Jeremy Pruitt talks with reporters after Vols’ first practice for the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

[titansvolsfaninga]

so silly millions of dollars > a meaningless bowl game. The seniors are going to play because it can help their draft stock. If you are a blue chip 1st or 2nd rounder you can and probably should skip it unless its a playoff game.

Is Cam Akers a 1st or 2nd round pick? They should require them to play the game. If that's the case some would stop playing halfway through the season. Just require them to get insurance.

 

[DougAtkins91]

I agree it sucks. But honestly if you had a chance to risk tens of millions of dollars on a freak accident you wouldn't think about it? I loved every team I played for, but MILLIONS on the line? I really don't know what I'd do if I'm being honest with myself.

You were on the “TEAM” correct? You loved that “TEAM” correct? Should that not answer that question? If you choose to NOT play in an attempt to avoid PERSONAL injury, are you a member of that “TEAM” anymore? Real simple, no.

 

[Vol737]

I don’t have an issue if a kid who is a potentially high draft pick sits out the bowl game. I get all the arguments pro and con. But imagine the kid has a Marcus Lattimore type injury, career ending. I was at the game in Columbia when our D tackled him. Nope, wasn’t a bowl game and guys were just trying to make a play. But it was nasty. That kid most likely would’ve signed a nice contract going into the NFL that could have meant generational wealth. The choice belongs to the players and I’m fine with whatever they choose. When it comes to this kind of a decision, I always consider the three types of business in this world....big, small and NOT mine. Belongs to the athlete and their family. JMHO

 

[VOL_Lyfe]

Play for the team not for yourself. They teach that from day 1 in peewee

Those days are about gone, for better or worse. Its all a business. If theres a transfer portal, and players will now be paid for their "likeness" and so on, then you can't stop players preserving their draft status. It is what it is.

 

[Doberman]

I’m pretty sure no NFL teams ding a player, or look negatively upon guys who sit a non meaningful bowl game.

They’re actually probably overjoyed. They certainly don’t care about the kid’s previous team, and probably see it as positive that a young guy has the brains to be a forward thinking person.

 

[Kevinyaheard]

You were on the “TEAM” correct? You loved that “TEAM” correct? Should that not answer that question? If you choose to NOT play in an attempt to avoid PERSONAL injury, are you a member of that “TEAM” anymore? Real simple, no.

Easy there Hoss.. these are not paid athletes remember the amateur branding that people like you love to throw up in the air... once they start getting paid a check for every game to go with the amount of talent they have then we can start calling quitters when they don't play.

When a young man has a bright future in the NFL, with almost guaranteed $$$ and he chooses to not play in a non-playoff level game, and instead chooses to carry the VFL moniker on in the NFL to push our brand and recruit for us for years to come, then let us just be grateful his type of talent graced our team to begin with. GBO VFL

 

[DougAtkins91]

Easy there Hoss.. these are not paid athletes remember the amateur branding that people like you love to throw up in the air... once they start getting paid a check for every game to go with the amount of talent they have then we can start calling quitters when they don't play.

When a young man has a bright future in the NFL, with almost guaranteed $$$ and he chooses to not play in a non-playoff level game, and instead chooses to carry the VFL moniker on in the NFL to push our brand and recruit for us for years to come, then let us just be grateful his type of talent graced our team to begin with. GBO VFL

I choose to disagree with your post!

 

[jonnon111]

You were on the “TEAM” correct? You loved that “TEAM” correct? Should that not answer that question? If you choose to NOT play in an attempt to avoid PERSONAL injury, are you a member of that “TEAM” anymore? Real simple, no.

So you would risk generational wealth for one game and the "TEAM" ?

 

[Grudenhaslanded]

It’s harder for me to pull for a player that skips the bowl game. If I were drafting players it would be counted as a negative because it shows they are putting themselves above the team. Although I realize there is life changing money on the line, I personally couldn’t bail on them.

It would be a negative for the borderline draftable players, but I would second guess taking any elite prospect that didn’t decide to skip their bowl game because they’re clearly an idiot if they do play.