This past weekend saw a slew of injuries around the league. While some were minor, many of the injuries may prove costly to the teams involved. Here's a rundown.
St. Louis Rams- QB Sam Bradford is out for the season with a torn ligament in his left knee after being injured at the end of the fourth quarter of last week's game.
Houston Texans- LB Brian Cushing is out for the season. Cushing has a broken leg and a torn LCL. RB Arian Foster is out for the season with a back injury.
Indianapolis Colts- WR Reggie Wayne is out for the season with a torn ACL. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of the win over the Denver Broncos.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers- RB Doug Martin suffered a torn labrum in a loss last week against the Falcons. While the NFL Network has been reporting that the injury is season ending, head coach Greg Schiano has stopped short of stating it.
Green Bay Packers- TE Jermichael Finely is recovering from a neck injury suffered against the Browns last week. It is unknown how long he will be out. QB Aaron Rodgers is out with a broken collarbone. RB DuJuan Harris is out for the season with a knee injury. LT Brian Bulaga is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Chicago Bears- QB Jay Cutler will be out four weeks with a torn groin muscle suffered in the loss against the Redskins. They also lost LB Lance Briggs who suffered a small shoulder fracture that will keep him out six weeks. DT Henry Melton is out for the season with a torn ACL. CB Kelvin Hayden is out for the season with a torn left hamstring. DE Turk McBride is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles.
New Orleans Saints- CB Patrick Robinson is out for the season with a torn patella tendon. WR Joseph Morgan is out for the season with a torn meniscus and a partially torn ACL.
Denver Broncos- OT Ryan Clady is out for the season with a left foot injury. C Dan Koppen is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. S Raheem Moore is out for the season with a left leg injury
Atlanta Falcons- DE Kroy Biermann is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon. FB Bradie Ewing is out for the season with a separated shoulder. RT Mike Johnson is out for the season with a dislocated left ankle and fibula fracture.
Pittsburgh Steelers- LB Larry Foote is out for the season with a biceps injury. C Maurkice Pouncey is out for the season with a right knee injury. WR Plaxico Burress is out for the season with a shoulder injury.
Buffalo Bills- QB Kevin Kolb is out for the season with concussion issues.
New York Jets- FB Lex Hilliard is out for the season with a broken scapula.CB Aaron Berry is out for the season with a knee injury.
Washington Redskins- S Phillip Thomas is out for the season with a torn Lisfranc ligament in his foot.
Philadelphia Eagles- WR Arrelious Benn is out for the season with a torn ACL. WR Jeremy Maclin is out for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee.
San Diego Chargers- WR Danario Alexander is out for the season with a torn ACL. WR Malcolm Floyd is out for the season with a neck injury. LB Dwight Freeney is out for the season with a torn quadricep. LB Melvin Ingram is out for the season with a torn ACL. LB Jonas Mouton is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Baltimore Ravens- TE Dennis Pitta is out for the season with a hip injury.
Miami Dolphins- WR Armon Binns is out for the season with a torn ACL.
Tennessee Titans- QB Jake Locker is out for the season with a Lisfranc injury in his right foot.
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Tragic Death of Paul Oliver
In the wake of the ongoing concussion study comes news that another former NFL player has committed suicide. Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver died Tuesday night of a self inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Marietta, Ga. The 29 year old hadn't played professionally since 2011. He was originally drafted in the fourth-round of the 2007 supplemental draft and had his best year with the Chargers in 2010.
What makes this case even sadder is that this is the second suicide of a former Charger in a year. Junior Seau committed suicide in May 2012.
The suicide rate among former NFL players is nearly six times the national average. To date there are 24 known suicides of former players. Many of these suicides have been a direct result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease typically caused by multiple hits to the head. While it is too early to determine if this is what caused Oliver's death the fact remains that the rate of suicide in the NFL is alarming.
The question becomes, what is the NFL doing to help former players deal with no longer playing? For many the loss of income, playing, competitive edge, teamwork, etc is overwhelming and deeply depressing. How do you teach these people to cope with the transition from professional athlete to everyday citizen? What obligation does the NFL have to help them?
For current players, what help is there for someone suffering from depression? The sad fact is some of these suicides like OJ Murdock or Javon Belcher could have possibly been prevented had they received help from their teams or from the league. In a culture deeply rooted in manliness though, can a player admit he needs mental help? When players who take too long recovering from an injury are accused of being soft and told to "man up", how can someone like Oliver or Seau or Kenny McKinnley even reach out and ask for help when they are suffering from mental illness?
We live in a society that still sees mental illness as taboo. A broken leg or a torn ACL we can comprehend but clinical depression or social anxiety disorder we cannot understand. We think it's all in someone's head and they need to just "get over it". It's not as simple as just "getting over it", people need help. A therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc to talk to and help them deal with their issues. With the lack of financial help former players get, how can any of them hope to afford to get the help many of them may desperately need? How can current players ask for a break to deal with a mental rather than a physical breakdown?
The suicide epidemic in the NFL cannot be ignored. It is something the NFL must deal with. It has an obligation to help those who have sacrificed so much in the name of the sport.
What makes this case even sadder is that this is the second suicide of a former Charger in a year. Junior Seau committed suicide in May 2012.
The suicide rate among former NFL players is nearly six times the national average. To date there are 24 known suicides of former players. Many of these suicides have been a direct result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease typically caused by multiple hits to the head. While it is too early to determine if this is what caused Oliver's death the fact remains that the rate of suicide in the NFL is alarming.
The question becomes, what is the NFL doing to help former players deal with no longer playing? For many the loss of income, playing, competitive edge, teamwork, etc is overwhelming and deeply depressing. How do you teach these people to cope with the transition from professional athlete to everyday citizen? What obligation does the NFL have to help them?
For current players, what help is there for someone suffering from depression? The sad fact is some of these suicides like OJ Murdock or Javon Belcher could have possibly been prevented had they received help from their teams or from the league. In a culture deeply rooted in manliness though, can a player admit he needs mental help? When players who take too long recovering from an injury are accused of being soft and told to "man up", how can someone like Oliver or Seau or Kenny McKinnley even reach out and ask for help when they are suffering from mental illness?
We live in a society that still sees mental illness as taboo. A broken leg or a torn ACL we can comprehend but clinical depression or social anxiety disorder we cannot understand. We think it's all in someone's head and they need to just "get over it". It's not as simple as just "getting over it", people need help. A therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, etc to talk to and help them deal with their issues. With the lack of financial help former players get, how can any of them hope to afford to get the help many of them may desperately need? How can current players ask for a break to deal with a mental rather than a physical breakdown?
The suicide epidemic in the NFL cannot be ignored. It is something the NFL must deal with. It has an obligation to help those who have sacrificed so much in the name of the sport.
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Is this the end of Tim Tebow?
When New England Patriots made their final cuts to get to their 53 man roster, Tim Tebow was a name no one was shocked to see cut from the team. While many Tebow supporters were disappointed to see him not make a team, the move was not a big surprise. His few appearances during preseason were not that memorable. While he had a few flashes of brilliance, for the most part Tebow showed why he has not been a credible threat to overtake a starting quarterback position for any team with a good quarterback. His lackluster performances this preseason may have sealed his NFL fate.
Was Tebow given a fair shake in the NFL? Let's go back a ways and make a case. Tebow was a good not great quarterback in his days at Florida. While he did win a national championship and a Heisman during his time there, his skills were often hidden behind the fact that he had great receivers and a good running game. Tebow was never an under center type quarterback. He was a shotgun quarterback who could make the deep passes, but when hurried by a good defense often made poor decisions and many mistakes. He could win on spectacular last minute plays or lose on simple bad passes. He could scramble for the first down or throw the interception on the final drive. This was the duality of Tebow.
When draft time came, many analysts expected him to be a second or third round selection. He was good not great and could cost you a game as easily as he could win you one. He is a nice man but nice doesn't win you games so don't draft him if you didn't plan to spend a couple of years investing time into developing him into a NFL level quarterback. Much to everyone's shock the Denver Broncos drafted Tebow in the first round.
Tebow's time in Denver was much the same as at Florida. Flashes of greatness mixed with moments of indecisiveness and poorly thrown passes. In practice he completed less than 50 percent of his passes. In games the percentage was often lower. Somehow each week when he started though he would will the Broncos to a win. He even managed to get a playoff win, but his would not be enough to save him a job when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. He was quickly shipped off to the Jets.
Tebow's time with Jets would prove to be disastrous. Never given the opportunity to start, his few playing moments came when Sanchez would have a terrible game or was injured. Often he had to try to bring the team back from behind. Again he had moments of greatness, but for the most part he was relegated to a clipboard on the sideline. He was cut from the Jets at the beginning of training cap this season when they drafted Geno Smith.
New England would be his next and final stop. People had hoped he would move to tight end as the Patriots were in need of a tight end after cutting Hernandez and an injured Gronkowski unable to play. He never played that position and the few times he did play in preseason showed the Patriots nothing worth keeping him as even a third stringer.
There are those who suggest Tebow go play in the CFL, in Europe or even in Arena League, but he is determined to make it in the NFL. If a team suffers an injury to their starting quarterback and is in need of a back up to their back up he may get a chance, but at this point it seems that ship has sailed and the Tebow era in the NFL may finally have ended.
Was Tebow given a fair shake in the NFL? Let's go back a ways and make a case. Tebow was a good not great quarterback in his days at Florida. While he did win a national championship and a Heisman during his time there, his skills were often hidden behind the fact that he had great receivers and a good running game. Tebow was never an under center type quarterback. He was a shotgun quarterback who could make the deep passes, but when hurried by a good defense often made poor decisions and many mistakes. He could win on spectacular last minute plays or lose on simple bad passes. He could scramble for the first down or throw the interception on the final drive. This was the duality of Tebow.
When draft time came, many analysts expected him to be a second or third round selection. He was good not great and could cost you a game as easily as he could win you one. He is a nice man but nice doesn't win you games so don't draft him if you didn't plan to spend a couple of years investing time into developing him into a NFL level quarterback. Much to everyone's shock the Denver Broncos drafted Tebow in the first round.
Tebow's time in Denver was much the same as at Florida. Flashes of greatness mixed with moments of indecisiveness and poorly thrown passes. In practice he completed less than 50 percent of his passes. In games the percentage was often lower. Somehow each week when he started though he would will the Broncos to a win. He even managed to get a playoff win, but his would not be enough to save him a job when the Broncos signed Peyton Manning. He was quickly shipped off to the Jets.
Tebow's time with Jets would prove to be disastrous. Never given the opportunity to start, his few playing moments came when Sanchez would have a terrible game or was injured. Often he had to try to bring the team back from behind. Again he had moments of greatness, but for the most part he was relegated to a clipboard on the sideline. He was cut from the Jets at the beginning of training cap this season when they drafted Geno Smith.
New England would be his next and final stop. People had hoped he would move to tight end as the Patriots were in need of a tight end after cutting Hernandez and an injured Gronkowski unable to play. He never played that position and the few times he did play in preseason showed the Patriots nothing worth keeping him as even a third stringer.
There are those who suggest Tebow go play in the CFL, in Europe or even in Arena League, but he is determined to make it in the NFL. If a team suffers an injury to their starting quarterback and is in need of a back up to their back up he may get a chance, but at this point it seems that ship has sailed and the Tebow era in the NFL may finally have ended.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Cons of Training Camp-Key Losses to players before the season even begins
Training camp for all 32 teams began last week and already several teams have lost some valuable players for the season. The Baltimore Ravens lost TE Dennis Pitta for the season with a fractured hip. Denver Broncos lost C Dan Koppen for the season with a torn ACL. New York Jets lost CB Aaron Berry for the season with a torn ACL.
With so many injuries just days into training camp, questions arise on the health and safety on the athletes as well as what is too much training. Many football players come into training camp out of shape. They risk injuries and in extreme cases death. While a death in training camp has not happened in more than a decade, it is still a potential threat especially with players topping the scales at over 300 pounds and working out in extreme weather conditions. Extra weight only compounds this problem even more.
The offseason now is much shorter than in decades past. After the Super Bowl in January, players weren't due back for training camp until July which gave them a six month break. Nowadays the Super Bowl occurs in February with the draft occurring in April and players due for organized team activities (commonly referred to as OTAs) beginning in May, minicamp beginning in June and training camp in July. This gives some teams only a three month break. Players need to stay in an all most year round condition or find themselves suffering training camp and early season injuries. Are these injuries a result of poor conditioning or a lack of rest? If players in years past were able to sustain less injuries with less training, why is more training and more preseason games mandatory? You risk losing essential players before a single game is played.
The four preseason games system has been under scrutiny for many years as well. Before the signing of the last collective bargaining agreement, owners wished to add on two additional preseason games (which was voted down by the Players Association) while many players have always wished to cut the preseason to just two games. Every year when a player suffers a training camp or preseason injury, the same questions arise again and again. There is no full proof system that will guarantee player safety and insure that no player will not be injured prior to the beginning of the season, but a solution must be reached. A team should not have their possible playoff contention removed prior to the first snap of the season.
With so many injuries just days into training camp, questions arise on the health and safety on the athletes as well as what is too much training. Many football players come into training camp out of shape. They risk injuries and in extreme cases death. While a death in training camp has not happened in more than a decade, it is still a potential threat especially with players topping the scales at over 300 pounds and working out in extreme weather conditions. Extra weight only compounds this problem even more.
The offseason now is much shorter than in decades past. After the Super Bowl in January, players weren't due back for training camp until July which gave them a six month break. Nowadays the Super Bowl occurs in February with the draft occurring in April and players due for organized team activities (commonly referred to as OTAs) beginning in May, minicamp beginning in June and training camp in July. This gives some teams only a three month break. Players need to stay in an all most year round condition or find themselves suffering training camp and early season injuries. Are these injuries a result of poor conditioning or a lack of rest? If players in years past were able to sustain less injuries with less training, why is more training and more preseason games mandatory? You risk losing essential players before a single game is played.
The four preseason games system has been under scrutiny for many years as well. Before the signing of the last collective bargaining agreement, owners wished to add on two additional preseason games (which was voted down by the Players Association) while many players have always wished to cut the preseason to just two games. Every year when a player suffers a training camp or preseason injury, the same questions arise again and again. There is no full proof system that will guarantee player safety and insure that no player will not be injured prior to the beginning of the season, but a solution must be reached. A team should not have their possible playoff contention removed prior to the first snap of the season.
Monday, July 29, 2013
The Jets QB Controversy
After bringing in Tim Tebow last season to in theory bolster their offense, Jets fell to a dismal 6-10 behind the lackluster play of Mark Sanchez. This season Jets drafted QB Geno Smith in the second round once again bringing about another quarterback controversy.
Sanchez had a remarkable first two seasons, but since then his numbers and completion percentage have declined each year. The last season became most notorious for the "butt fumble." While Rex Ryan had in previous years defended his quarterback, this year the reality is that Smith may get the nod over Sanchez. Smith is a flashy quarterback. In his four years at West Virginia he completed 988 of 1465 passes for 11,662 yards, 98 TDs and 21 INTs. This is in stark contrast to Sanchez who was the starting quarterback for only one season at USC before declaring for the NFL draft. His lack of college experience and his recent failings under center may force the Jets to move on.
As of now Ryan refuses to commit to either quarterback advising the position is up for grabs at this point. Neither Sanchez nor Smith have had standout performances in training camp thus far leaving the Jets without a clear starter. They cannot rotate the two quarterbacks in and out without potentially causing confusion to the offense and to each quarterback. This proved disastrous for the Jets last season in a match up against the Steelers when a slumping Sanchez was replaced by Tebow for two plays only to be brought back in; Jets loss the game 27-10.
With Ryan on the hot seat this season, he cannot afford another season of poor performance and double digit losses. A decision must be made for the present and future of the Jets.
Sanchez had a remarkable first two seasons, but since then his numbers and completion percentage have declined each year. The last season became most notorious for the "butt fumble." While Rex Ryan had in previous years defended his quarterback, this year the reality is that Smith may get the nod over Sanchez. Smith is a flashy quarterback. In his four years at West Virginia he completed 988 of 1465 passes for 11,662 yards, 98 TDs and 21 INTs. This is in stark contrast to Sanchez who was the starting quarterback for only one season at USC before declaring for the NFL draft. His lack of college experience and his recent failings under center may force the Jets to move on.
As of now Ryan refuses to commit to either quarterback advising the position is up for grabs at this point. Neither Sanchez nor Smith have had standout performances in training camp thus far leaving the Jets without a clear starter. They cannot rotate the two quarterbacks in and out without potentially causing confusion to the offense and to each quarterback. This proved disastrous for the Jets last season in a match up against the Steelers when a slumping Sanchez was replaced by Tebow for two plays only to be brought back in; Jets loss the game 27-10.
With Ryan on the hot seat this season, he cannot afford another season of poor performance and double digit losses. A decision must be made for the present and future of the Jets.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Photo Page-Super Bowl XLVII
In 2013 I went to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. It was the most amazing experience. I saw many current and former NFL players and got to enjoy a great game despite the blackout just after half time. It was weird to sit in the dark inside the stadium but how many people get to have the experience of being at the Super Bowl?
Photo Page-2011 Cleveland Browns Training Camp
In 2011 I attended Cleveland Browns training camp between the festivities at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It was my first training camp and I got a chance to see players like Colt McCoy, Josh Cribbs, Peyton Hillis, Ben Watson and Mohamed Massaquoi in person.
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