Higdon Playing in the Senior Bowl When He Didn't Play in the Peach Bowl?
Karan Higdon admitted today that Harbaugh was pissed he didn't play in the Peach Bowl. And while I fully support any player's right to look out for his future, how can Higdon justify playing in the Senior Bowl when he didn't play in the Peach Bowl? (He's the only Michigan player in the Senior Bowl, by the way.)
The "I didn't want to get hurt before the draft" excuse is clearly not true, because he could get hurt in the Senior Bowl just as easily as he could have in the Peach Bowl. Did he sit out the Peach Bowl because he thought he had proven all he needed to in college? If so, why is he playing in the Senior Bowl?
I haven't scoured the Senior Bowl rosters enough to see if there are any guys who skipped their team's bowl game. This is his life and his career, but this is a really bad look for a Michigan captain.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:39 PM ^
Senior Bowl is huge for draft stock. All the teams and scouts are there. It's the practice that is so important. Peach Bowl does nothing.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:46 PM ^
The Orange Bowl was important for Taco Charlton’s Draft stock 2 years ago. Why does the Peach Bowl “do nothing?” They both matter IMO. Agree the Captain sitting out the Bowl was a bad look. Gary, Bush and JBB had injuries.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:54 PM ^
Your game tape, Senior Bowl performance, combine....they all matter to varying degrees.
I agree with you that the Peach Bowl certainly doesn't mean "nothing" for one's draft stock, but I do agree with the guy above that the Senior Bowl probably matters a little more. Also the Senior Bowl is an exhibition so nobody ever gets injured.
However, I still hate that Higdon sat out the Peach Bowl.
January 23rd, 2019 at 12:21 AM ^
Lol. “...nobody ever gets injured .”
https://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/01/senior_bowl_south_notebook_aar.html
It’s from a few years back, but shit happens anytime anywhere. Just ask that Patriots rookie running back from several years ago playing touch football in the sands of Hawaii. Effectively ended his NFL career. Still agree in that Higdon should’ve played in the Peach Bowl. Guess this is old news now, so time to move on.
edit: running back was Robert Edwards
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:17 AM ^
Methinks your sarcasm detector needs a checkup.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:02 PM ^
For as good as the Orange Bowl was for Taco, it was equally, if not worse for Jake Butt's. It's a risk reward, and I don't mind Higdon preparing for his future. And LMAO yea I'm sure Gary was dinged up, but he wasnt playing regardless. And that's ok too, but lets call a spade a spade.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:49 AM ^
This is really old news. Yes, he sat out the Peach and Yes, he wanted to be healthy for the Senior Bowl so he could help his NFL Stock.
This was the plan in December when he was in Florida and announced he wasn't playing in the Peach.
January 23rd, 2019 at 11:58 AM ^
Was he elected a team captain for the Senior Bowl as well?
January 24th, 2019 at 12:40 AM ^
god ....Taco was an animal. He’s down as one of my all time favs. Miss that guy, he caused a lot of havoc.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:19 PM ^
Disagree as why does one game, with a different simplified system, really help your stock.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:35 PM ^
Practice and the reps in practice against players at a similar skill level are the big thing.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:45 PM ^
You're practicing in front of scouts all week.
January 23rd, 2019 at 6:34 AM ^
Agree. Not sure how much difference it would have made had Higdon had played in the Peach Bowl but M showcased his talent for 3 years. Does that count for anything?
I hope Winovich has a long & illustrious career in the NFL as he did just the opposite. A true Michigan Man.
January 23rd, 2019 at 7:08 AM ^
"The Team, The Team, The Team" clearly means more to some than to a few others.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:39 AM ^
Baloney. The team, the team, the team is, frankly, a quaint notion from a long lost era before big (huge) money changed everything. Head coaches making 5 million, coordinators making a million plus (I'm looking at you Pep), coaching contracts meaning nothing, athletic directors making seven figures, coaches regularly jumping ship for the almighty dollar, the playoffs turning bowl games into exhibitions. Since that is how it works now why would any player with a chance to cash in not do whatever it takes to make that happen? It's not about the team, it's about the money. And why should we expect the players to be chumps and not act on that?
January 23rd, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
Okay fine, but this take is literally the ANTITHESIS of Michigan's mantra. If it is "baloney" then they need to remove it from every wall. A hollow slogan is a cancer.
January 23rd, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
Sadly it is so. But maybe that's why the winningest college football program in history has been stuck in the mud for 10-12 years.
January 23rd, 2019 at 2:32 PM ^
I don't see Chase or Shea or Hill or any of the other players who did choose to play alongside their teammates in the Peach Bowl as "chumps", nor do I see those who chose to skip it as "chumps" either. But the ones who did play hardly seem to think the slogan is a "quaint notion" but instead act as if they understand the concept of the team and their role as a teammate or team leader.
Speaking from my experiences on teams from little league thru high school, I get that. But I also get that individual players with pro aspirations (in any sport) have the right to make their own choices.
As for "baloney", give me Koegel's Bologna. Yummmm....
January 23rd, 2019 at 12:58 PM ^
While this is a fun sound bite to get the UM faithful pumped up, it holds no water in the day of transfers, coaches changing jobs, kids leaving school early, etc.
January 23rd, 2019 at 2:57 PM ^
Agree.
Since he quit the Michigan team what uniform is he wearing????
January 23rd, 2019 at 7:54 AM ^
Also you are coached by pro coaches who form opinions on your value.
January 23rd, 2019 at 6:42 AM ^
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:51 AM ^
I recall this being discussed to exhaustion about a month ago.
Where's the damn gravy?
"Mom.... the fucking meatloaf!"
January 23rd, 2019 at 12:12 PM ^
That’s false. There are a ton of NFL scouts at the bigger bowl games, if for no other reason than to catch a late rounder.
Pretty much every Bowl game I watched talked about NFL scouts in the audience and who they might be focused on.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:40 PM ^
Guys—some really bad news. Keith Jackson has passed. What a bummer.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:49 PM ^
Woah Nellie! Not again!
January 24th, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
CFB & The Jax 5 will never be the same w/o Keith & Michael...
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:51 PM ^
I miss Keith Jackson.
College football simply not the same.
January 22nd, 2019 at 11:12 PM ^
Coudn't agree more. He was special and so genuine.
"The big uglies up front are buttin heads!"
January 23rd, 2019 at 7:47 AM ^
Unbridled enthusiasm for the game of football. Always made you feel you were watching something special.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:26 AM ^
I enjoy bumping uglies too.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:47 AM ^
Yes, I've been to Kansas and know what you mean.
January 24th, 2019 at 12:37 PM ^
Yes you do Jerry.
Over and over again.
January 23rd, 2019 at 7:26 AM ^
Good laugh to start off my morning. Thanks!
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
Good thing Keith still has some of his 9 lives left.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:49 PM ^
The reason you go to college is to get a good paying job. - Barry Sanders, Sr.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:51 PM ^
Reading between the lines, it sounds like he made a business decision to rest and recuperate after the season so that he would be back in peak shape for this week and the combine.
January 23rd, 2019 at 5:41 AM ^
Which is fine and something we should respect. I’m pretty tired of people saying they support these athletes’ decisions to do what they feel is right for their own futures, and then disagreeing with their decisions. Just say you wish players still played bowl games.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:06 AM ^
I wish players still played in bowl games.
That said, in a lot of cases I find it hard to make much of a logical argument they should. Essentially it boils down to them getting a full scholarship, not 12/13ths of one, and still taking advantage of things like the school's pro day. They do have a lot of leverage, though. What's a coach going to do, tell a valuable alum and recruiting resource to get bent? NFL careers are short and getting drafted high is a big deal. And there's a little bit of a silver lining for the team in that they can try out their backups for next year and give them the reps.
That said, it's understandable that someone would want to make a decision for themselves. But that also means that that person really doesn't understand the point of being a team captain, and shouldn't be listed as one. Leadership means making some sacrifices for the good of the people you're supposed to be leading.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
He wants to get paid
January 23rd, 2019 at 6:35 AM ^
He also wanted to be captain of the team.
This is a bad look for the kid.
January 23rd, 2019 at 8:57 AM ^
Yeah, if you want to sit out the bowl game, fine. I don't like it, but whatever.
But a captain sitting out looks like a total asshole. Like the ship is taking on water and his ass is the first one in a life boat.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:10 AM ^
Totally agree. I understand that it is the players’ choice. But if you take on the captaincy, you have added responsibility to lead. Sitting out is not leading.
Also, I get the decision more if you are a sure fire top pick. Is Higdon even going to be drafted? Serious question.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:44 AM ^
Did you like in the Freep article how he was talking about the guys texting him at half time because he's a captain? What a piece of work.
January 23rd, 2019 at 9:50 AM ^
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:12 AM ^
"he even texted and talked with teammates at halftime of the Peach Bowl."
The team is spending halftime txting? No wonder we got our asses kicked.
January 23rd, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
Higdon is going to be drafted. He's likely going to get a look at day 3. I'd be surprised if he went undrafted
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:52 PM ^
A lot more scouts at the Senior Bowl...its all business at this point.
January 22nd, 2019 at 10:53 PM ^
This is old news.
Did you hear the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? /s