Skipping Bowl Games is OK -- So Stop Complaining

Let me say this now — meaningless Bowl games are stupid.

There's virtually no point in big name stars such as Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey playing in those games. It's like working overtime at your job — but for free.

Why on earth would a player risk sustaining a bad injury that could affect their draft stock/career in the CFB equivalent of an NFL preseason game?

The Bowl games that aren't in the CFB playoff are basically exhibition games. It's just another game universities can make money off of, while basically getting free labor from their players.

I mean what do you get for winning the "Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl"? A cool little trophy? That cool little trophy certainly doesn't offset the risk of a serious injury.

These schools and the NCAA are basically making millions off of stars such as McCaffrey and Fournette, but I guess people who are giving them a hard time about sitting out of bowl games think their labor is worth less than their subsidized education.

Just ask Ezekiel Elliot:

If you would've done anything to play with your brothers again I'm pretty sure you could've just stayed for your senior season right? I'm pretty sure doing that would fall under the category of anything, but hey when you're a crop top wearing demigod I guess being a hypocrite is okay.

Players aren't the only ones missing their bowl games. Coaches have too -- we're just not hearing about it.

Why is it only that players are only receiving flack about sitting out these games? Why aren't analysts and fans singing to the high heavens about coaches who leave before bowl games?

Why weren't there as many critics when Brian Kelly left Central Michigan right before their bowl game to take the head coaching job at Cincinnati and proceed to coach Cincinnati in it's respective bowl game?

The fact that grown adults are blasting young men who are making business decisions that could hugely impact their future is complete madness.

McCaffrey and Fournette are making the right choice by not playing in these games. Let me put a giant asterisk by that statement though, as I only say this because one game won't hurt or help their draft stock.

McCaffrey and Fournette are proven quantities. With both already being bone-fide super stars, one extra game isn't going to impact any reports by scouts.

I mean just look back at last year. Jaylon Smith was projected to be a top five pick in last years draft, but he tore his LCL and ACL in a meaningless Fiesta Bowl game.

He ended up sliding to the second round, losing $19 million guranteed in the process. I'm not a mathematician but thats a TON of money.

McCaffrey and Fournette were both pestered by small injuries this year as well, so sitting out a game to get ready for Pro Day and combine workouts is a really good idea.

Earlier, I said that bowl games are like NFL preseason games -- and that is largely true. Like NFL preseason games, bowl games can hold value for players who aren't big name super stars.

Players who are projected to be drafted int the fifth round or worse, can help themselves by having nice bowl game and boosting their stock.

Those are the types of players should be the ones playing in bowl games as well as underclassmen -- not players of Fournette and McCaffrey's magnitude. Personally I'd lobby for bowl games to stop altogether, but I'm a realist so mitigating the risk for higher profile players is a better solution.

NFL preseason games aren't fun to watch, and neither are meaningless CFB bowl games. People need to stop criticizing young men and bringing up character into the conversation, because "having guts" or "being tough" is not equivalent to potentially losing millions of dollars.

I know some people would say that I might be overstating how much of a risk it is, but no matter how small the chance a risk is still a risk.

Now would I be mad if for example, LSU's 3rd string running back decided to sit out a bowl game? Hell yeah.

You bet I would. But it's unheard of for guys like that skipping a bowl game.

It's a chance for them to earn more playing time if their underclassmen, and the last time to show their worth if their draft eligible.

But sadly, it's not complaints about small name players sitting out games -- it's all complaints about big name players "not caring enough" echoing through the nation.

The criticism of players like McCaffrey and Fournette skipping bowl games needs to come to an end. It's just not fair.

They've been bringing in millions for their universities almost for free, so when they make a decision to secure their longterm future, no one has the right to criticize them.