Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

The Weird, Wacky and Awesome World of the NFL - General Banter thread

Options
1292293295297298349

Comments

  • Posts: 3,518 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Neil3030 wrote: »
    Kinda LOL that two guys on that list now have Superbowl rings :pac:

    One rushed for 10 yards over 3 carries and the other never played a game.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,469 ✭✭✭Adamcp898


    Far from the real thing, but the CFL kicks off tonight.

    Chad ''Ochocinco'' Johnson is playing for the Montreal Alouettes this year.


  • Registered Users Posts: 401 ✭✭Innish_Rebel


    Adamcp898 wrote: »
    Far from the real thing, but the CFL kicks off tonight.

    Chad ''Ochocinco'' Johnson is playing for the Montreal Alouettes this year.

    1st game - 1 catch for 13 yards... But will be rusty, interesting to see how he gets on up there...


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    If this move is an attempt to find a backdoor return to the NFL? Then I think he's wasting his time.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,094 ✭✭✭TO.


    I watched Montreal versus Ottawa and Johnson was rubbish. Troy Smith was struggling to find him as it seems Johnson is up to his old tricks of making up routes. Smith wasn't great either but you could see Johnson doesn't know the playbook. He was all over the place. I doubt he will do anything up there. Then again he could prove me wrong but I wont hold my breath.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 10,091 ✭✭✭✭nerd69


    just watching who killed the usfl if would suck to have some of the best players in different leagues but how great would it be to have a different league (of a decent standard) to watch in the offseason


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    I see Randy Moss has taken up an assistant HC role at a private college where his son is attending. Thaddeus Moss @ 6'4" & 240 Lbs has been a standout player on the basketball court. Getting coached by his legendary Dad, might make it worthwhile keeping tabs on his development.
    http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/06/26/5007374/randy-moss-son-playing-football.html#.U67dwfldVSJ


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,710 ✭✭✭✭Paully D


    Pete Prisco has released his annual overrated/underrated list. Prisco usually does my head in but I find this is often quite a good read each year.

    His most overrated player overall is Ray Rice, his most underrated player overall is Brandon Mebane.

    http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/24599152/the-most-overrated-and-underrated-nfl-players-team-by-team
    Each summer I've put together a list of the most overrated and most underrated players on each of the league's 32 teams.

    In doing so, I've also picked the league's overall winner ­­-- or loser, depending on the category -- for each designation.

    So who is this year's most underrated player? I wanted to pick Dallas quarterback Tony Romo (I mean it), but decided against it because the player I did pick has never been to the Pro Bowl, and that's a shame.

    That player is Seattle defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. He doesn't pile up big numbers, but Mebane is a key to the Seattle defense. His ability to choke off the run allows the Seattle pass rush to be so effective. When it's third­-and-­long, you can do a lot of different things on defense.

    Mebane is a 320-­pounder who also occupies blockers inside to help free up the Seattle linebackers in the run game. One of the most overlooked things about the Seattle defense is the speed of the linebackers. Mebane's ability to occupy blockers is a big reason why a linebacker like Bobby Wagner can get to so many tackles.

    You look at Mebane's sack numbers from a year ago, and you'd think I am nuts for putting him on this list. He didn't get one. But that's not his game. He is a run stuffer, who makes it tough on first and second downs.

    He had some really impressive games doing just that last season, including against Houston and a late game against the Rams in Seattle. As for the most overrated player, it isn't a Seahawks player, although a case could be made for running back Marshawn Lynch and quarterback Russell Wilson. Yes, both (Here come the Seattle fans).

    My choice is Baltimore running back Ray Rice. I know the Ravens had line issues last season, but Rice's 3.1 yards per carry is absurd. And his per-­carry average has gone down each of the past two seasons. That's not a good sign.

    Rice is still a quality player, but let's not put him among the elite backs anymore. And this has nothing to do with his off­-field issues, which cloud his legacy as well. This is about football. And Rice is coming off a bad season and a bad offseason, which means 2014 is huge for him, and it's why he's the choice as the NFL's most overrated player.

    Now here are the most overrated players and most underrated players for all 32 teams.

    Arizona Cardinals
    Overrated: DE Darnell Dockett -- He's still a decent player, but he's nowhere close to what he used to be, which, at times, was a dominant lineman.

    Underrated: RB Andre Ellington ­­-- He is the prototype "air back." He can rip off long runs and hurt a defense in the passing game. He should be special this season for the Cardinals.

    Atlanta Falcons
    Overrated: S William Moore ­­-- Hard to pick one on this roster, but I went with Moore because his play slipped some last season. He's still a good player, but not as good as his reputation --­­ at least last season.

    Underrated: LB Paul Worrilow --­­ He stepped in as a rookie when injuries hit and played really well. He is far more than just an injury replacement. He will be a starter for a long time.

    Baltimore Ravens
    Overrated: RB Ray Rice­­ -- Is he really a star runner anymore? I know he can still be an effective player, especially in the passing game, but I want to see more. So do the Ravens.

    Underrated: CB Jimmy Smith --­­ He might be on the verge of a special season, one that could get him to the Pro Bowl. Smith has all the tools to be an effective shutdown corner.

    Buffalo Bills
    Overrated: RB C.J. Spiller ­­-- This hurts me to put him here because I love his ability, but let's be real about things. He has not lived up to the expectations. Some of it is simply staying on the field.

    Underrated: CB Nickell Robey ­­-- He had a heck of a season as the team's nickel corner in 2013 after signing as a non-­drafted free agent last April. Robey is a small corner at 5-­foot-8, but he has the tools to cover inside in their nickel.

    Carolina Panthers
    Overrated: RB DeAngelo Williams --­­ He makes a lot of money to just do some OK things. Is his career as a starter coming to an end?

    Underrated: DT Kawann Short ­­-- Star Lotulelei got all the attention as the rookie starter at defensive tackle, but this rookie did some really good things in 2013.

    Chicago Bears
    Overrated: CB Charles Tillman ­--­ He certainly wasn't anything close to what he used to be last season. He struggled in coverage, but they didn't have much of a pass rush and the safeties were really bad. Age is starting to show.

    Underrated: G Matt Slauson ­­-- He came over as a free agent from the Jets and outplayed Jermon Bushrod, the higher-­priced free agent who played tackle next to him. He is a mauler and a brawler.

    Cincinnati Bengals
    Overrated: TE Jermaine Gresham --­­ This former first-­round pick looks the part, but it just hasn't happened for him for whatever reason. Is this the year he loses reps to Tyler Eifert?

    Underrated: WR Marvin Jones ­­-- He averaged 14 yards on his 51 catches and had 10 touchdown receptions, one behind A.J. Green's team-­leading 11.

    Cleveland Browns
    Overrated: OLB Paul Kruger ­­-- They paid him a lot of money to amp up their defense and he didn't provide much in terms of pass rush. They essentially paid a lot of money for an edge setter. Oh, boy.

    Underrated: S Tashaun Gipson --­­ He had his breakout season for the Browns in 2013. He has the range you want from the safety spot and showed it off with five interceptions last season.

    Dallas Cowboys
    Overrated: CB Brandon Carr ­­-- He is a top-­dollar free agent who didn't play like it last season. He needs to step up his game or he could be gone in 2015.

    Underrated: QB Tony Romo ­­-- Yes, Romo. Without him, the Cowboys stink. And let's please stop the narrative that he's bad in the fourth quarter. He was really good in that quarter last season.

    Denver Broncos
    Overrated: WR Wes Welker --­­ He is starting to slow down, and that's not a good thing. He is still productive, but I think he's coming to the end of being a starter on a regular basis. He's also tops in the league in drops the past two seasons.

    Underrated: LB Danny Trevathan ­­-- He was one of the best defenders on the Denver defense last season, showing the speed to chase down runners and the ability to play in coverage.

    Detroit Lions
    Overrated: TE Brandon Pettigrew ­­-- While I didn't agree with their decision to take tight end Eric Ebron in the first round, I get it. This former first-­round pick drops a lot of passes and isn't the threat the team needs in the middle of the field.

    Underrated: G Larry Warford ­­-- As a rookie, he was dominant at right guard. He should have been in the Pro Bowl. With a year of seasoning, I bet he gets there this season.

    Green Bay Packers
    Overrated: OLB­/DE Julius Peppers --­­ I liked the Packers signing him to a deal, but he didn't play that well last season. Maybe a new home will rejuvenate him. He's more name than game based on last season.

    Underrated: DE Mike Daniels --­­ He surprised a lot of people with the way he played last season, especially in the second half. He isn't huge for the position, but he makes a lot of plays. He's a good pass rusher from the down spot.

    Houston Texans
    Overrated: RB Arian Foster ­­-- Yeah, he's done some good things, but he's starting to break down. And how much better is he than a young player who would get the same number of carries?

    Underrated: G Brandon Brooks ­­-- On a down year for their line, he had a solid season at right guard to claim that spot as his own.

    Indianapolis Colts
    Overrated: S LaRon Landry --­­ He just doesn't have the ability to make plays in coverage, He's a box safety who would have been a heck of a player in the run­-heavy eras. Not anymore.

    Underrated: DE Cory Redding ­­-- He doesn't rack up a ton of numbers, but he is key to the run defense. Watch him against San Francisco last season and you will see why.

    Jacksonville Jaguars
    Overrated: G Zane Beadles ­­-- He's a solid player, but was he worth all that money? He was the weak link on the Broncos' line last season. I get he's an upgrade in Jacksonville, but that's a lot of money to pay for that.

    Underrated: DT Sen'Derrick Marks --­­ He played way too many plays (946) last season, and he wore down at times. But he was really good when he was fresh. They need to cut down on his snaps this season.

    Kansas City Chiefs
    Overrated: WR Dwayne Bowe --­­ Is he really a No. 1 receiver? He averaged 11.8 yards on his 57 catches. I guess he's changing his diet and workout routine this offseason to get better. He needs to do it.

    Underrated: DE Mike DeVito ­­-- He is a grinder who doesn't do much in terms of pass rush, but he is good against the run. All teams need players like DeVito.

    Miami Dolphins
    Overrated: ILB Dannell Ellerbe --­­ They paid him a lot of money to sign as a free agent from Baltimore last season and he was a major disappointment. I thought he'd be much better than he was for the Dolphins. He needs a bounce­-back season.

    Underrated: DE Jared Odrick ­­-- In a season of turmoil in Miami, he turned in his best season. The former first­-round pick has turned into a quality starter on their line.

    Minnesota Vikings
    Overrated: WR Greg Jennings ­­-- He signed as a free agent last year and didn't come close to living up the expectations. He's just a guy now, as his 11.8 yards per­ catch average shows.

    Underrated: T Phil Loadholt ­­-- He is a right tackle, which means it's almost impossible for him to sniff a Pro Bowl. But he had a heck of a season on the right side for the Vikings in 2013.

    New England Patriots
    Overrated: G Logan Mankins ­­-- I put him here last summer, and I think he deserves to be back again. He is considered a top guard, and he didn't play like it last season.

    Underrated: S Devin McCourty --­­ He has made a nice transition from corner to safety, showing off the range you need on the back end.

    New Orleans Saints
    Overrated: LB Curtis Lofton ­­-- He is supposed to be a thumper in the run game, and he wasn't great against the run last season. He's also a liability in coverage.

    Underrated: DT Akiem Hicks --­­ He doesn't get much attention on the defense, but he does a lot of the grunt work. He did get five sacks last season. He has a chance to be special.

    New York Giants
    Overrated: DE Mathias Kiwanuka --­­ He had seven sacks, but he had far too many games where he didn't do enough. He's a former first­-round pick who should be putting up better numbers.

    Underrated: CB Prince Amukamara --­­ He was one of the few bright spots during a disappointing season for the Giants. Now he has to show he can do it again.

    New York Jets
    Overrated: C Nick Mangold ­­-- He didn't have the type of season we expect from Mangold. Is it a one-year thing? Or a trend?

    Underrated: DT Damon Harrison --­­ You know about Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, the two players who play on either side of Harrison. But Harrison is a big load in the middle of the defense and key to their run defense.

    Oakland Raiders
    Overrated: RB Darren McFadden ­­-- He has all the tools, the big­-play speed being the best of them, but he just can't do enough to keep him out of this spot. When can he prove to be the talent that we think he is as a runner?

    Underrated: LB Sio Moore ­­-- He had an impressive rookie season in 2013. He should be even better with a year under his belt. He has the speed needed to play the position the way it needs to be played.

    Philadelphia Eagles
    Overrated: QB Nick Foles ­­-- Let's slow the train down some, OK. He did some good things last season, but you'd think he was a star already. It takes time. Let's see him do it again. Not saying he can't, but let's see it again.

    Underrated: CB Brandon Boykin --­­ Who? He doesn't start, but as the nickel corner he is a key to their defense. Boykin doesn't have the size to be a full­-time starter outside, but he is plenty good on the inside.

    Pittsburgh Steelers
    Overrated: C Maurkice Pouncey --­­ He is a good player, but he's not as good as some think and he's coming off a major injury suffered in Week 1 last season. Yet he is now the highest­-paid center in the league. Some don't think the Steelers missed him last season when he got hurt. I disagree.

    Underrated: T Kelvin Beachum ­­-- The Steelers have had line issues for a long time, but Beachum stepped in and played well last season at left tackle. It's his job now.

    St. Louis Rams
    Overrated: TE Jared Cook --­­ They paid him a lot of money and he was decent, but clearly not worth the money. He had 51 catches in an offense that needed more. He has the ability to do so much more.

    Underrated: T Joe Barksdale ­­-- They got him from Oakland and he was a pleasant surprise at right tackle. He played so well that 2014 first­-round pick Greg Robinson will start his career at left guard, rather than tackle.

    San Diego Chargers
    Overrated: CB Brandon Flowers ­­-- Yes, he's only on a one­-year deal. But he did not play well in 2013. There's a reason he's on the market. Yet he went to the Pro Bowl last season.

    Underrated: TE Lardarius Green --­­ He is the backup to Antonio Gates,­­ although that could change this season. He averaged 22.1 yards on 17 catches last season. Watch what he does this season.

    San Francisco 49ers
    Overrated: RG Mike Iupati --­­ He has done some good things, and he's in a contract year coming up, but he didn't play that well in 2013. Yet he was named to the Pro Bowl, but couldn't play after breaking an ankle in the NFC Championship Game. He was picked for reputation.

    Underrated: OLB Ahmad Brooks --­­ He is the overlooked linebacker in their four­-man group, but he is a good player who doesn't get the due he deserves. He is steady, if not special.

    Seattle Seahawks
    Overrated: C Max Unger ­­-- So it's not Wilson or Lynch, although case could be made for either. It's Unger, who was named to the Pro Bowl, but didn't play that well in an injury­plagued season. That's why the Seattle line struggled in 2013.

    Underrated: DT Brandon Mebane --­­ Until he goes to the Pro Bowl, he might retire this spot. He is too good to never have been to a Pro Bowl.

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    Overrated: S Dashon Goldson ­­-- Big hitters are not the way of the future at the safety spot. When they signed him last season, I knew it would be a bad-value signing. And it was.

    Underrated: T DeMar Dotson ­­-- He was one of the few bright spots on a bad line last season. At 26, he's got a lot of good football in front of him.

    Tennessee Titans
    Overrated: T Michael Oher --­­ They paid him a lot of money to sign as a free agent and play right tackle. Why? He was really bad in 2013 for the Ravens.

    Underrated: DT Jurrell Casey --­­ He was a force at times last season, but didn't get much due. He has to adjust now to a new system, but he has the quickness and the power to do it.

    Washington Redskins
    Overrated: S Ryan Clark ­­-- He really had a rough go of it with the Steelers last season, but now the Redskins think he will be the answer on their back end? Really?

    Underrated: DT Chris Baker -- He is a backup, but he is an effective player in that role. Every team needs a player like Baker on the roster. That's why the Redskins made sure to re­sign him. He can play the nose and started at defensive end late last season.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,317 ✭✭✭HigginsJ


    Well ask any Giants fan and they will tell you Kiwi is not overrated by anyone, he is a back-up pashrusher, no one will claim anything different & the jury is still out on Amukamara tbh


  • Registered Users Posts: 6,016 ✭✭✭Hulk Hands


    I agreed with a lot of his list for teams I dont support, but I guess that's kind of the point. He's picking the obvious ones from an outsiders view on each team, whereas their fans will likely look more in depth and think differently.

    He did exactly that with the Vikings, picking the Lazyman's overrated and underrated selections. Jennings stats were crap, but he was actually getting free a hell of a lot and the reason he wasn't getting the ball was down to the QB. Its a huge reason why Cassel's the fans choice going into the season over Ponder, as he seems to be able to find Jennings when he's invaribly open. Loadholt is also high up those PFF lists etc, but his actual play isnt great and he's invariably regarded as average by Vikings fans.

    My choices would be Chad Greenway for overrated. Seems to be a media darling and puts up a huge tackle count which looks good on paper, but is a joke in coverage. Underrated is Brian Robison, who has been a better DE than Jared Allen for the best part of 2 years


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 22,477 ✭✭✭✭Knex*


    HigginsJ wrote: »
    Well ask any Giants fan and they will tell you Kiwi is not overrated by anyone, he is a back-up pashrusher, no one will claim anything different & the jury is still out on Amukamara tbh

    Agree. Weird assessment, I felt.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭mikemac1


    I'd agree with Ray Rice for overrated. His suspension will be handed down in the next few weeks and this may be his last year in Baltimore.

    Jimmy Smith is a fair choice for underrated but then he was a 1st round pick so it's not like he entered the league as a nobody.

    I'd say Lardarius Webb for underrated. Webb has also never made it to the probowl and you could argue he is the best player on the Raven D. A 3rd round pick from Nicholls State (who??) and is now a top defensive back in the league


  • Registered Users Posts: 805 ✭✭✭SameOleJay


    In alot of cases he's just named ageing players who really aren't that highly rated anymore (Peppers, Tillman, Clarke etc)..

    For Chicago over rated is probably Kyle Long. His family name means commentators put too much stock in his strong play. He made a pro bowl when Warford was clearly better.

    Under rated, not sure, but probably Forte. The indispensable player in a strong offence.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Looking at the Prisco list from a Pats perspective. Now Pats fans certainly don't underate McCourty but the wider NFL does. But I don't agree with his view of Mankins. The only player to have played a season with a torn ACL. He's the toughest SOB in Football. When we lost Solder with concussion last season, in he stepped at LT, played out of position and did a fine job. Mankins is carved from the kind of granite all O linemen should come from. He's not getting any younger, but he's the kind of player you want to squeeze every ounce of play time out of.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,710 ✭✭✭✭Paully D


    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/06/29/remembering-joe-delaney-31-years-later/
    Have you heard of Joe Delaney? If not, you need to read this. And if you have, it’s time for the annual reminder of who he was and what he did, 31 years ago today.

    Delaney, a Chiefs running back who had spent two years in the NFL as of June 29, 1983, noticed that a trio of young boys had waded into a man-made water hole. It contained an unknown deep end, and they quickly were in trouble.

    As Frank Deford, then of Sports Illustrated, later explained it, “There were all sorts of people around, but only Joe dashed to the pond. There was a little boy there. ‘Can you swim?’ he asked Joe.

    “‘I can’t swim good,’ Joe said, ‘but I’ve got to save those kids. If I don’t come up, get somebody.’ And he rushed into the water.”

    Delaney saved one of the boys. Two drowned. Delaney drowned, too.

    Joe Delaney died at the age of 24, with a wife and three young girls.

    As a rookie in 1981, Delaney rushed for 1,121 yards. He sacrificed a bright future to help save three young strangers.

    If you’ve got a spare 22 minutes, watch the documentary the Chiefs produced to honor a true hero and a true role model.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Hero is a word that's used way too much and often in a wrong & inappropriate context. But what that guy did, makes him a true hero imo.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,710 ✭✭✭✭Paully D


    Cowboys players read mean tweets about themselves. Pretty funny :pac:

    http://www.nfl.com/videos/dallas-cowboys/0ap2000000362473/Dallas-Cowboys-respond-to-mean-tweets


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    Would love to see king Sap - Jerry Jones read out some tweets about himself. But they'd probably be unrepeatable though.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,710 ✭✭✭✭Paully D


    Ravens have traded Rolando McClain to the Cowboys so it looks like he's coming out of retirement for the third time.

    Knowing Dallas, they'll have given a 3rd or 4th round pick for him :pac:

    EDIT - It's a 6th in the 2015 draft apparently. Ravens have got to be happy with that considering a retired McClain was of no use.


  • Registered Users Posts: 539 ✭✭✭In Exile


    Has anyone been watching the CFL?

    What is the standard like? Is there a possibilty that it could be used more by guys coming out of college early and not making it into the NFL?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 805 ✭✭✭SameOleJay


    Buffalo LB, and absolute stud, Kiko Alonso is struck by the ACL curse- gone for the season.

    Just a monster blow for them. Strong potential for another top 10 pick and they won't even have that. :(


  • Registered Users Posts: 22,477 ✭✭✭✭Knex*


    Jaysus, that's some loss for them. He was immense last season.

    Gotta feel sorry for both himself and Buffalo, I felt they were on for a much improved season this time round. They still could be, but as you say, that's a monster blow.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    I hope this isn't the start of the ACL curse, which hit teams last year before the season even got started.


  • Registered Users Posts: 28,710 ✭✭✭✭Paully D


    The amount of ACL injuries in the NFL is unbelievable.

    Pete King said in a column last year that there were 27 in pre-season alone last year, with figures ranging from 12 (2005 & 2006) to 25 (2008) since 2004-2013, with the figure for the rest of the years somewhere in between. In the same column which was published at week 13 of last regular season, there were 23 ACL injuries, bringing the total in the league including pre-season to 50 and that was only 75% of the way through the season. The total ACL injury list over the past five seasons has, according to King, ranged from 48 to 56. Frightening.

    Studies also show that 70% of these ACL injuries come from non-contact.

    It's an interesting read:

    http://mmqb.si.com/2013/12/04/nfl-injury-increase-2013/


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,370 ✭✭✭✭Son Of A Vidic


    The Pats 1st rnd pick Dominique Easley, is coming off two different ACL injuries which were both non-contact injuries. If he can get to 100% then he could have a huge impact and be one of the players of the draft. Wisely enough, he's not been rushed. But it's a sign of how much surgical techniques and specialised rehab has come on, especially in the last 15 years. Nobody would have drafted a guy with a double ACL history 20 years ago.

    I find the non-contact injuries most worrying though. Personally I suspect it's related to the athleticism of players today. While the NFL has always had monsters, today these guys can out sprint & out jump smaller guys. The downside of this is the stressers it puts on key joints like the knee. 30 years ago, nature to an extent, limited and protected these guys by limiting their speed, explosiveness and range of movement ect. Today with the advances in sports science and individualised & specialised training regimes. The big guys have reached a level of athleticism never thought possible and it's their increase in speed which plays a very significant role.

    The downside is the likes of these ACL injuries we are seeing. Mass + Speed + Sudden abrupt lateral movements puts huge stress on the ACL. And with players today being bigger, faster and more explosive than ever before. It's inevitable a players ACL is under tremendous stress and is more susceptible to injury. Knee braces should be mandatory, because they significantly reduce the dangerous lateral forces that can damage the knee. And I really think they should be worn by the front seven on either side of the ball. A lot of players today are wearing them but it's something I think the league should act on.


  • Registered Users Posts: 401 ✭✭Innish_Rebel


    As a guy who did his cruciate ligament back ~ 15 years ago. The specialist who did my reconstruction (I did it real good - tore off the bone clean) made a very interesting comment along the lines of above note. The knee just isn't designed to handle the pressures of modern day athletes. His comment always sticks with me - "It is the one joint he would ask the Man above to have a look at redesigning".


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,469 ✭✭✭Adamcp898


    The Pats 1st rnd pick Dominique Easley, is coming off two different ACL injuries which were both non-contact injuries. If he can get to 100% then he could have a huge impact and be one of the players of the draft. Wisely enough, he's not been rushed. But it's a sign of how much surgical techniques and specialised rehab has come on, especially in the last 15 years. Nobody would have drafted a guy with a double ACL history 20 years ago.

    I find the non-contact injuries most worrying though. Personally I suspect it's related to the athleticism of players today. While the NFL has always had monsters, today these guys can out sprint & out jump smaller guys. The downside of this is the stressers it puts on key joints like the knee. 30 years ago, nature to an extent, limited and protected these guys by limiting their speed, explosiveness and range of movement ect. Today with the advances in sports science and individualised & specialised training regimes. The big guys have reached a level of athleticism never thought possible and it's their increase in speed which plays a very significant role.

    The downside is the likes of these ACL injuries we are seeing. Mass + Speed + Sudden abrupt lateral movements puts huge stress on the ACL. And with players today being bigger, faster and more explosive than ever before. It's inevitable a players ACL is under tremendous stress and is more susceptible to injury. Knee braces should be mandatory, because they significantly reduce the dangerous lateral forces that can damage the knee. And I really think they should be worn by the front seven on either side of the ball. A lot of players today are wearing them but it's something I think the league should act on.

    Would agree with this completely.

    And from my unprofessional opinion, whilst in terms of knee injury rehab things have come on leaps and bounds in the last two decades, there doesn't seem to be as much knowledge or effort when it comes to strengthening the actual ligament areas themselves in order to prevent injury the same way as specific muscles and muscle groupings are targeted for improvement in order to prevent injury/increase performance.

    It was only last year that doctors discovered another ligament linking the thigh and shin. One which could have a significant role during the change of direction of the body. Obviously the likes of this ligament being ignored during training and rehab could lead to injury/repeat injury of the knee.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,864 ✭✭✭empacher


    Jimmy graham ruled as a TE, doesn't make that big WR $$$$$


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 16,126 Mod ✭✭✭✭adrian522


    empacher wrote: »
    Jimmy graham ruled as a TE, doesn't make that big WR $$$$$

    Good, maybe Vernon Davis will show up at training camp now.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 7,317 ✭✭✭HigginsJ


    empacher wrote: »
    Jimmy graham ruled as a TE, doesn't make that big WR $$$$$

    Could be a hollow victory in the long term for the Saints


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement