Three Questions

[ghostoffatjack]

How many players from the teams in their Conference Championship games opted out? How many players in the Final Four BCS mythical National Championship games are opting out? If Purdue would have been in either of these two scenarios would you think our two would have opted out?

 

[boilermaker75]

How many players from the teams in their Conference Championship games opted out? How many players in the Final Four BCS mythical National Championship games are opting out? If Purdue would have been in either of these two scenarios would you think our two would have opted out?

It is a brutal sport, so I can understand opting out, but at what point as you ask?

It used to be the senior season. It is now some bowl games.

Didn't an OSU defensive end opt out of the last few games a couple of years ago?

 

[TMFT]

It is a brutal sport, so I can understand opting out, but at what point as you ask?

It used to be the senior season. It is now some bowl games.

Didn't an OSU defensive end opt out of the last few games a couple of years ago?

I’m pretty sure Bosa shut it down a couple years ago after tearing an abdominal muscle or something mid season when he could’ve come back.

 

[Mighty Argyll]

I don’t blame Bell & Karlafits, the precedent was already set. My question is, where is the line drawn? If this game doesn’t matter, then does the bucket game really matter? You’ve already established yourself a first round pick, why play? Your team is already bowl eligible, so why play? If you have already established yourself as a first round pick, your team is bowl eligible, but you have no shot at the playoffs, do you keep playing? If a players team is 6-3, why keep playing?
Part of me feels that maybe there should be a rule that players have to finish the season + bowl game, to fulfill their commitment to the school that gave them an opportunity to become an NFL pick along with the free education and numerous other perks.
As I said, I don’t blame the players this is the system that’s been created, but the ones getting the raw deal here are the fans/ticket buyers/donors. (of which I am one: grad, season ticket holder, JPC member)
At some point do we say, why should I support you when you don’t fulfill your commitment?
Not mad, just my 2 cents!

 

[BoilerAlumni12]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

 

[jddpt06]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

I think it’s pretty clear Bell’s success is not the result of a system, and guys all over the country have better QBs throwing to them.

 

[nat100]

Apparently Purdue can’t have nice things because it’s boomer fans lose their minds when they make a decision to protect themselves and their futures.

 

[MilwaukeeBoilerFan]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

Why injure and drop your draft stock status for sure!? We are talking millions of dollars per year. If you can’t figure that out, I can’t help you.
Now, I don’t like it, but can certainly understand it.
You should want the best for both Bell and Karlaftis as successful NFL drafted players = better recruiting talent looking our way.

 

[Tommaker]

I don’t blame Bell & Karlafits, the precedent was already set. My question is, where is the line drawn? If this game doesn’t matter, then does the bucket game really matter? You’ve already established yourself a first round pick, why play? Your team is already bowl eligible, so why play? If you have already established yourself as a first round pick, your team is bowl eligible, but you have no shot at the playoffs, do you keep playing? If a players team is 6-3, why keep playing?
Part of me feels that maybe there should be a rule that players have to finish the season + bowl game, to fulfill their commitment to the school that gave them an opportunity to become an NFL pick along with the free education and numerous other perks.
As I said, I don’t blame the players this is the system that’s been created, but the ones getting the raw deal here are the fans/ticket buyers/donors. (of which I am one: grad, season ticket holder, JPC member)
At some point do we say, why should I support you when you don’t fulfill your commitment?
Not mad, just my 2 cents!

Not playing in a bowl that isn't in the championship series is understood by the NFL (I don't know, maybe even encouraged). Opting out of a game or games before the end of the season is a red flag; you look soft and they'll always worry how much you'll play and how much you'll be on the DL.

 

[goboilers2]

I doubt either would have opted out had it been a more significant bowl. Where the line separates relevant to irrelevant is up for debate. Had we won the Minnesota game and looked at a 10 win season, playing on NYD, I am betting they would have wanted to be a part of it. I don't blame them, although I'll admit I was disappointed. On the plus, it gave others a chance to shine, and they did.

 

[MilwaukeeBoilerFan]

Not playing in a bowl that isn't in the championship series is understood by the NFL (I don't know, maybe even encouraged). Opting out of a game or games before the end of the season is a red flag; you look soft and they'll always worry how much you'll play and how much you'll be on the DL.

Guarantee with certainty that both Bell and Karlaftis will have high draft status.
Example: Joey Bosa.

 

[Wolegib]

BOSA is a great example of a player that was injured that could have come back and played for OSU in their bowl game, but he decided not to risk it.

Purdue's Horvath is an example of a player who had the desire to come back and play.

Injuries can happen at any time including practices and training. I've seen a couple of players injure themselves as part of their normal weight lifting. yes, it's a lot of money when the NFL drafts a player. But for every injury that you see a player sustain by playing the game, there are an equal amount of injuries that occur in practices and regular training.

I feel sad players don't feel like participating in bowl games is in their best interests. Will we start seeing players quit during mid season if their team is having a losing season?

Kylinn Hill was the leading rusher in the SEC in 2019 playing for Miss St. he got into an agument with his coach and quit playing after 3 games in 2020. he ended up being a 7th round draft pick. Obviously, he would have been drafted earlier if he hadn't quit. But he obviously felt no loyalty to his school, and all he was interested in was the NFL $$$$$

 

[nat100]

BOSA is a great example of a player that was injured that could have come back and played for OSU in their bowl game, but he decided not to risk it.

Purdue's Horvath is an example of a player who had the desire to come back and play.

Injuries can happen at any time including practices and training. I've seen a couple of players injure themselves as part of their normal weight lifting. yes, it's a lot of money when the NFL drafts a player. But for every injury that you see a player sustain by playing the game, there are an equal amount of injuries that occur in practices and regular training.

I feel sad players don't feel like participating in bowl games is in their best interests. Will we start seeing players quit during mid season if their team is having a losing season?

Kylinn Hill was the leading rusher in the SEC in 2019 playing for Miss St. he got into an agument with his coach and quit playing after 3 games in 2020. he ended up being a 7th round draft pick. Obviously, he would have been drafted earlier if he hadn't quit. But he obviously felt no loyalty to his school, and all he was interested in was the NFL $$$$$

Horvath isn’t likely to get drafted. He needs all the film he can get. Gk and bell dont

 

[SKYDOG]

Why injure and drop your draft stock status for sure!? We are talking millions of dollars per year. If you can’t figure that out, I can’t help you.
Now, I don’t like it, but can certainly understand it.
You should want the best for both Bell and Karlaftis as successful NFL drafted players = better recruiting talent looking our way.

They didn’t do it 5 years ago so why now? First round draft picks don’t get the kind of money they did 5 years ago.

 

[Spinn]

I doubt Bell or George watched the game last night thinking they were glad they didn’t play. It was purely a business decision that will end up making them millions.

 

[MilwaukeeBoilerFan]

They didn’t do it 5 years ago so why now? First round draft picks don’t get the kind of money they did 5 years ago.

Simple: Agents, NFLPA and many others hint to all them to do so.
Question: If you had a son that was a guaranteed first round draft player, would you want him playing a near meaningless lower tier bowl?

 

[buffboiler]

Looking at the field condition throughout the game, they made a correct call.
Also, we have confirmed the capabilities of our Next-Man-Up on lot of positions.

The Big Guy do work things in mysterious ways, for sure.

I like it.

Boiler Up!!

 

[Fan4Life]

They didn’t do it 5 years ago so why now? First round draft picks don’t get the kind of money they did 5 years ago.

2 Words: Jaylon Smith - top ranked LB and definite 1st rounder. Tore up his knee in the bowl game and slipped to late 2nd round (costing millions.)

 

[Purdue85]

Simple: Agents, NFLPA and many others hint to all them to do so.
Question: If you had a son that was a guaranteed first round draft player, would you want him playing a near meaningless lower tier bowl?

Good question. Unless he's playing for the NC, not sure what counts as a "meaningful" bowl game.

Another question: Over the past 30-40 years (or whatever time frame of choice), how many players have been injured in a bowl game, affecting their draft status, or even NFL opportunity?

Only one immediately comes to mind for me (but, admittedly, there might be more): Miami RB (McGahee) with a knee injury in the NC game vs. OSU. (He had a very successful 10-year career in the NFL after that.)

For what it's worth, I might be missing it, but I don't see a contingent of people criticizing the decisions, just a lot of conversation. It seems like there is an effort to demonize (not you, MBF) anyone who brings up the subject, or remotely questions the practice.

EDIT: I missed your response before posting, @Fan4Life

 

[TMFT]

Good question. Unless he's playing for the NC, not sure what counts as a "meaningful" bowl game.

Another question: Over the past 30-40 years (or whatever time frame of choice), how many players have been injured in a bowl game, affecting their draft status, or even NFL opportunity?

Only one immediately comes to mind for me (but, admittedly, there might be more): Miami RB (McGahee) with a knee injury in the NC game vs. OSU. (He had a very successful 10-year career in the NFL after that.)

For what it's worth, I might be missing it, but I don't see a contingent of people criticizing the decisions, just a lot of conversation. It seems like there is an effort to demonize (not you, MBF) anyone who brings up the subject, or remotely questions the practice.

EDIT: I missed your response before posting, @Fan4Life

Smith as referenced earlier.

Simon Stepaniak for IU tore his ACL during bowl prep for Gator Bowl. Still got drafted, but probably slipped and never really recovered enough to play and retired without ever actually playing.

I’m sure there are stories of this happening up and down the board each year that we don’t hear about

 

[nat100]

Smith as referenced earlier.

Simon Stepaniak for IU tore his ACL during bowl prep for Gator Bowl. Still got drafted, but probably slipped and never really recovered enough to play and retired without ever actually playing.

I’m sure there are stories of this happening up and down the board each year that we don’t hear about

Bryce love was a likely first round pick before his bowl. Blew out his knee and barely played in the nfl after going undraftwed

 

[ghostoffatjack]

I’m pretty sure Bosa shut it down a couple years ago after tearing an abdominal muscle or something mid season when he could’ve come back.

Correct he did!

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Part of me feels that maybe there should be a rule that players have to finish the season + bowl game, to fulfill their commitment to the school that gave them an opportunity to become an NFL pick along with the free education and numerous other perks.

3 and 5 would have been high NFL draft picks no matter where they spent the last 3 years.

 

[New Pal Boiler]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout

…and you’re obviously not.

 

[Purdue85]

I’m sure there are stories of this happening up and down the board each year that we don’t hear about

"...up and down the board each year..."?

You're "sure"?

 

[Peabodius]

I don’t blame Bell & Karlafits, the precedent was already set. My question is, where is the line drawn? If this game doesn’t matter, then does the bucket game really matter? You’ve already established yourself a first round pick, why play? Your team is already bowl eligible, so why play? If you have already established yourself as a first round pick, your team is bowl eligible, but you have no shot at the playoffs, do you keep playing? If a players team is 6-3, why keep playing?
Part of me feels that maybe there should be a rule that players have to finish the season + bowl game, to fulfill their commitment to the school that gave them an opportunity to become an NFL pick along with the free education and numerous other perks.
As I said, I don’t blame the players this is the system that’s been created, but the ones getting the raw deal here are the fans/ticket buyers/donors. (of which I am one: grad, season ticket holder, JPC member)
At some point do we say, why should I support you when you don’t fulfill your commitment?
Not mad, just my 2 cents!

Why don’t you create a fund to pay high level NFL prospects in the event they are injured in a bowl game? I figure about 10 million should do the trick. If you want kids to risk millions of dollars, how much of that risk are you willing to share?

 

[Wolegib]

I've been wrong before, but wasn't there a player who went to the senior bowl so NFL scouts could see him practice, but elected not to play in the actual game? for fear he might get hurt?

to me, if you don't want to play for your team in a bowl game, you shouln't be playing in these all star games after the fact.

 

[nat100]

I've been wrong before, but wasn't there a player who went to the senior bowl so NFL scouts could see him practice, but elected not to play in the actual game? for fear he might get hurt?

to me, if you don't want to play for your team in a bowl game, you shouln't be playing in these all star games after the fact.

The actual senior bowl game is sloppy. The real scouting is done during the week.

 

[Dandelion1972]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

I think he played for 2 years at Marshall:

Career Receiving	Receiving	Fumbles
Season	Team	Type	G	Rec	Tgt	Yds	Y/G	Y/R	YAC/R	Long	TD	Fumb	FumL
2019	MRSH	Reg	7	19	-	334	47.7	17.6	-	54	0	-	-
2020	MRSH	Reg	4	14	-	228	57.0	16.3	-	40	0	-	-
2021	PUR	Reg	11	23	-	240	21.8	10.4	-	28	2	-	-
Total	-	Reg	22	56	-	802	36.5	14.3	-	122	2	-	-

 

[TMFT]

"...up and down the board each year..."?

You're "sure"?

I’m pretty confident, but don’t have too much time today to do a deep dive on Google. Jake Butt for Michigan is another that comes to mind.

 

[Purdue85]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

He's from Marshall, and Marshall University has a helluva football program.

 

[SKYDOG]

Bryce love was a likely first round pick before his bowl. Blew out his knee and barely played in the nfl after going undraftwed

Very doubtful about Love. No one knows for sure though.

 

[SKYDOG]

Simple: Agents, NFLPA and many others hint to all them to do so.
Question: If you had a son that was a guaranteed first round draft player, would you want him playing a near meaningless lower tier bowl?

I would want my son to play the game. I wouldn’t want him to let the team down. Every game becomes meaningless when a kid is good and will be a high draft pick. When is the right time to quit the team? Is it the bowl game or game 6? Things have changed and I don’t like it, but it is what it is.

 

[Purdue85]

Very doubtful about Love. No one knows for sure though.

That's the real challenge with this discussion.

Football is a contact-heavy sport. No doubt they risk injury, every time the step on the field. Each one needs to weigh the pros/cons.

It's also really difficult to determine if (and how much) a player's injury affects his future. Willis McGahee was a first round draft pick after blowing out his knee in a bowl game that same year. Go figure.

 

[boilermaker75]

That's the real challenge with this discussion.

Football is a contact-heavy sport. No doubt they risk injury, every time the step on the field. Each one needs to weigh the pros/cons.

It's also really difficult to determine if (and how much) a player's injury affects his future. Willis McGahee was a first round draft pick after blowing out his knee in a bowl game that same year. Go figure.

I like to call it a collision sport. Contact is too mild a description.

 

[ghostoffatjack]

The few first mock drafts that have been published are telling but one never really know what the NFL teams are thinking of doing. FWIW have not seen Bell in any of the first round projections lately and with one exception Karlafits is usually the 3rd, 4th or 5th DE selected!

 

[BoilerAlumni12]

The few first mock drafts that have been published are telling but one never really know what the NFL teams are thinking of doing. FWIW have not seen Bell in any of the first round projections lately and with one exception Karlafits is usually the 3rd, 4th or 5th DE selected!

Would have helped bell if he caught 5 TD and 300 yards or Karlaftis with 5 sacks in the bowl game. O well.

 

[jmohlman]

If anything this should drop Bell down. If I were an NFL scout I'd question if it was the system and QB that resulted in his numbers.

The reason I say that is Thompson put up similar #s with 2 bad knees. Wasn't he also a transfer from a no name college.

Bad look IMO for Bell.

Thought the same thing… his route running is superior so are his hands. His knowledge of the game is exquisite. He will be fine but I thought the same thing

 

[New Pal Boiler]

Willis McGahee was a first round draft pick after blowing out his knee in a bowl game that same year. Go figure.

True, but he still lost millions going from the top 5 to the 20s.

But that was the national championship game also. I hope we don’t ever see kids skipping the CFP.

 

[Purdue85]

True, but he still lost millions going from the top 5 to the 20s.

But that was the national championship game also. I hope we don’t ever see kids skipping the CFP.

it's a theory. Nobody knows.