AJ Smith puts Rivers in TERRIBLE position...

[patsox23]

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a partially torn ACL and a sprained MCL in his right knee, making him doubtful for Sunday’s playoff game.

According to an expert quoted in the story, it’s possible to play with a partially torn ACL. Chargers GM A.J. Smith said the final decision will rest with Rivers.

If he can’t go, backup Billy Volek would get the start.

That's great. Put it completely on the player as to whether or not he'll play in the biggest game of his life. What's Rivers supposed to do, beg out? This should be a TEAM decision. It's reckless and d!ck-ish of the Chargers organization to play it otherwise.

 

[FrontSeven]

It's reckless and d!ck-ish of the Chargers organization to play it otherwise.

They cannot let him play if he's supposed to ever play again.

Volek will be a fine backup. I wish the Pats had one that good.

 

[SoCal Bong]

I can just see Rivers getting injured further and forever more the Chargers will be even more spiteful of the Pats for playing dirty.

 

[primetime]

My guess is Rivers doesn't go this week. Too bad, I'd rather have Tomlinson out than Rivers (I'm assuming that Gates won't go).

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

It's really a double whammy if he gives it a go and can't, because he's taking up a valuable roster spot.

 

[patsox23]

If he says he can't, there is NO QUESTION that some - perhaps even teammates - will whisper that he wasn't gutsy enough to put himself on the line. Just seems like a bad position to put one of your best players/team leaders in.

 

[neuronet]

If he says he can't, there is NO QUESTION that some - perhaps even teammates - will whisper that he wasn't gutsy enough to put himself on the line. Just seems like a bad position to put one of your best players/team leaders in.

Yes. But perhaps we should translate the 'It is up to Rivers' as 'The doctors have said he can play (with such and such protective braces), so it is now up to Rivers.'

Hence, people would be right to whisper that Rivers is a whiney little possaayyy.

I hope he plays one quarter, comes out, and we get a rusty Volek.

 

[Sundayjack]

Frankly, were I a Patriots fan, I'd be BEGGING to see Rivers starting this game.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a partially torn ACL and a sprained MCL in his right knee, making him doubtful for Sunday’s playoff game.

According to an expert quoted in the story, it’s possible to play with a partially torn ACL. Chargers GM A.J. Smith said the final decision will rest with Rivers.

If he can’t go, backup Billy Volek would get the start.

That's great. Put it completely on the player as to whether or not he'll play in the biggest game of his life. What's Rivers supposed to do, beg out? This should be a TEAM decision. It's reckless and d!ck-ish of the Chargers organization to play it otherwise.

What the hell does Norv and Smith get paid to do????? Do the LB choose safeties decided on their own if they are going to blitz or not?

 

[primetime]

Frankly, were I a Patriots fan, I'd be BEGGING to see Rivers starting this game.

I'm with you. Especially a Rivers with a torn ACL. But Volek's no Peyton Manning, either.

As for why Rivers gets to make the final call, it's because only Phillip Rivers knows what Phillip Rivers' knee feels like. No one else does.

 

[patchick]

It seems like fans, teammates and even management are all trying to set Rivers up to look like a selfish wimp if he doesn't play...with torn ligaments in both knees.

 

[primetime]

It seems like fans, teammates and even management are all trying to set Rivers up to look like a selfish wimp if he doesn't play...with torn ligaments in both knees.

I tend to agree here. If this was Brady, we'd know why the final decision lies with Brady - he is our QB (like Rivers, not Volek, is for the Chargers) and only he knows how his knees are. Not the coach, not the GM, not his teammates, not the media, not the fans. Only him. Only the injured guy knows if he is good enough to go.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

As for why Rivers gets to make the final call, it's because only Phillip Rivers knows what Phillip Rivers' knee feels like. No one else does.

That true, that is why Norv goes to Rivers privately and asks him if he feels ready to go and observes how he is moving.

That way if he can tell Norv he is not 100%, but willing to play. Norv can bench him. But River can still tell his team mates and the media he was willing to play through the pain but the coach makes the decision of who plays and who doesn't.

Norv doesn't know how to coach. If he was in BB shoes, he would have had Bledsoe and Brady play rock/paper/scissors to see who would play in 2001 after Bledsoe healed.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I tend to agree here. If this was Brady, we'd know why the final decision lies with Brady - he is our QB (like Rivers, not Volek, is for the Chargers) and only he knows how his knees are. Not the coach, not the GM, not his teammates, not the media, not the fans. Only him. Only the injured guy knows if he is good enough to go.

No the final decision would be BBs. BB wouldn't put him if he said he couldn't play, and he wouldn't pull him if said he was okay. But in the presser both would say it was BB's decision and stand by that decision.

 

[neuronet]

only he knows how his knees are. Not the coach, not the GM, not his teammates, not the media, not the fans. Only him. Only the injured guy knows if he is good enough to go.

That's why they hire doctors to do MRIs. People are not good at judging how injured they are, or the likelihood that playing can cause a career-ending injury.

That's why I assume he has the go-ahead from the doctors. Hence, if he doesn't play, he is a wuss.

I predict he plays. No way he wants to look like Ryan Leaf.

 

[primetime]

That's why I assume he has the go-ahead from the doctors. Hence, if he doesn't play, he is a wuss.

You betcha tough guy.

 

[slymer]

I predict he plays. No way he wants to look like Ryan Leaf.

????? Because Ryan Leaf has been in this situation before? You lost me. If it's up to him I think he'll give it a go.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I think the whole argument that Smith is trying to set up Rivers is a bit of a stretch. I agree that Smith has put him in a bad spot -- but not necessarily intentionally. He may very well have thought he was doing the right thing, trying to say my QB has earned the right to decide what he wants to do.

Or, it could be the exact opposite of what everyone is saying. Rivers perhaps is demanding to play against doctor's advice, and Smith is just trying to cover the team's butt in case he has a career ender.

Or, the third option that occurs to me, is that this is all massive dissinformation -- that the team has made up its mind and knows what it will do but wants there to be uncertainty while the Pats prepare. Fortunately, we have a coach somewhat immune to that.

But, at the end of the day, I think it's all just posturing the whole way around. I'm sure the Chargers already have a very good sense of what they are going to do and that it will be Norv's call all the way. The roster spot issue is important. If you have a QB that can't go, you need his spot.

 

[BigHoss67]

They cannot let him play if he's supposed to ever play again.

Volek will be a fine backup. I wish the Pats had one that good.

How do you know they don't? What reason do you have to think Volek is any better than Cassel?

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

No the final decision would be BBs. BB wouldn't put him if he said he couldn't play, and he wouldn't pull him if said he was okay. But in the presser both would say it was BB's decision and stand by that decision.

No doubt about that, although it is very unlikely that Belichick would give an answer on anything prior to game day.

I believe it would be Belichick's call all the way, publicly and privately. To the extent that Belichick talked about it at all before the game, he probably wouldn't even refer to Brady by name, but instead just refer to needing "production out of the quarterback position" to beat "a very good football team."

Let's just knock wood we never have to get an answer to that question.