing to play.

 

[OrangeEtBlanc]

I feel it’s a good sign we haven’t had anyone officially opt-out just yet. Some players at other schools have already opted-out, which makes me think we may have some surprising “opt-ins” for the Orange Bowl.

 

[DuckinVol]

I was quoting the fan mindset when saying there are too many bowls and they are meaningless. I do understand why a healthy player would choose to sit out. I just believe it is wrong.

 

[JoAllan]

I played tackle from third grade through high school. Didn’t have the size, speed or athleticism to play at the next level, but I would have done it in a second for the free degree and the joy of playing. And now they’ve added the opportunity to make some real money while playing.

All of that is available because of fans. I know several current and past players. They all have said the fans are responsible for everything they have.

I never said it wasn’t……..but it goes both ways.

Us fans haven’t given like the players have and never will. Most of them give up “years of normal life” then most of them never sniff pro ball.

 

[DuckinVol]

I never said it wasn’t……..but it goes both ways.

Us fans haven’t given like the players have and never will. Most of them give up “years of normal life” then most of them never sniff pro ball.

Fans spend the money and just get a few minutes of entertainment. Players are getting a valuable education (I have a son in college now), room and board, special food, special tutoring and myriad advantages kids paying full price to get the same degrees don’t have. As you said, most will never get a pro contract, and they give up everything the superstars do. I don’t gripe about kids leaving early or transferring, but not finishing the season is crapping on everyone who made your situation possible.

 

[Smokeyone]

I have to say... I am firmly in the "I hate it" category.

I totally get that you want to not risk getting injured, but you aren't the only reason you have a shot at the NFL, your team had a lot to do with that as well. Are you a QB who the NFL wants in the first round? Well a big part of your success was your line blocking for you, and your receivers catching the ball. Are you a receiver? Your line blocked for your QB, who then threw you the ball.

Jauan Jennings will forever be a legend to this program, and hell would freeze over before that dude would ever sit out a post-season game. He had too much pride in himself and his team to abandon them, that's who you want on your team.

An example would be Alontae Taylor. I genuinely believe Heup finishes his first year at 8-5 with a bowl win if Alontae doesn't sit out. After his coaches/team helped him get some NFL attention, he costed them a loss and a disappointing end to a fun season.

Maybe I'm just old fashioned, but you stay until the job is done. See this thing through with your team, you're all in this together.

when you look at it from the point of view of “would you leave school for your dream job” then I understand it better. School is supposed to prepare you for a career, once it’s done that it’s served its purpose.

 

[JoAllan]

Fans spend the money and just get a few minutes of entertainment. Players are getting a valuable education (I have a son in college now), room and board, special food, special tutoring and myriad advantages kids paying full price to get the same degrees don’t have. As you said, most will never get a pro contract, and they give up everything the superstars do. I don’t gripe about kids leaving early or transferring, but not finishing the season is crapping on everyone who made your situation possible.

Explain the last part.

They have completed their obligation. School is also over. They will have no need to re-up their scholarship.

I have shown this in another post. The last figure I saw (not current, as it’s a lot more now) the Tennessee football program made 70 million after “all” expenses (over 1 year).

So after their valuable education and everything else those players each helped to create about $820,000 for the school/program………every single one of them (of PROFIT).

I think it’s amazing kids have the opportunity to get a free education (or in some sports or levels a less expensive education) however it’s still their life and no one should be able to tell them which life decisions they can or cannot make………they should be (and are) advised……however it’s their life decision to make.

Everyone else gets to decide……..heck a normal student (even on scholarship) can leave anytime they want. So can a professor, so can basically anyone.

 

[JoeMiltonsAgent]

I'm a little confused then about you saying it's a huge business. Is business real everyday life? But your right football is a sport, one that's financed by fans. The common person works and pays for tickets, $20 beer, $5 bottle of water, hell they even buy the new Johnny football x box they see advertised on ESPN. I respect your view but it just seems to me a lot of these players are looking straight into the horses mouth.

Not that hard to figure out.

SEC had 657 million in revenue for 2021. Payout per school was 45.5 million. College sports and football in particular have been big business for years.

SEC boosts member school payouts for 2021.

Minimum salary for an NFL player is 705 K in 2022.

2022 NFL salaries: How the average player's pay compares to stars

My first job out of school mainly running a Komatsu 300 and other equipment sure didn't start at 705,000 a year. I doubt there are many on here seeing that kind of money at any point in their career on a yearly basis.

These elite prospects are making business decisions first and foremost when they pick a school nowadays. And when they decide to opt out they are making business decisions.

Common every day living for most people don't involve making 6 to 8 figure decisions for playing a sport.

Looking at it from that perspective of a player, I'm not sweating it too much what JoeMiltonsAgent on Vol Nation thinks of my decision or my character overall.

 

[VolsRule]

Eventually, players with a shot at the NFL will start sitting out late season games if the team has no shot at the playoffs.

 

[bigeasy]

terrible analogy. The university put them in this position, gave them all the opportunity, fed, housed, educated for 2-4 years. Playing all games unless injured should be binding.

Nah, I think it just shows how unwilling you are to see both sides. You could apply your same logic to my analogy. Have you never worked for a company that had 401k, health benefits, bonus packages, career development? From a simple cost/benefit argument, it just might not be worth it for many players.

 

[Iam4utalways]

If a player won’t be back next year, let them go and give next year’s team the practice reps and game time.

Players on teams in the playoffs I kind of would expect them to stay and finish the run.

 

[Owl-flavored]

If you're not in the playoffs, who cares?!?

I think the correct technical term for this is "Pulling a Colt McCoy"

 

[thistime]

The combine is what will or will not get them drafted in several cases and it can help those that are already being looked at by teams move up and make more money. The combine to many is more important than taking a chance in a bowl game and getting hurt. The chance of not being at their best during the combine outweighs anything else. I don't really like it but for those that are not playing from now on it's not for fun, it's a business.

 

[VolForLife83]

I understand both sides. Why risk getting hurt in a game that really means nothing? On the other hand, it's a privilege and a reward that you and your team earned. Throughout sports, we're taught none of us are bigger than the game or team. So when a player chooses to opt out, it's kind of like flipping the team and it's fans the bird.

 

[DuckinVol]

Explain the last part.

They have completed their obligation. School is also over. They will have no need to re-up their scholarship.

I have shown this in another post. The last figure I saw (not current, as it’s a lot more now) the Tennessee football program made 70 million after “all” expenses (over 1 year).

So after their valuable education and everything else those players each helped to create about $820,000 for the school/program………every single one of them (of PROFIT).

I think it’s amazing kids have the opportunity to get a free education (or in some sports or levels a less expensive education) however it’s still their life and no one should be able to tell them which life decisions they can or cannot make………they should be (and are) advised……however it’s their life decision to make.

Everyone else gets to decide……..heck a normal student (even on scholarship) can leave anytime they want. So can a professor, so can basically anyone.

What do you not understand about the last part? Teammates, coaches, AD, school, fans and everyone involved in making college football a platform needed to get a big pro contract (you know, kind of like a degree for many lucrative fields) are being crapped on when a healthy player sits out.

I never suggested they not be allowed to do so. It’s their right to leave whenever they desire and for whatever reason they use in making that decision. It’s my right to express my belief it is choosing on everyone when that decision is made.

 

[BruisedOrange]

I'm not going to take a different position than our coaches, and our coaches want what's best for each individual player.

 

[Matt2496]

I don’t like it because this completely goes against the team mentality in football.

 

[barknoxbrawler]

Bowl games outside of the playoffs have become meaningless.

Wrong. The extra prep is vital to some teams figuring out talent. In our case, Nico gets a chance to practice for the orange bowl.
You may not care……. But I sure do and I’m sure the coaches do.