ESPN's Danny Kanell has impressive rant about bowl game debate
Monday has been dominated by debate over whether or not college athletes should remain with their team for a bowl game or forgo the risk of injury and skip the game to prepare for their NFL future.
It’s essentially a debate over whether an individual should protect his future or show loyalty to his team in a game that is likely meaningless. The debate gained steam when star running backs Leonard Fournette and Christian McCaffrey announced they would not be playing in their team’s bowl game.
Such decisions rubbed some people the wrong way, and ESPN’s Danny Kanell is certainly among them. He went on quite the Twitter crusade to make his feelings known on the matter.
I hate this trend of players bailing on their teammates for bowl game but I get it. Really complicated issue. No easy answer.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Of course this move will be applauded by most because we live in "me first" culture now. The days of playing for your team sadly going away.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Does everyone who keeps using Jaylon Smith injury as an example of why players should skip bowl realize he got paid an insurance claim???
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Oh hey look…another former player who agrees https://t.co/ON9lRGJUz2
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
I hate players skipping bowls. But I get it. It's a complicated issue.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Yet another former athlete on the side of TEAM first. I guess we're all just hot take artists??? Sure. https://t.co/rxGwJqmZCj
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
So I guess Dak Prescott should stop playing this season. He's severely underpaid as a franchise qb. Why risk injury? Got to get his right?!?
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
What do players sign then on "national signing day"?? https://t.co/tp8okFkNHI
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
oh look….there goes another one. https://t.co/pMieRJgjzJ
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
Don't worry people….if you never played on a team I don't expect you to understand the concept of it. But listen to the ones that did.
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) December 19, 2016
There is no right or wrong answer in this debate, and everyone is entitled to his or her opinion. The great thing about sports is that it is a tremendous platform for discussion.
While you may not agree with the stance Kanell has taken, he has not shied away from his beliefs and is willing to accept the criticism that comes with his position.