When former LSU RB Leonard Fournette announced he was sitting out the Citrus Bowl, it started a debate among sports media members, fans, coaches and players about whether projected high draft picks should risk injury in a non-championship game. Fournette and Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey received a substantial amount of criticism for not playing in what could have been their final collegiate games.

In the case of Fournette, it turns out that criticism might have been unfair, as he told the NFL Network that it was coach Ed Orgeron’s decision to have him sit out the Citrus Bowl.

“To be honest, it really wasn’t my decision,” Fournette told NFL Now Live. “My coach brought me into the office. He told me ‘You have a lot on the line.’ He didn’t want me to play. I cried like a baby. It was hard for me. That was my first time not really traveling with the team and I couldn’t play in a game with my brothers. I’m going to miss them.”

LSU went onto the win Citrus Bowl without Fournette 29-9 over Louisville. Derrius Guice, Fournette’s backup, led the way with 138 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns.

Fournette’s reveal to NFL Live Now will likely have many wonder why Orgeron didn’t take ownership of the decision publicly while his player was subject to media criticism.

Orgeron had previously made it sound like whether to play or not was up to Fournette, saying he was fine with the decision.