TheSparks1

This fully speaks to the courageous performance of Philip Rivers yesterday. As I read in previous posts and was reiterated by others, as much as I hate Philip Rivers for running his mouth, you MUST give his props for playing yesterday in that condition.

Rivers ACL totally gone; LT doesn't need surgery

Turns out, Philip Rivers ACL is completely gone and he will have reconstructive surgery in the coming weeks. The recovery times is unknown, but he is expected to be ready for the 2008 season.

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson said his sprained MCL will heal with about a month's rest.

-San Diego Union Tribune

Patsfanin Philly

I have more respect today than yesterday. He obviously played in pain and despite his bouts of immaturity on other occasions, he gutted a very good performance yesterday despite the possiblee long term ramifications...

DefenseRules

Props to Rivers. He played his butt off on gimpy knees yesterday. I too have big time respect for that kid.
The Classy one on the other hand, could learn something from him.

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BrianPat

I think it's a joke to compare the two players. Phillip Rivers is a QB, LT is a running back, his legs/knees take way more abuse. If LT thought since he reinjured it again, on the first play, that was enough. What kind of shape is his knee going to be in when the games over if he decided to play through it. A serious injury to the knees like that could end his career. I respect his and the trainers choice not to play him, what does everyone else watching know about the condition of his knee or if he should have gone back in.

Metaphors

I understand the props to Rivers angle of this story, but I can't for the life of me understand why people aren't enraged by the Bolts handling of this situation.

The NFLPA will file official protests if a team makes players do one extra pushup in training camp, but they do nothing when a player is essentially "forced" to play with a completely torn ACL (meaning one reasonably hard shot to the knee could have ended his career).

What the **** were the SD doctors doing in this situation? How could anyone with an ounce of integrity allow the Bolts to send Rivers out there in that condition?

Didn't AJ Smith categorically deny that Rivers had an ACL injury? I can see not saying anything, but to flat out lie to the media about the condition of their starting QB before a championship game.

I think Rivers is a punk as much as the next guy, but he was put in an impossible situation. The Chargers should fry for this and I would say the same thing if Belichick had done it.

Deus Irae

Ahhh.... the irony.

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JoeSixPat

It's apples and oranges - you can't compare an RB's sprained MCL with a QB's torn ACL.

I lived with a fully torn ACL for years - and I would always play QB in pickup football games (touch football that is). Back and forth was no problem side to side was even OK with a strong knee brace. Unexpected hits from the side would have been another matter.

All that being said Rivers deserves a ton of credit as the smartest (selfish) thing for him to do would be to bench himself

An RB however needs to cut and juke all the time. There's no telling what his level of pain was.

The thing I would LdT for is not being more of strong supporter on the bench. He should have stayed home.

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NEPat

I agree, I think people need to give LT a break. A bad knee for a QB is not the same as a bad knee for a RB.

But LT's demeanor on the sidelines was weird. If he's a leader of the team, he shouldn't just sit there with his dark visor helmet on, not talking to anyone, not doing anything. I think a lot of Chargers fans are annoyed with him, and I don't blame them.

And the fact that Rivers clearly played through a ton of pain doesn't help matters. It's not fair to LT, but Rivers looks like a tough leader and LT looks soft and sulking.

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patriot lifer

even if they won the afc championship, would he be able to play in the superbowl? It sadly seemed like a wasted effort in that respect.

PatsfanGlo

While my respect for Rivers as a player has gone up tenfolds, I have mixed feelings for LT. While I understand his concern for his body and how he felt others could better contribute than him, I just can't agree with him on not even giving it one quarter of try. I mean guys like Emitt Smith during the 90s ran with separated shoulder and was on verge of passing out because of pain. Granted shoulder and knee is entirely different thing but how could he have not possibly known that he wasn't going to make much impact before the game if it only took him 4 plays to find out he wasn't going to be good?