I'm totally against an eighteen-game season, and the main reason is the amount on injuries that pile up so early and often in the brutal game. The owners that want two extra games are greedy. Do these millionaires (some billionaires) really need that little-bit-more? Do they need more of the players they love so much landing on injured reserve with season ending injuries? Nine players were placed on injured reserve this week after ONE game. A game! How can there be a good argument for more games when so many guys get hurt?
A look at the guys whose seasons are finished:
Carolina Panthers – Todd Carter (K) - Back
Obviously, Kickers are easily replaceable. I'm sure Scotsman Rhys Lloyd will do well in relief.
Chicago Bears - Hunter Hillenmeyer (LB) – Concussion
A significant loss for the Bears. Hillenmeyer suffered the concussion in week three of the pre-season, but returned to start this past Sunday against the Lions. However, he had to leave the game after feeling unwell.
Detroit Lions – Aaron Berry (CB) – Right Shoulder
The Lions acted quickly, adding Nate Vasher from the street to replace Berry. With the Lions being the Lions, if you haven't heard of Berry, he's probably not that valuable.
Green Bay Packers – Ryan Grant (RB) – Ankle
One of the biggest losses from week one. After successive 1,200yd rushing seasons, the Packers have to turn to backup Brandon Jackson, a guy who hasn't started a game since 2007, when he lost his starting job to...you guessed it, Ryan Grant. With Aaron Rodgers looking the way he is, it wouldn't surprise me if the injury barely affects the Packers offense. If anything, Rodgers will just get to throw the ball more and beef his stats for MVP candidacy.
Green Bay Packers – Justin Harrell (DE) – Knee
A starting Defensive End in a 3-4 defense is usually a big loss, but Harrell hasn't played up to his sixteenth overall selection in 2007, not by a long shot (two career games started, TWO). The Packers Defensive line should be fine without him (Pickett-Raji-Jenkins).
Houston Texans – Connor Barwin (DE) – Right Ankle
A big loss for the Texans, as Barwin completely shattered his ankle (as you can see in the picture). The Texans immediately signed free agents Ryan Denney and Adewale Ogunleye to replace him. Personally, I'm a big fan of Ogunleye and believe he'll bookend the D-line with Mario Williams over Denney for the remander of the season.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Jarrett Dillard (WR) – Undisclosed
A backup.
Kansas City Chiefs – Cameron Sheffield (LB) – Neck
A good prospect who will have to wait a year now. Shame.
New York Jets – Kris Jenkins (NT) – Knee
It's a loss for the Jets, but it could have been worse. The Jets barely differed in performance with and without Jenkins last year when he was suspended for four games. It begs the question of whether Rex Ryan's system is manageable by most players, and not just the very best. Matt Kroul replaced him in the game against the Ravens and managed pretty well against Ravens Center Matt Birk.
Philadelphia Eagles – Jamaal Jackson (C) - Torn Right Triceps
A nasty injury for the Eagles to get over. Nick Cole, the starting Right Guard who replaced Jackson (due to injury) last season for the Divisional Round game at Dallas, will most likely get the nod at Center. If he struggles however, Mike McGlynn did a good job in relief of Jackson when he went down last Sunday. If Cole does in fact start at Center, recent acquisition Reggie Wells (from Arizona) will take his place at RG.
Philadelphia Eagles – Leonard Weaver (FB) – Torn Left ACL
Weaver had a strong first season in Philly last year, and now his second season is over. The Eagles signed Owen Schmitt to replace him, a good move in my opinion. The Eagles chose him over Hard Knocks guy Jason Davis, which pleased me as Davis came off as egotistical and a locker room problem on the show. The crazy Schmitt will likely become a cult hero in Philadelphia if he manages to stay in the lineup.
San Diego Chargers – David Binn (LS) – Hamstring
Of course, a Long Snapper isn't a big loss. But still, I'm sure someone shed a tear for the guy. Well, maybe a relative...or maybe just him. /harsh
Seattle Seahawks – Max Unger (C) - Left Toe
Unger played a big part in keeping Matt Hasselbeck on his feet this past Sunday (as always), and without him there, Hasselbeck will have to be a lot more mobile, which can be difficult for a Quarterback about to turn 35. Thankfully for the Seahawks, their first round pick Russell Okung should be fit and healthy for week two.
It's not just players going on injured reserve that is worrying, it's the more dangerous short-term injuries that can result in long-term after affects. I'm talking of course about concussions. With Hillenmeyer down for the season with one, it's only a matter of time before more players are hit the same. This past Sunday, FOUR players suffered concussions - Eagles Quarterback Kevin Kolb, Eagles Linebacker Stewart Bradley, Panthers Quarterback Matt Moore, and Giants Tight End Kevin Boss. What's even worse, is Kolb and Bradley went back in to the game after they had suffered concussions! Coach Andy Reid claims they were misdiagnosed, but the NFLPA are investigating. The NFL requires a player to leave a game if they suffer a concussion. The players are then subject to tests throughout the week, and cannot practice until they are deemed physically fit to perform by independent doctors.
If it were up to me, a player suffering from a concussion would automatically be exempt from playing in the team's next game (unless a bye week followed). Players can't be too careful with brain injuries, which is why the NFL had teams put these up in the locker room:
A sobering reminder of what can happen to a person after suffering multiple concussions came from an article in the New York Times this week. University of Pennsylvania player Owen Thomas committed suicide this past April despite having no history of suffering a concussion. The autopsy showed his brain to be in the “early stages of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a disease linked to depression and impulse control primarily.“ Thomas was said to be a popular person, with no signs of depression. His parents said he never complained of headaches, but admitted he was the kind of player who would keep quiet about a concussion so he could stay in a game. That's the problem. Players don't want to come out of games because they believe it will hurt their job security. Eagles Right Tackle Winston Justice came out this week and said he's played in games where he couldn't remember where he was, or what the previous play was, but he continued on just out of instinct. Players need to be comfortable in admitting they've suffered a concussion, because the long term after effects can be deathly. Two former NFL players, Shane Dronett and Andre Waters, both took their lives after suffering from brain damage and brain tumors from playing football. They each became depressed and were seemingly left with no other choice. Nobody should have to go through the loss of a loved one because they played a brutal sport.
So, a solution is needed. Once again, if I was in charge, I would do three things:
- Increase suspensions and fines for helmet-to-helmet hits
- Take out a pre-season game, start the season a week earlier and have two bye weeks for each team.
- Automatic one game suspension (unless the next game is after a bye) if a player tests positive for a concussion.
The increase in suspension time would hopefully help decrease the amount of head injuries, and the add and subtract of a pre-season game for a bye week would help improve overall health, and give four teams an extra prime time television game, which would help the owners and their wallets (a little). I don't see how anyone but the owners could disagree with this proposal.
If there had been an extra bye week for teams last season, some of the twenty players who were placed on injured reserve in the first three weeks may have only been placed on the physically unable to perform list instead, meaning they would have been eligible to return to the team when they were healthy again. And what would one less pre-season game do to downsize injuries? Hundreds of players are on injured reserve due to injuries suffered in the largely wasteful pre-season, and you have to think how much one game less would make when each team made up their final fifty-three man rosters.
Week 2 Picks
Ravens @ Bengals
Bears @ Cowboys
Eagles @ Lions
Cardinals @ Falcons
Chiefs @ Browns
Bills @ Packers
Steelers @ Titans
Buccaneers @ Panthers
Dolphins @ Vikings
Rams @ Raiders
Seahawks @ Broncos
Texans @ Redskins
Patriots @ Jets
Jaguars @ Chargers
Giants @ Colts
Saints @ 49ers
Last week: 10-6
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