I have mixed emotions about this. 1. I have a bone spur and I know they can hurt like hell even to walk. Feels like you step on a blunt nail with every step. So, I have some empathy that he is attempting to play this season. Maybe he shouldn't have.
As mentioned earlier, he likely would be one of the top draft picks regardless of this season. BUT, he chose to play. Bruised ribs? Give me a break. I'm sure they hurt like hell but bad enough to not play? I don't buy it.
So, I'm thinking he basically is buying into that he's "all that" and doing exactly what he wants to do. Spurrier backed off, it certainly appears to me, for PR reasons.
It's not the first time it's happened on a team. It won't be the last. I just hope the kid gets himself under control and plays the best he can for the rest of the season OR quits.