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NFLPA president Winston has no problem with McCaffrey skipping bowl game

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle and NFLPA president Eric Winston reiterated his position that players should be allowed to sit out bowl games in order to prep for the NFL, after the draft concluded Saturday.

Christian McCaffrey and Leonard Fournette both drew scrutiny for skipping their final collegiate games for the draft, and some speculated whether it would affect their draft stock.

Fournette was selected fourth overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars, while McCaffrey went eighth overall to the Carolina Panthers, proving their critics wrong.

Winston agreed with both players' decisions and elaborated on his stance during the weekend.

"I don't think my opinion's changed," Winston said Saturday to The MMQB's Albert Breer. "The thing that's changed is that another false narrative has been proven false once and for all. The whole idea that, 'Man, if you sit out your bowl game, then they're gonna think less of you and you won't get drafted as high,' has obviously been proven false again. We all knew it was false.

"And McCaffrey actually took it another step, and said, 'I'm not doing any of the workouts either. I'll do my pro day and you can work me out there, but I'm not doing any of these private workouts.' And good for him. I think back to December, and I said that's really one of your first big business decisions that you have to make. Bottom line, it's a business decision."

Fournette and McCaffrey have won the support of the NFLPA without playing a down, an omen that bodes well for both of their careers.

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