re: Leonard Fournette responds to noise surrounding bowl decision

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they just want him to be a part of the TEAM and finish with his TEAMmates. This has nothing to do with him playing football. He bailed on his TEAM

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Are you part of that TEAM? Or are you just offended because you are FAN?

If you are the former, you should tell him to his face. Otherwise, quit yer bitching.

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Are there opportunities to provide valuable advise to younger players or deliver encouragement to players that look up to him etc.?

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I think they will be fine

he's been there all year, and it's nearly January.

Again, you people actively seek out something to be pissy about.

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Ultimately, I want Leonard to do what is best for him. He damn sure doesn't owe me anything. But if I was an owner about to pay him millions of dollars, I would at least have questions regarding his commitment to his teammates and his leadership abilities.

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Not to be a dick, that's why you're not an owner. Despite all of this, he will go no later than top 15. Owners think in terms of business-period. I'd like to think many of them understand that the earlier he gets the ball rolling regarding the NFL, the better of he will be.

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You tell me how wanting more for his family is a "cop out" and a bad decision.

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This the part that gets me. What is more important, the optics of not playing in a bowl game or making a decision putting your family first. At the end of the day, we all make decisions (or most of us) thinking about our families first. If he feels that he will not be 100% and by going out there and playing could have an impact on his draft status, then that is a decision he should be selfish with. He owes it to his daughter and the rest of his family to protect himself financially. Let's say he does go out there to appease the fans and reinjures his ankle, has to have surgery to repair it, and misses the combine. he then goes into draft day with questions of his durability. Running backs have a short life span as is. Busts are a plenty at the position as well. With the way RBs are used in today's NFL, he could drop in the draft with issues surrounding his durability, costing him millions. That directly affects his family. For all we know, this could be the biggest pay day of his life. His future success in the NFL is an unknown. Not one person on this message board has likely ever faced a decision that could potentially be a multi-million dollar decision. Calling him a disgrace or whatever ridiculous names people have come up with is just ridiculous. Guy busted his arse for 3 years and by all accounts was a great team mate and a great person. And to boot, O said he was on pace to graduate in May. He has done nothing but represent LSU well. What's truly a disgrace are the people that have turned a complete 180 on the kid because of decision concerning his health and his future that is only his to make.

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Ultimately, I want Leonard to do what is best for him. He damn sure doesn't owe me anything. But if I was an owner about to pay him millions of dollars, I would at least have questions regarding his commitment to his teammates and his leadership abilities.

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His new commitment is to his future employers and to protect their future investment. I don't think they'd have any issue with him making sure he's 100% healthy going into the combine, team workouts, and Rookie Training Camp. It was a business decision, just like they make every day. I can guarantee you one thing...had Fournette sustained the injury he did preseason, he wouldn't have been suiting up for an NFL team the first two months of the season like he did for LSU.

How does signing with an agent early have anything to do with him getting healthy?

Good for you LF7!! You gotta do what's in the best interest of your family and your future.

I don't care that he isn't playing. He's been hurt so I get that. But he's been acting really a stupid ever since he announced he wasn't playing.

You guys are un-fricking-believable. This dude has laid everything out for LSU since he's been here, he's played hurt for his team, he's been an ambassador for the university and you all want to bitch about him missing a bowl game? Come the frick on. A lot of you are so hopeless it's pathetic and it really pisses me off seeing so called Tiger fans turning their backs on one of the best we've ever had. Way to show your appreciation to Leonard for staying home and playing at LSU when he could have gone anywhere else and probably had more success.

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Read much?

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yes, and I've seen articles with opinions that go both ways

hell I just read on article on NFL live

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An NFC West scout told College Football 24/7 he doesn't expect the decisions of Fournette or McCaffrey to be viewed as a negative by scouts, and pointed to Smith's situation, as well. "I don't view it as a big deal for players of Fournette and McCaffrey's caliber," the scout said. "You know Jaylon Smith has to wish he had sat out the Fiesta Bowl. I would say it's a smart decision." NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci said he hopes the practice doesn't become more common. "If it's based on (injuries), I get it, no question about it," Mariucci told The Rich Eisen Show on Monday. "I hope it doesn't start a trend where the premiere players who think they're going to be top-10 picks say 'I'm not going to play because I don't want to get hurt.' Jaylon Smith is an example, I know that. It happens in every sport." Dallas Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott weighed in Monday calling for prospects to compete in bowl games, but like Mariucci, he expressed understanding for players who have been injured. Both Fournette and McCaffrey dealt with injury problems this season, particularly Fournette, who missed four games. "I've talked to a dozen scouts who went through there (LSU), did their due diligence, and there's no doubt he was legitimately hurt," said NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah. College Football 24/7 Hot Topics: Who'll end up with draft's top pick? Top 10 Heisman candidates for 2017 Tracking underclassmen intentions for draft 2016 bowl schedule Brooks and Jeremiah agreed that Fournette and McCaffrey won't be thought of any less by NFL scouts. But that doesn't mean the decision that's right for them would be right for any underclassman under any circumstance. "For guys viewed as first-round picks that have a large body of work, it's one thing," Jeremiah said. "Now if you're a one-year starter viewed as a third- or fourth-round pick, you'd be missing out on an opportunity to help yourself. But those elite players can't really help themselves in a setting like the Sun Bowl."

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the only difference is you and others seem to think it's a big deal that he isn't on the sidelines eating cheetos joking it up with the scout players.

This won't matter to NFL GM's-period. Moving on.