Collins Update - He Wants to Play - But...

[MickeyDavis]

Good update here. He wants to play, sounds like MM and TT don't want him taking the risk. Lots of good info on his injury and prognosis.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/ ... 25665.html

[Bucksfans1and2]

That article seems optimistic to me.

We won't be hearing anything before the draft though, don't want to give any info away to another team.

[Newz]

I like some of the d-bag fan comments below where they try to question why the Packers (MM and TT in particular) would possibly be concerned about letting him play again.

Maybe because you don't want to have a guy go out there who has a higher risk to paralyze himself for the rest of his life than the other guys? You know... sometimes human beings care about other human beings.

Man people get stupid when it comes to sports sometimes.

[emunney]

If Collins want to play and the doctors say it's fine, imo it's wrong for TT or McCarthy to stand in his way.

[Newz]

If Collins want to play and the doctors say it's fine, imo it's wrong for TT or McCarthy to stand in his way.

No one is standing in his way.

They are saying TT and MM have pretty much suggested that he retire. He has his money and his health, they think that's enough. If he is cleared to play and the doctors say it's fine, TT and MM will evaluate the situation. If they believe he'll be fine, he'll play... if not, they are going to cut him and he can play elsewhere.

I guess I don't see what's wrong with that. But some people commenting are acting like it's wrong for TT/MM to even be concerned about him playing again. As a fan or someone in the organization, how could you NOT be concerned?

[emunney]

I don't think it's wrong for them to be concerned all, that's totally natural. I'm also not saying they are standing in his way, I don't know if they are or not. Just saying if they do, I won't like it.

[Newz]

I don't think it's wrong for them to be concerned all, that's totally natural. I'm also not saying they are standing in his way, I don't know if they are or not. Just saying if they do, I won't like it.

Is it even possible for them to stand in his way? If he wants to, I'm guessing he can show up to camp and compete. I guess they can put him on IR and pay him a bunch of money to just not play... or they can put him on the 53-man and then just not play him at all...

I'd say odds are that they would play him or cut him though. I doubt they hold him hostage... I just don't see a scenario where that would possibly happen.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I don't think it's wrong for them to be concerned all, that's totally natural. I'm also not saying they are standing in his way, I don't know if they are or not. Just saying if they do, I won't like it.

Is it even possible for them to stand in his way? If he wants to, I'm guessing he can show up to camp and compete. I guess they can put him on IR and pay him a bunch of money to just not play... or they can put him on the 53-man and then just not play him at all...

I'd say odds are that they would play him or cut him though. I doubt they hold him hostage... I just don't see a scenario where that would possibly happen.

Could try and trade him too. Have no idea what the value on that would be though.

[Newz]

Could try and trade him too. Have no idea what the value on that would be though.

Yeah, I guess they could do that as well. I agree that I have no idea what his value would be.

When he was right, he was arguably playing at a HoF level if he kept it up. But at the same time... that's a pretty big risk to take. Who knows where he's at physically? Who knows if he'll play scared because of the neck?

Those are some pretty big questions.

[emunney]

I don't fully understand the risks, but it seems like this is a soft tissue injury not to the spinal cord itself. Rather, it was the disc that bulged out and impinged on the cord. So the risk isn't of the same injury at the same site -- the site is fused, the disc is gone, and that injury is literally impossible. The risk also isn't of a severe spinal cord injury. It's of a similar injury on a bordering disc because of the additional stress there. That's more of a lifelong discomfort thing, and I don't intend to discount that as it should be a real consideration, than a life-ending or radically life-changing thing.

[Bucksfans1and2]

I don't fully understand the risks, but it seems like this is a soft tissue injury not to the spinal cord itself. Rather, it was the disc that bulged out and impinged on the cord. So the risk isn't of the same injury at the same site -- the site is fused, the disc is gone, and that injury is literally impossible. The risk also isn't of a severe spinal cord injury. It's of a similar injury on a bordering disc because of the additional stress there. That's more of a lifelong discomfort thing, and I don't intend to discount that as it should be a real consideration, than a life-ending or radically life-changing thing.

A bulging disk is hideously painful. It literally rubs up against your nerves. Things touching your nerves is very bad, it often gives the idea that the person is paralyzed if there's enough contact. They removed the disk and inserted a metal plate to keep the two vertabrae in place. The problem is that you stress the disks above and below where the removed disk used to be.

NFL players, and DBs especially, are more prone to bulging disks than the rest of the population. So Nick has two factors working against him.

The biggest problem is that if you take away more than one disk, you're looking at serious problems later on in life. Like being unable to move your head the way you want to.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nx1gB03jOI&feature=related[/youtube]

This is Nick's (and Peyton Manning's) surgery if you're so inclined.

[LUKE23]

My take is this:

1. TT and MM are without question in their right to voice their concerns to Collins, and their opinion that he should call it quits

2. If Collins is indeed medically cleared and he wants to play, he should be on the field and MM/TT should back his decision.

Which is probably how it will unfold if he does come back anyway.

[Bucksfans1and2]

My take is this:

1. TT and MM are without question in their right to voice their concerns to Collins, and their opinion that he should call it quits

2. If Collins is indeed medically cleared and he wants to play, he should be on the field and MM/TT should back his decision.

Which is probably how it will unfold if he does come back anyway.

This exactly

[MickeyDavis]

The Packers medical staff (Dr. McKenzie is considered one of the best) will have the final say on whether he's cleared but I'm sure they'll go by what the specialists say. But ultimiately it will come down to TT and MM. I think if he's cleared to play and wants to play then let him play. I'd hate to see him try a comeback with a new team.

[humanrefutation]

I remember reading and hearing about those stories of players with concussions convincing their coaches that they were ready to play when they really shouldn't have been on the field. It's hard to try to stand in their way when they're begging to play - part of you feels like they should be able to make that choice. But, at the same time, those coaches should've stepped in and protected those players from themselves. It's for that reason that I think it's absolutely right that TT and MM are trying to protect Nick from risking a life-altering injury. I think I would have much less respect for them and the organization if they did otherwise.

[Ayt]

I don't see how Collins' injury is comparable to coaches letting players play with concussions. If the specialists clear him to play, I don't see the issue.

[emunney]

Yeah, a brain injury that has not been evaluated by a neurologist is a very different scenario.