spacecrime

I can understand taking about the Pats and TJ, but don't understand the railing against BB himself. Anyone see the Hartford Courant article, which had a few things the Globe conveniently left out:

http://www.courant.com/sports/footba...lines-patriots

Key excerpts:

Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, who is now dealing with memory loss and depression related to repeated concussions during his 10-year NFL career, said Patriots coach Bill Belichick encouraged him to engage in full-scale practice while recovering from a concussion, against the advice of the Patriots' head trainer.

before a 9-on-7 drill, an assistant trainer handed Johnson a blue jersey, signifying full contact.

"I looked at the trainer and said, `Who told you to give me this?'" Johnson told The Globe. "He just walked away. He didn't want to say. But I knew who it was. It was Bill [Belichick]. I was so mad, I wanted to scream. But I put the thing on anyway. I had my pride. They weren't going to beat me."

*****************

When Johnson and Belichick sat down in September 2002 to try to repair their strained relationship, Johnson told The Globe that he told Belichick, "You played God with my health. You knew I shouldn't have been cleared to play."

Belichick told The Globe he didn't realize at the time that Johnson was hesitant about participating in the full-contact drill.

"If Ted felt so strongly that he didn't feel he was ready to practice with us, he should have told me," Belichick said.

*******************

Johnson told The Globe that he thought he had at least six concussions in his last three Patriots seasons but reported only one because he didn't want to underscore his reputation as an injury-prone player.

I feel very badly for TJ. I like him a lot. I hope he gets better, or at least not any worse, and hope the NFl or NFLPA can so something for him, if only using him as a springboard to make life better for future NFL players. But I don't get the villification of BB in all this.

I wish they would focus on the NFL rather than BB so that global changes can be made to the way players' injuries are handled.

Keegs

because lately everyone's hobby is to try and make BB look like the biggest ******* possible

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VJCPatriot

I believe there's already a thread for this. If TJ only reported 1 concussion out of 6 I don't see how BB could have known about them. He realy should have spoken up, I think. Because BB is not a mind reader.

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Hoodie

Didn't you know, BB is also responsible for global warming.

PatsFanInVa

Technically, the report out last week said it's 90% likely that "Man" is responsible, but we all know who they're talking about.

BULLETIN BOARD MATERIAL!

PFnV

JoeSixPat

I don know why either!

Frankly I just don't think we can trust anything Johnson says or his recollection of events.

After all, rumor has it he's suffered a lot of concussions and might not be thinking straight.

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PatsFanSince74

Borrowing from Peter King, here's what I think I think about this whole sad affair.

Retired NFL players, especially those whose job it was to sacrifice their heads to make tackles and blocks, need not only the best medical care and appropriate financial assistance from the League but also the appreciation and understanding of all of us who spent our leisuretime watching them risk their wellbeing from the comfort of our couches and armchairs.

This is a very rough and dangerous game, and nothing is going to change that. It is the responsibility of coaches and team personnel to be prudent and responsible when it comes to putting a player in harm's way. But, ultimately, those who play this game have chosen knowingly to play a dangerous game. So, the burden of responsibility is a shared burden and making BB or any coach solely responsible for the consequences to someone like TJ is unfair.

Todays players, veterans and rookies, need disinterested and unbiased medical advice, when it comes to understanding the risks they are taking. There will always be someone else who is willing to take that risk, so following that advice may cost some of them their jobs or status on the team.

TJ is obviously a guy going through a hard time both physically and emotionally right now. I think we should take some of the things he is saying with a grain of salt and allow others to sort out what really happened. Let's give the guy his privacy.

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It is what it is. It wasn't what it wasn't.

NEPat

Good post.

There are a couple of issues here, and I'm not sure why people are confused that Belichick is getting some blame.

1. The part in bold is why Belichick is taking heat on this. According to everyone concerned, and according to team records, Belichick overruled the Pats trainer when Johnson was not cleared for practice. The health of the players should be paramount here, and if the trainer does not clear him to play after a head injury, he shouldn't have practiced. Belichick messed up, no one has refuted this, not even Belichick.

2. That doesn't mean that Belichick is solely responsible for Johnson's current condition. But because Johnson points to those back to back concussions he suffered as the start of his condition, all the articles and news stories do too.
It's most likely a combination of things that have led Johnson to where he is now, including drugs and the multiple concussions he's suffered.

I hope that since that incident, Belichick and staff have been more careful dealing with these things. And I would hope that the trainers do not get intimidated and give way to the coaches on matters concerning player injuries. Everyone's first priority should be the player's health.

frankiesfly

I know, its sad. I think "they" have to find fault in him anyway they can. Thats what happens when your the best coach in the NFL.

PatsMyBoyz!

While a nice sentiment,I hardly think that even Ted Johnson expects much privacy after this story. He made a very serious allegation about one of the most renowned coaches in the NFL;people have actually called for BB's firing,it's all over ESPN,the NY Times,and who knows where else. Given how much BB and the Pats are "loved" around the league and it's fanbase,every city in the NFL is giving this story as much press as the SB. Sorry Peter,but a call for TJ's privacy seems a bit out of reach.

That said, I'm curious what prompted TJ to suddenly come out with this story? I really haven't seen him since he stopped doing the post-game show a couple of years ago (?) and he seemed fine then. Though not the most articulate in the group,he held his own. He even got mad at Felger a couple of times;TJ was a total homer when it came to the Pats.
Some speculate it was motivated by the ex-Steeler's story,lots of theories are floating around,but did he call Jackie? Did he call the NY Times? If someone posted this info elsewhere,my apologies. I'm just curious as to the circumstances.

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MARQUISE HILL
1982-2007
RIP