I don't really care for use of the word "forgiveness." He didn't do anything to me personally, he didn't admit to wrong doing, he certainly isn't repentant and there's no way to rehabilitate. So to me, "forgiveness" isn't quite the right concept. I also understand the logic, and I fully and firmly believe his legacy is tarnished.
Two other thoughts: the reason I thought it was a bad idea for him to skip the game was that he could have materially improved his draft status. In other words, I mainly thought it was a stupid decision. At his level, every additional draft spot means hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. So by punking out on mid-level bowl game, he's now labelled a quitter. If he had an injury, that would be one thing. But he didn't say he was injured (like Fournette did), so my assumption is that he is completely injury-free and could have played at full-strength. If he is injured, well then he's lying to his future employers and that's a problem of a different nature. Bruce Jenkins this morning wrote "there was nothing honorable about McCaffrey's call."
Thomas was a force of nature yesterday, the same force of nature on defense that McCaffrey was and should have been on offense. Love gained 114 yards on 22 carries, with one 59 yard run. With respect, I think McCaffrey would have been twice as good. I think Christian cost himself money, the respect of his teammates and the respect of his staff. He did, however, absolutely earn the label "quitter." But that's his problem.
Second thought, Thomas, on the other hand, elevated himself. I think he made himself at least a million dollars yesterday. I think his draft status will skyrocket. Players play.
My father in law played on a Stanford basketball team. I asked him how he would have felt had the team's best player quit before a pac-8 championship game. He just stared and finally said, "well that just wouldn't have happened."
Two other thoughts: the reason I thought it was a bad idea for him to skip the game was that he could have materially improved his draft status. In other words, I mainly thought it was a stupid decision. At his level, every additional draft spot means hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. So by punking out on mid-level bowl game, he's now labelled a quitter. If he had an injury, that would be one thing. But he didn't say he was injured (like Fournette did), so my assumption is that he is completely injury-free and could have played at full-strength. If he is injured, well then he's lying to his future employers and that's a problem of a different nature. Bruce Jenkins this morning wrote "there was nothing honorable about McCaffrey's call."
Thomas was a force of nature yesterday, the same force of nature on defense that McCaffrey was and should have been on offense. Love gained 114 yards on 22 carries, with one 59 yard run. With respect, I think McCaffrey would have been twice as good. I think Christian cost himself money, the respect of his teammates and the respect of his staff. He did, however, absolutely earn the label "quitter." But that's his problem.
Second thought, Thomas, on the other hand, elevated himself. I think he made himself at least a million dollars yesterday. I think his draft status will skyrocket. Players play.
My father in law played on a Stanford basketball team. I asked him how he would have felt had the team's best player quit before a pac-8 championship game. He just stared and finally said, "well that just wouldn't have happened."
Audaces fortuna iuvat