Seth Emerson ($$) asked Eric Stokes about his decision to skip the bowl game in order to prepare for the draft. His answer, in part:
Just making that decision, I was pretty much listening to my teammates: ‘Hey man, you don’t really need to play this, you’ve already done everything that you did. I don’t want you to risk anything, just go ahead and do you, you’ve already made your money here.’ Hearing that stuff from my teammates assured me that we would be good regardless. It made me feel way better.
Wait, his teammates didn’t think he was a traitorous quitter? Inconceivable!
Get The Picture 
That’s what it really boils down to: your teammates. If that’s what he wants to do, and his teammates and coaches support that decision, then screw the fans. I feel the same way about early departures. If you’re a first rounder, by all means, go. Even a second rounder, for that matter.
Anyone that gets that upset over what a player decides is best for himself has other issues.
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‘ you’ve already made your money here.’ – what does THIS mean?
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figure of speech IYAM.
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Yeah, probably not the best choice of words lol
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He’s proven all he needs to prove (at UGA) to guarantee an NFL payday.
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I’m sure he was referring to that hefty stipend and invaluable education.
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ThT he has shown where he should go in the draft.
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It means he did well enough at Georgia to make money in the league.
The context makes it completely obvious.
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You’ll get no more Micky D’s here…
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all these other games outside of the final 4 teams have just been rendered useless…..there is really not much to play for.
the sooner they decide to include more that have a shot at the title, the better.
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I have no problem that he decided not to play. I also believe he could have made some money by playing as Azeez seems to have done. Good luck to him.
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I agree that he could have made more money like Azeez, but he also could have blown a knee like D’Eriq King. You never know, and given that payday wasn’t that far away, I can see how it’s really easy to avoid the risk.
I’ll always remember this play:
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Fat Tony didn’t know what hit him.
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wasnt stokes the one that nearly killed the UT QB 2 years ago?
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Yes it was. If you look closely, you can see the exact moment Mauer’s soul leaves his body. Second best hit on the play was on the referee.
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Mr. Irrelevant. Ended up making the team.
Way to work it, Tae.
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Not only made the Giants, he became an important contributor.
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Little peak behind the curtain that some of the fan base needed see. That’s real world. No Natty on the line; first round pick. His own teammates telling him to sit it out with literally millions of dollars on the line.
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I haven’t seen any mock drafts that have Stokes in the first round. I have seen Campbell as a potential late first rounder.
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Yeah, Stokes probably should’ve come back.
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I’m not convinced he should have returned for the 2021 season. My comment was primarily that I thought he missed an opportunity to improve his draft position by skipping the bowl game.
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I can’t be the only one who doesn’t think Campbell lived up to his star ranking. I really feel like he isn’t even close to first round material.
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I agree with you. I thought he made a bad decision to come out. I wouldn’t use a first round pick (and money) on him. I would rather watch him and see if he was worth the 2nd contract.
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He certainly did not demonstrate sound judgment by getting onto a dirt bike at night on Old Macon Hwy.
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That was Lecounte.
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Very true
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I was going to mention LeCounte as well.
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Glad for him that at least some of his teammates felt that way. Some fans, alumni, supporters, donors–like me–might’ve felt differently. We’re entitled to our opinions too.
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Not saying what he did was right or wrong, just wanting to gauge opinions. At what point of the season is it acceptable to shut it down and get ready for the draft. As soon as UGA lost to FL, they were essentially eliminated from playoff contention with nothing left to play for but pride. Is there less risk to playing the remainder of the regular season games but the risk is too high for the bowl game? Why not call it a day as soon as the golden ring is no longer obtainable?
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That’s what the Duke bball player did right?
Or let’s suppose JT shines v. Clemson, earns unanimous 1st rd status per all the experts and then opts out. Do we applaud him for being money wise?
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1) totally unsurprising that teammates do not care about this issue. If they aren’t hating on Newman, why Eric?
2) bowl games don’t matter. Its playoffs or bust. And that’s sad. All the people that needed the certainty of an objective champ have messed college football up.
3) bowl games are now exhibition games for the following season. The team that earned the bowl trip doesn’t play on the bowl trip.
4) Someone really needs to tell me how 1/1/84 wasn’t good enough for them. The old bowl system was far better than what we have now.
The law of unintended consequences is a bitch to learn.
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I think we need to accept the fact that non-CFP bowl games are now much more a preview of the coming season than a postlude to the previous one.
I’m guessing we’re not far from a coach encouraging his seniors to sit so he can start getting the understudies some extra practice and game reps.
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Dan Mullen would agree
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I wonder if anybody said “You need to come back and finish your degree. Education is important and valuable.”
LMAO!
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Players turn pro and come back later to get their degrees all the time.
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Okay, I guess I have to acknowledge the reference. 😄
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To quote a senator: “They’ve gone NASCAR!”
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