[BostonCard]

I don't think there is a "looking forward" with Herbig because I think he's entering the draft. This is about him not wanting to risk injury in a "meaningless" bowl game which would jeopardize his NFL career. But he took that same risk in every other game this season that he played in. There should be no difference.

I think if a healthy player chooses not to play in a postseason game - in any sport - then they should lose their scholarship for that year. They signed a contract that provides them an education worth $300,000 or more in exchange for playing that sport.

If the coach chooses to hold them out, that's different. But if the player chooses not to play/practice - and it appears that's what Herbig has done - then I think that's a breach of contract.

I know that sounds harsh, but I'm kinda sick of this sitting out because of risk of injury.

Viewing this from a player's perspective, isn't a bowl game also an opportunity to put some good stuff on tape and impress scouts?  We talk about McCaffrey skipping the Sun Bowl two years ago, but that's because he had plenty of stuff on tape already.  If his game against Cal (284 yards and 3 TD's rushing) didn't impress scouts, there was always the Rose Bowl, 2015 Pac-12 championship, and 2015 Big Game plus eye-popping stats to impress scouts.  Really, there was nothing that McCaffrey could do that would improve his position, but he could hurt it with a sub-par game or getting injured.

On the other hand, Solomon Thomas did improve his stock by being a "man among boys" in the Sun Bowl.  His 7 tackles, 2 TFL's, and game ending sack on the two-point conversion probably pushed him into the top-10.  Not that he hadn't been impressive before, but with the spotlight shining on him, he delivered.

Looking at this year, Love could probably improve his draft stock if he were healthy and had a breakout game that has eluded him all season.  Then again, he probably isn't fully healthy, and what are the chances he will have a breakout game given that half of the offensive line is going to be out.  His risk of injury, or of looking like he lost a step or was still injured outweighs the chances that he will have a 2017-like performance.  So, it makes sense for him to sit out.

Some of the other guys, I'm not so sure hurt themselves much by playing, so I infer that they are injured.  Herbig pancaking guys left and right would help his case, I think, given that he has likely dropped a bit on the basis of his performance this season; struggling somewhat wouldn't change the conclusion that he is a high-ceiling guy with impressive physical attributes whose performance was up and down this year.  Smith has some nice games, but he hasn't distinguished himself from other elite tight ends.  If healthy, he could improve his draft, especially with Irwin out.  I think if either of those guys were fully healthy, they would play the bowl game, because the upshot of improved exposure (game not on the Pac-12 nets) outweighs the risk of injury or hurting their draft stock. 

BC

[BostonCard]

I don't think there is a "looking forward" with Herbig because I think he's entering the draft. This is about him not wanting to risk injury in a "meaningless" bowl game which would jeopardize his NFL career. But he took that same risk in every other game this season that he played in. There should be no difference.

I think if a healthy player chooses not to play in a postseason game - in any sport - then they should lose their scholarship for that year. They signed a contract that provides them an education worth $300,000 or more in exchange for playing that sport.

If the coach chooses to hold them out, that's different. But if the player chooses not to play/practice - and it appears that's what Herbig has done - then I think that's a breach of contract.

I know that sounds harsh, but I'm kinda sick of this sitting out because of risk of injury.

Viewing this from a player's perspective, isn't a bowl game also an opportunity to put some good stuff on tape and impress scouts?  We talk about McCaffrey skipping the Sun Bowl two years ago, but that's because he had plenty of stuff on tape already.  If his game against Cal (284 yards and 3 TD's rushing) didn't impress scouts, there was always the Rose Bowl, 2015 Pac-12 championship, and 2015 Big Game plus eye-popping stats to impress scouts.  Really, there was nothing that McCaffrey could do that would improve his position, but he could hurt it with a sub-par game or getting injured.

On the other hand, Solomon Thomas did improve his stock by being a "man among boys" in the Sun Bowl.  His 7 tackles, 2 TFL's, and game ending sack on the two-point conversion probably pushed him into the top-10.  Not that he hadn't been impressive before, but with the spotlight shining on him, he delivered.

Looking at this year, Love could probably improve his draft stock if he were healthy and had a breakout game that has eluded him all season.  Then again, he probably isn't fully healthy, and what are the chances he will have a breakout game given that half of the offensive line is going to be out.  His risk of injury, or of looking like he lost a step or was still injured outweighs the chances that he will have a 2017-like performance.  So, it makes sense for him to sit out.

Some of the other guys, I'm not so sure hurt themselves much by playing, so I infer that they are injured.  Herbig pancaking guys left and right would help his case, I think, given that he has likely dropped a bit on the basis of his performance this season; struggling somewhat wouldn't change the conclusion that he is a high-ceiling guy with impressive physical attributes whose performance was up and down this year.  Smith has some nice games, but he hasn't distinguished himself from other elite tight ends.  If healthy, he could improve his draft, especially with Irwin out.  I think if either of those guys were fully healthy, they would play the bowl game, because the upshot of improved exposure (game not on the Pac-12 nets) outweighs the risk of injury or hurting their draft stock. 

BC