[Farm93]

So is the takeaway from this that no player who expects to be a high draft choice should play in a bowl game (except perhaps the playoffs) due to possible injury?

Most of these bowl games are exhibitions built on values from a bygone era.  The best reasons for players to stay and play are built upon notions of team, obligation and/or commitment.

Most coaches talk about the value of extra practices (for the next season), creating some type of momentum going into the spring practices (for the next season) and for some recruiting (for future seasons).  The benefits to a staff are almost always forward looking things for the program.

If the stigma of leaving the team prior to the exhibition bowl game is reduced or removed, this wave will grow and grow.

While ESPN may convince fans that these players really like their time bowling in Mobile or visiting the zoo in San Diego, I am sure most agents would prefer their future clients would get ready for combine if they knew skipping the bowl had minimal consequences. 

I would expect though that in the future the departing players will cite dings and minor injuries, like Fournette, rather than just opting out for no particular reason, like CMAC, as that seems to have been well received by the football community.  And really, what top athlete will not have some ailment at this point in the year?

[Farm93]

So is the takeaway from this that no player who expects to be a high draft choice should play in a bowl game (except perhaps the playoffs) due to possible injury?

Most of these bowl games are exhibitions built on values from a bygone era.  The best reasons for players to stay and play are built upon notions of team, obligation and/or commitment.

Most coaches talk about the value of extra practices (for the next season), creating some type of momentum going into the spring practices (for the next season) and for some recruiting (for future seasons).  The benefits to a staff are almost always forward looking things for the program.

If the stigma of leaving the team prior to the exhibition bowl game is reduced or removed, this wave will grow and grow.

While ESPN may convince fans that these players really like their time bowling in Mobile or visiting the zoo in San Diego, I am sure most agents would prefer their future clients would get ready for combine if they knew skipping the bowl had minimal consequences. 

I would expect though that in the future the departing players will cite dings and minor injuries, like Fournette, rather than just opting out for no particular reason, like CMAC, as that seems to have been well received by the football community.  And really, what top athlete will not have some ailment at this point in the year?