Cam Ward decision: NFL Draft expert comes to defense of Miami QB

The story of the day in college football was the surprising absence of star Miami quarterback Cam Ward in the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.

Ward played and starred in the first half before hitting the bench in the second half.

Miami would go on to blow the narrow lead that Ward helped build, falling 42-41 to end the season with losses in three of its final four games. The narrative quickly pivoted to Ward and the decision not to play in the second half — whoever’s decision it was.

At least one NFL Draft analyst doesn’t believe the second half sit-out is likely to affect Cam Ward at the next level, though.

“I’ve been working all day, so I don’t know all the specifics but this Cam Ward dialogue seems silly,” wrote the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter. “One play, one series, one half… don’t care. I would be shocked if any team moved him one spot because of it.”

That’ll certainly be welcome news to Ward, who found himself under the microscope following the game.

That coach Mario Cristobal declined to address why Cam Ward missed the second half only added further fuel to the fire. Instead, the ‘Canes coach decided to keep things in house.

“I think all meetings with players and decisions like that, we make them in private and we keep them in private,” Cristobal said. “So I’ll prefer not to answer questions as it relates to that. I know he played his best while he was in there.”

Others questioned why Cam Ward would — in their view — essentially quit on his team.

“I appreciate that Cam Ward, in this day and age in CFB, played at all,” draft analyst Todd McShay wrote on Twitter. “But I just can’t imagine starting any game with teammates, especially as a quarterback, and electing to pull myself out while my teammates are still trying to finish the job in a back-and-forth battle.

“I’m a realist. I know the climate. I’m not even knocking Cam here. It’s just different.”

In any case, it’ll certainly add an interesting wrinkle to the pre-draft circuit for Cam Ward. He’s sure to face questions about the situation and how he handles those very well could move the needle.