Jaylon Smith Doesn't Regret Playing In The Bowl Game That Cost Him Millions Of Dollars And His Rookie Season

Honestly. With Everything I've been through, If I could go back to Jan. 1st I'd play again. #ClearEyeView

— Jaylon Smith (@thejaylonsmith) December 20, 2016

I got to be honest, I am a little torn here. I am having a little trouble deciphering whether this is the smartest or dumbest thing ever tweeted.

On one hand, if this were a 'Groundhog Day' situation and Jaylon Smith decided to play despite having even the smallest inclination that he could potentially do irreparable structural damage to his knee while costing himself a year in the NFL and the difference in guaranteed money between a first and second round pick then he might need to hire a full staff of life coaches.

On the other hand, why not say he would play that same game again if he could? At this point, the only good that Jaylon Smith did by playing in a meaningless bowl matchup was upholding some implied promise he made as a student athlete on scholarship. I said the other day that I have no problem with high profile prospects - or anyone else for that matter - sitting out corporate fundraisers that are disguised as postseason games to ensure their health heading into the biggest day of their lives. However, if you had already compromised that health for nothing more than another 'L' on your collegiate record then you might as well grasp tightly to the idea that you showed an undying loyalty to your teammates by doing so. 

Imagine if your best friend's hot sister came on to you when you were younger and you turned her down because you knew it was the right thing to do, and then your best friend's hot sister grew up to become Scarlett Johansson. Considering the good deed had already been done and ScarJo was never again going to come-a-knockin', of course you would say you didn't live to regret keeping your dick in your pants when the ultimate notch on the belt tried to undo yours. The truth of the matter is that you would have been much more of a Steve Stifler than a Jim Levenstein if you had even an ounce of fucking foresight. Fortunately, your homie doesn't have to know that and neither do the Notre Dame faithful that think Jaylon Smith loves the Fighting Irish more than his ability to walk without a limp.