- Jun 10, 2014
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- Collingwood
I make no claim to know anything about Beams and his situation. I was contending that the idea of "playing a mental illness card" when one isn't suffering a mental illness is a crazy idea (which might make it a paradox?) because generally speaking it doesn't run with a player's self-interest.Thrashing this out a little further. Wouldn’t the player need to first be welcome at the club in order to do that?
IMO, there exists a potential outcome where you’re both right. Beams is willing to play on, but he’s not welcome at the club and in order to withhold that information from the general public we have an individual gaming the system...
It’s also worth remembering we have a precedent at our club of players exploiting the system from Beams first stint. Players were self reporting illicit substance use to avoid strikes. Coincidentally it was during a period where Beams has a 16 week quad injury
As you say, it might be a different story if other things are at play. But as an aside, if Beams wants to train/play/rehab, but he isn't welcome at the club, then unless Beams has breached his contract, he is entitled to every penny under his contract over the remaining term. But if the BF hints are true, maybe negotiations are under way.
Not suggesting there weren't self-reporters gaming the system, but not sure a 16 week quad injury supports a suspicion of that when at that time even a third strike would have only gotten you 12 games?