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It's an interesting dilemma. Let's say you're a top athlete, 24 years old and one of the best in your field in the three years you've been a pro. Your team has been scratching at the gates of brilliance, and this season stands to be the best it's ever seen. But you've got ligament damage, two ligaments torn in your knee.
You could get surgery to fix it, but you'd sit out this season, and who knows how much of the team, the staff, its cohesion would last through a full season of free agency and drafts?
On the other hand, if you opt to play this season without surgery, the doctors -- multiple, after multiple opinions were sought -- warn you that damaging the knee could end your entire career.
It's not a hypothetical situation, sadly. The player in question, Shawne Merriman, has apparently chosen the former route, to play on that injured knee, roll the dice on this one season. Reaction has been mostly on the side of disappointment to horror -- the man is one illegal block away from professional oblivion, and the Chargers play the Oakland "Rules? What Rules?" Raiders twice each season.
On the other hand, the average NFL career is three and a half seasons long, and I gotta respect what he's trying to do here. I thought the man was a colossal dick for using steroids, not just for risking his own health but depriving the team of his talents for four games after suspension. It strikes me that the easy way, the safe way, the eventually-more-lucrative way is to get that surgery, take the year off, come back and sign a long-term contract after recuperating. Maybe it's his personal drive to get a ring, realizing this is probably as close as his team will ever get to that magical season. Maybe it's self-interest to cash in, strike while the iron is hot. Maybe there's more to it.
Still, it's a gusty if stupid call, and I can't help but like it.
You could get surgery to fix it, but you'd sit out this season, and who knows how much of the team, the staff, its cohesion would last through a full season of free agency and drafts?
On the other hand, if you opt to play this season without surgery, the doctors -- multiple, after multiple opinions were sought -- warn you that damaging the knee could end your entire career.
It's not a hypothetical situation, sadly. The player in question, Shawne Merriman, has apparently chosen the former route, to play on that injured knee, roll the dice on this one season. Reaction has been mostly on the side of disappointment to horror -- the man is one illegal block away from professional oblivion, and the Chargers play the Oakland "Rules? What Rules?" Raiders twice each season.
On the other hand, the average NFL career is three and a half seasons long, and I gotta respect what he's trying to do here. I thought the man was a colossal dick for using steroids, not just for risking his own health but depriving the team of his talents for four games after suspension. It strikes me that the easy way, the safe way, the eventually-more-lucrative way is to get that surgery, take the year off, come back and sign a long-term contract after recuperating. Maybe it's his personal drive to get a ring, realizing this is probably as close as his team will ever get to that magical season. Maybe it's self-interest to cash in, strike while the iron is hot. Maybe there's more to it.
Still, it's a gusty if stupid call, and I can't help but like it.
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From:
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My fear is that it's macho youthful I'm-Indestructible BS, and if he thinks he can play 16 games on a knee that's one good hit from buckling, he's insane. Every dirty player in the league is going to go after that knee - they may get a penalty, a fine and a suspension, but to take out one of your opponent's biggest assets, possibly for life? I'm guessing plenty of offensive bruisers would happily chance the suspension to be the one to turn out the lights on Lights Out. He's not exactly beloved by his opposition.
If he goes out there, the target on his back will be bigger than ever.
I hope you're right in that it's guts and not machismo.
From:
no subject
It reminds me a bit of when my staff and I were talking about the Large Hadron Collider and its non-zero chance of annihilating the earth, and he was all for it. Well, if the human race does have to be destroyed, let it not be because of our hatred or our insecurities, let it be because of Science!
I look forward to more possibilities in comparing the AFC West with the Large Hadron Collider.
From:
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Well, the Raiders have the Black Hole part taken care of...