Higdon spotted in FL, likely sitting out bowl
A follower of mine on twitter sent me a photo of himself with Karan Higdon at the airport in Fort Lauderdale.
Higdon said he’s down in FL working out. One can only assume the rumors are correct. Higdon is from Florida.
The Team isn’t on vacation either. They’re practicing for the Peach Bowl in Ann Arbor so....?
December 18th, 2018 at 2:21 PM ^
Aren't 99% of the eligible players across all bowl teams going to participate this bowl season already?
Seems like a solution in search of a problem.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:25 PM ^
Uh.. the NCAA is the schools. That's what it is: an athletic association of schools.
Players can and should insure themselves if they think that they have a high earning potential at risk.
December 18th, 2018 at 1:57 PM ^
Where does this end? Are the players allowed to sit out mid-season games against soft opponents? Against overpowering teams where they stand a higher chance of injury?
You're either on the team and practicing and playing, or you're not on the team, and then I don't think you are on scholarship anymore.
Going home to Florida or starting an agency during the season and semester is incompatible with retaining benefits derived from being on the team, IMO.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:12 PM ^
I understand the logic behind it and don't begrudge any of the players making this decision for making it, but damn is it the antithesis of every thing I want to like about college athletics. I wish the NFL and NBA would just actually make real, functional minor leagues and allow the amateur athletes to be amateur athletes. I know it won't happen, but one can dream.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^
His choice. His life. I respect the decision. He’s got a kid and a family to provide for, so I don’t blame him for not taking any chances.
This will definitely open the door for Christian Turner to make an impression.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:39 PM ^
Would you be okay if Shea Patterson and DPJ sit out the Middle Tennessee State opener next year? I mean, it's meaningless. Why take the chance? They will someday have a family to provide for. You can't be out there playing deathball and risk murder in a meaningless game, right?
What if we're out of the B1G race come late November. What if we're (God forbid) 4-7. Can those guys sit out OSU? I mean, it's meaningless. They have a future to consider, not this silly game guaranteed to result in paralysis, right?
I'm obviously going to extremes to make a point, but I don't think we're that far off from these hypotheticals rearing their ugly head. We're accepting players openly quitting their teams with games left to play. When did this become okay? I don't understand. Why does anybody play at all? Why don't we skip these dangerous games that (almost never) result in career-threatening injury and just hold a series of 40-yard dashes and combine exercises for 3 months? That's the point, right?
I mean, you don't care about Christian Turner's health? You don't care if he lays his life on the line for Michigan? You'll sacrifice him to the injury gods, but Higdon is exempt? Why? Why don't we sit everybody? Why is Turner's ACL expendable, but Higdon's is not?
December 18th, 2018 at 2:45 PM ^
Good for him. He did his part for the team. I think it is time we accept Bowl games will be all about getting young players experience in somewhat big games against somewhat good opposing teams. And be happy for young men who have defied huge odds to put themselves in a position to provide for themselves and their families.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:46 PM ^
I've got zero problems with Karan sitting it out. Would I love for him to play? Absolutely, but he's got a daughter and family to provide for. Blowing out his knee in a bowl game would certainly drop his stock and would lose money. He gave everything to this team since his arrival in Ann Arbor and has been a class act the whole way.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:48 PM ^
Bowl games are a largely meaningless exhibition in which the players are essentially unpaid. Guys with serious NFL aspirations put their career at risk by playing in these games (see Jake Butt).
People are clutching their pearls about guys not playing in an exhibition which could permanently affect their career. Try not to be so selfish as to be angry at another guy for not putting his career on the line so you can enjoy a game no one outside of the Michigan or Florida fanbases will remember past next August...
December 18th, 2018 at 9:36 PM ^
Pearl clutching? and you're hyperventilating about "putting their career on the line"? lol.
What are the odds of the career ending injury happening exactly?
It doesn't matter how small they are because they are the same fucking odds they had the first game of the season, or the 17th play of the 8th game of the season. The risk hasn't increased, only our attention to it.
People are so fucking obsessing with GETTING PAID they forget that these are team sports and there are expectations and responsibilities to being on a team in the first place.
This slippery slope is a sheet of ice, hosed down with WD40.
December 19th, 2018 at 6:01 AM ^
Hyperventilating? Stop trying to build a strawman. We all saw Jake Butt get injured which tanked his draft stock. He's fortunate he's been able to play.
I'm not saying it's a 50/50 proposition that you're getting a career ending injury. I am saying a player is perfectly rational for concluding it's not worth the risk to play in meaningless bowl game when the NFL draft (the career most of them have been working for for years) is right around the corner.
December 18th, 2018 at 2:58 PM ^
I have no problem with him sitting out. But if you're a captain, then go with the team, be on the sideline, talk to your guys. Put him on the injury report with a sore leg or whatever if you have to. He should be there ton lead the guys that he took the responsibility to lead when he accepted being a captain. I think the failure to do that sucks and reflects on him.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:18 PM ^
This is the new norm. First it was the top draft picks sitting. Now it is going to expand to those who are likely to get drafted. Get used to it, not going away. I won't comment as it is not my life. I am a fan, of course it would be nice to see Michigan's best players play. But, again, not my life. Wish those guys well that wore the Block M well and next man up. Let's see some new talent. To me, it is more interesting to see some players we have not seen get experience then to see a player who can't help Michigan next year.
Like many of you, the game really is a money grab for everyone but the players and coaches. Unless you are in the CFP, you might as well use it like a scrimmage for the following year.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:27 PM ^
I get people are frustrated, but for a running back in today's game this is not all that concerning.
If you recall another highly respected, team captain in Christian McCaffery did the same thing.
At this point, a 200 yard 3 TD game from Higdon is not going to launch him from the 5th all the way to the 1st or 2nd Rd, so what's the point?
Preserve your body and avoid potential injury that drops you out of the draft entirely. I would love to see him play, but I get the rationale.
More to money to potentially lose than gain in this game for Higdon.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:44 PM ^
There are two points that seem problematic if I am a GM and looking for a guy ready for the NFL grind:
1. Why play in an all-star game that is further away from the timing/intensity for top tier football (ie a proxy for the NFL) than a NY6 bowl game?
2. If a guy ducks his team to avoid injury now for a “personal business decision”, what happens in week 12-16 if our NFL team is outside the playoff hunt? Will he bail when I need a pro to do the right thing for the team?
December 18th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
The all-star game's value lies primarily in the practice leading up to the game, where the real scouting is happening.
A guy isn't going to just stop playing in the NFL because he's doing a job getting a paycheck. Players who skip bowl games are, of course, forfeiting their paychecks from their athletic departments, but there since they don't get paid, the effect is negligible.
December 18th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^
Good. Nothing against Higdon, but if you’re not on the team next year I don’t want you to play in this game. Win or lose, this game (and the prep leading up to the game) is entirely about development and getting ready for next season.
December 18th, 2018 at 4:36 PM ^
Downvote me if you must, but Higdon won't sniff a 53-man roster next year. Pretty good college back but doesn't have the vision to succeed at the next level.
Just telling it how I see it.
December 18th, 2018 at 4:54 PM ^
How I hope Christian Turner receives the news...
December 18th, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^
I. Don't. Like. It.
December 19th, 2018 at 2:24 AM ^
.
.Are you the
.Knowledge.
December 18th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
That's disappointing but it's his choice, he's done enough. I hope Tru gets the lions share, love how he cuts it upfield perfectly.
December 18th, 2018 at 7:26 PM ^
Was he spotted with Spuds MacKenzie?