I guess the YouTube video was pulled? Alton just needs to step up and apoligize and move on. The longer he waits the worse it will be.

My opinion is you should give the leader a wide berth unless you have a legit shot to win.

There were stringer differences at the top of the field the first over the first three days (Scroggins, Faircloth) that would have made up the 7.3# difference. I would say that makes it reasonable.

Same logic you use would say Thrift has no reasonable chance to win the TTBC this year. No one caught close to his last day sack. His name wasn't one they were talking about after day 2.

Apologize for trying to win? NEVER

As far as Fouzman's comment about not being in reasonable reach to win - any competitor that has much will never put limits on himself. Catching 14lbs wasn't a ridiculous thought for AJ. He has the attitude of a winner and was going at it like he could win it.

I'll say it again - why give up? Why concede? You're there to make a living, too. Even if you don't win it, second place is a pretty decent check.

**I'm saying all of this based upon my generalization that AJ had previously gained access to the water by fishing on day 1, 2 or 3.

I am sorry but some of you guys are just being babies. #1 Jones was fishing that area all week. #2 Dean knew he was sharing water. #3 Alton was never out of it. #4 Why should Jones have to concede water? Every ounce and place is important in the angler of the year race. He did nothing wrong. You guys with this "I own the water" mentality need to get over it.

The guy who was Alton's marshal the 1st day posted on FB that Alton had already been fishing that water. If one person has a problem with another thay should take it up with that person instead of crying to the media.

Help me out because I'm getting opinions mixed with facts: 1. Did AJ fish that spot every day of the tournament? 2. Did most anglers know he was fishing that area a lot? 3. Did DR essentially start crowding AJ because he felt he could seal the deal in that cove? 4. OR did AJ crowd DR due to some perceived right to that area?

If he feels so strong about it, why is he worried about it? Who pulled the video off YouTube? Dont give up, fight it to the end..but live with the consequences. And if that is your decision...don't whine about it.

Arron Martens crowded KVD in the classic a few years back...KVD just whipped him on the water....Rojas didn't and was beat before he threw a line in. I can see both sides..."Unwritten rule" or not. Fishing for money and a living is different than fishing a local pot tourney...

Jones fished where he thought he would have a chance...rojas didn't catch fish and whined.

In the end...Faircloth cashed his chack and didn't have to worry about either one.

Thats the way it goes.

Don't know that Alton was in there the first 3 days. The Marshal for Rojas says Rojas only fished that particular stretch. It was not very easy to catch 14 , just look at the results. If I was in there for 3 days my decent alternative would not be the particular stretch Dean was fishing. Alton was not IMO in reasonable contention to win under those conditions and made a little ole human error. The unwritten rule was there and Alton knew it. It is however not an easy foible to acknowledge . We all make mistakes but in the limelight fear sometimes blinds us to acknowledging them. Fish on. They are both good people but see the world a bit different.

Joe, AJ's Marshal posted that AJ went in there to "fill his limit" on the first afternoon. At that point, per AJ's Marshal, he had TWO good fish. Caught elsewhere. His Marshal also stated they never saw Rojas that afternoon. That's because, according to Rojas' Marshal, AJ never came that far up.

Day One weigh-in, Rojas has the lead. Day two, encroachment. Day three, words are exchanged. Day four, neither wins.

And not to diminish what Todd Faircloth accomplished because it was HUGE! On that fishery in particular. Neither Jones nor Rojas may have won, anyway!

The guys saying AJ needed to concede are the same guys that tout Ike for saying "never give up" and all that bulloney. Then you hear the "he's fishing my water". Rojo instead of yapping should have invited AJ to the bank, but instead he just whined about it. I don't believe AJ is at fault, for the amount of cash these guys are going after you do what you gotta do.

Still ESPN should have got both sides of the story.

If I had found those fish on my own I would never concede water to someone if I felt I had a chance to win, period.

Sounds like they need bumper boats to fish out of!!!