Mo Hurst undecided about playing in the Outback bowl
Baumgardner just tweeted that Mo Hurst isnt sure if he will play in the bowl game and will discuss it with his family before making a final decision. I, for one, will not blame him one bit if he chooses to sit out. The man has given everything to this university and Jake Butt showed how that can backfire last year. Go make your millions Mo!
https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/938835026422231041
One other interesting tidbit is his quote on the potential transfers: "In football it's best not to let your feelings get hurt. The best players will play, that's how it goes".
https://twitter.com/nickbaumgardner/status/938836517069508611
December 7th, 2017 at 4:32 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
The morning guys on ESPNU discussed this exact scenario this morning. The feeling was that NFL teams don't care about a player sitting out a meaningless bowl game, but would care about a player sitting in the regular season, and that it very well could effect draft position.
But I agree with you, that could be the next logical step here. I hope it doesn't happen.
December 7th, 2017 at 7:34 PM ^
For the record, I'm one of those "if you play for the team . . . then you damn well better play for the team" kind of guys.
At the same time, Mo Hurst is awesome, came back when he didn't have to and I don't really mind what he does.
But consider this scenario: Shae Patterson comes to Michigan, wins the QB job but is only servicable and on top of that kind of an asshole (I'm sure he's actually great). What If he decides to skip a Bowl game, or a playoff game, or THE GAME because in his eyes, he's done enough to get drafted?
I think a lot of people (including me) are giving Big Mo a pass because he's such a fan favorite.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:49 PM ^
"Shutting it down earlier" in this case would mean missing the OSU game. How much more important would you say that game is/was to "the team" than the Outback Bowl? 5 times as important? 10 times? So that wouldn't happen; playing in that game is why recruits come to Michigan, not to play in the Outback Bowl.
If it's not a top-tier bowl, players who are guaranteed to go in the 1st round (like Hurst) and who already have plenty of exposure (like Hurst) and game tape for scouts to evaluate (like Hurst) are more than justified in sitting out.
I want to the team to beat SCar and end this disappointing season with a big win on New Year's. I will be glad if he plays, but completely understand if he focuses on the ultimate reason he went to school -- to get a high-paying job.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:58 PM ^
He could just as easily act sick or hurt and sit the game out and you wouldn't know if it was the truth. So in the end it doesn't matter. Nobody can make him play.
I'm tired of the The Team The Team The Team argument for having a 1st round NFL draft pick play. Here's the thing: While these 4 (or 5 in some cases) years of life are important, they are still not more important than the rest of life as a whole and as a percentage they are just a small part of life. Someone missing an exhibition bowl game in order to secure the future earnings and quality of life of one's family is more important to most.
This subject comes up every year and every year it will always be the same. If you want to have meaningless corporate money grab bowl games that masquerade as something else, then you are asking for people to decide not to play in them for various reasons over time.
December 7th, 2017 at 3:46 PM ^
Doesn't sitting the bowl game out fly in the face of "The Team, the Team. the Team?"
Maybe to an extent, but this isn't a playoff game and the counterpoint is "Jake Butt." Guys like Hurst are on the cusp of earning a ton of money. He shouldn't be faulted for wanting to protect himself at this point.
December 7th, 2017 at 5:06 PM ^
I'm sure there are guys who do that already; they have injuries they could come back from but don't push it because their team is out of whatever contention exists. That isn't particularly new.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:42 PM ^
Would hate to have him not play but would understand his reasoning. He's already put in one more regular season at U of M than he really needed to.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:42 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
Not the playoffs. Sit it out Mo. We'll watch you again on Sundays.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:46 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
i have a dollar in my pocket that says he plays.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
If your currency is both speaking to you and claiming to know the future it may be time to seek professional help
December 7th, 2017 at 2:11 PM ^
I have a quarter that predicts football games.
It's not very good though, it only gets half of them right.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
Now go play in the NFL and be great!
December 7th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
Real lame if he sits out.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
Not nearly as lame as Butt's injury in the bowl game last year.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:25 PM ^
Yeah, how dare he try and preserve his draft slot and secure millions of dollars for himself and his family. I, random fan who has never met him, demand he plays for my enjoyment.
Mo has nothing left to prove here. He should make the decision that is best for himself.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
if he wants to sit out that's totally fine, what I find weird is he committed to playing in the senior bowl?
December 7th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
Senior bowl is auditions for hundreds of NFL scouts who watch every snap at every practice leading up to the game. Totally different than an exhibition game for the benefit of (Name Your Town)'s Chamber of Commerce.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^
I thought the senior bowl was more for borderline guys or guys in the later rounds?
December 7th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 3:13 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 5:12 PM ^
They have a pretty good track record of sending guys to the NFL in the first couple of rounds. I guess if you are a clear #1 pick you maybe don't go, but even guys like Carson Wentz at least competed there.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:56 PM ^
paid to play in the Senior bowl. Sort of their first taste at professional ball.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^
Plus everybody in the Senior bowl, from coaches to players, knows it's an audition.
They try to make a good showing, but they are a little more careful about not injuring each other.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:44 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 2:04 PM ^
Dude, you are not funny, just mean.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:50 PM ^
I'm totally fine with him sitting out
BUT
I would be more fine if he were also sitting out the senior bowl. The best players are getting picked in great spots regardless of a senior bowl appearance.
They're both meaningless exhibitions -- at least one is an actual game for your actual team.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:09 PM ^
The Senior Bowl practices can really increase his draft stock. All coaching staffs are there, NFL position coaches watching every practice. The game is worthles, but the week of practice leading up can make or break him.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:13 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^
While I certainly understand it, I think it stinks. The bowl game is a reward for the team and the fanbase. Hurst will make millions because of being a part of Michigan. He should play.
Where does it stop? WIll rising juniors who will be 1st round picks start to take the last half of the season off?
December 7th, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^
and think players should play in their teams bowl games. I understand them not wanting to, but disagree with it. You have busted your ass with your teammates all year, finish what you start and play in the final game and help them win. Your still part of the program and want to help them finish the year with a win, which can help spring board them into next season and even help with recruiting.
Like you stated I also think it opens a can of worms and where does it end. Eventually you will get players saying they are sitting out the last few games of the season, because their team can't make a bowl game so why bother and risk injury.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 2:07 PM ^
Hurst will make millions because he is talented and worked extremely hard for years. Being at Michigan helped, but Michigan DID NOT put Hurst in the NFL. Hurst does not owe Michigan anything.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:31 PM ^
So if he's done playing football early, is Michigan done paying his scholarship a semester early?
December 7th, 2017 at 2:46 PM ^
Petty much?
December 7th, 2017 at 3:38 PM ^
I think that is overstating it, expecially when you yell. Hurst got excellent coaching at UM. Sure, maybe he makes it to the pros anyway but you could just as easily speculate that he never gets to the first round if he didn't go to Michigan. It's not like he was an instant star or a 5 star recruit. I think this is a clear case of both parties benefitting each other.
I agree with your overall point that he doesn't really owe Michigan anything but only because he paid his debt already, not that Michigan got no benefit.
December 7th, 2017 at 4:05 PM ^
Does capitalizing a word always equate to yelling? I always thought it just meant empahsis is being placed on that word.
December 7th, 2017 at 2:45 PM ^
Malik McDowell did just that . . . turns out it hurts your draft stock about as much as actually trying and getting hurt (instead of just pretending to get hurt 7 times a game).
December 7th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
I would love to see him play one last time but with what happened to Butt last year I would totally understand if he wanted to sit out. It was awesome watching him play this season.
December 7th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^
December 7th, 2017 at 1:57 PM ^
One big benefit to the Senior Bowl is the coaching staffs and scouts being able to interact with the players firsthand. I've listened to guys say that b/c certain players skipped the game coaches weren't able to see how coachable they actually were and it hurt their stock. That said, Mo Hurst has no reason to play in that either but if he did I'd view it differently than skipping an exhibition game.