07-15-2014, 08:47 PM
There's a great subplot in the movie, Any Given Sunday, where the old doc is just doping some players with shots and the new doc comes in and goes - that's not right... gets the old doc fired. Then -
And then later, they're telling the guy the full extent of his injuries, like 'you could be paralyzed for life and have serious brain injury if you hit your neck the wrong way,' and he's like, 'but I can still play right? Please. I only need 2 more tackles and 1 sack and I get a 2 million dollar bonus!'
It's fictional, but that's how real life goes too. There was a DT for the Eagles named Mike Patterson - he had a seizure in training camp and was diagnosed with AVM. It's an abnormal vein connection to your brain. Serious risk to play sports, like hemorrhage in your brain causing death risk. This dude literally went around and found a doc that cleared him to play. Started 15 games that season (missed the last game of the season for another illness) and THEN went out and had surgery in January after the season. Wasn't even cleared for Camp 6 months later...
The old days, players wouldn't come out for concussions or would be back on the field in like 2 days, because players and coaches both wanted them on the field. Now, there's like protocols, and they have to see an outside specialist before they can even practice. I'm sure it's the same way with the team docs. None of the old-school 'dope em up, get em on the field' practices. It wouldn't fly in today's PC NFL.
And then later, they're telling the guy the full extent of his injuries, like 'you could be paralyzed for life and have serious brain injury if you hit your neck the wrong way,' and he's like, 'but I can still play right? Please. I only need 2 more tackles and 1 sack and I get a 2 million dollar bonus!'
It's fictional, but that's how real life goes too. There was a DT for the Eagles named Mike Patterson - he had a seizure in training camp and was diagnosed with AVM. It's an abnormal vein connection to your brain. Serious risk to play sports, like hemorrhage in your brain causing death risk. This dude literally went around and found a doc that cleared him to play. Started 15 games that season (missed the last game of the season for another illness) and THEN went out and had surgery in January after the season. Wasn't even cleared for Camp 6 months later...
The old days, players wouldn't come out for concussions or would be back on the field in like 2 days, because players and coaches both wanted them on the field. Now, there's like protocols, and they have to see an outside specialist before they can even practice. I'm sure it's the same way with the team docs. None of the old-school 'dope em up, get em on the field' practices. It wouldn't fly in today's PC NFL.