Ras-I Dowling

MAYOnnaise · Aug 3, 2013

ATippett56 said:
Adrian Peterson did not have an injury history in high school. Adrian Peterson broke his collar bone during his junior year in college. Aside from the aforementioned injury, no other broken bones or muscle tears.

Not true. He also had a dislocated shoulder and a high ankle sprain.

There were concerns about his injuries pre-draft, though probably not as significant as Ras-I's.

SI.com - Writers - Don Banks: Teams wary of Peterson's health after re-injury - Wednesday April 25, 2007 7:13PM

Besides, I fail to see what Dowling getting hurt in high school has to do with anything.

ATippett56 · Aug 3, 2013

MAYOnaisse said:
Not true. He also had a dislocated shoulder and a high ankle sprain.

Peterson only missed four games his sophomore season due to a high ankle sprain, not 14 games his rookie season in the NFL due to a hip injury and not 10 games his sophomore season in the NFL due to a torn thigh muscle.

Observer · Aug 3, 2013

Dowling had legit concerns with his injury riddled past, that was well voiced by many parties at draft time. The FO rolled the dice and lost at least 2 years of production and counting from a top pick. Either they made a terrible gamble or our physios suck. It is what it is.

goheels22002 · Aug 3, 2013

MAYOnaisse said:
Having injuries in the past does not indicate future injuries.

Yes, it does. Especially when the injuries that keep you out of action in college are things like ankles and hamstrings, like Dowling. Knee and back (Gronk) injuries are also an issue.

Dowling came out as a very highly rated CB with well-documented injuries:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots No. 2 pick scouting report: CB Ras-I Dowling

MAYOnnaise · Aug 3, 2013

goheels22002 said:
Yes, it does. Especially when the injuries that keep you out of action in college are things like ankles and hamstrings, like Dowling. Knee and back (Gronk) injuries are also an issue.

Dowling came out as a very highly rated CB with well-documented injuries:

ProFootballWeekly.com - Patriots No. 2 pick scouting report: CB Ras-I Dowling

Yeah, those ankle and hamstring injuries really caused him to hurt his hip and tear his thigh muscle.

randomk1 · Aug 3, 2013

patfanken said:
I would think that a rabid fan like yourself would have come to the obvious conclusion that every year in the NFL is distinctly different from every other. I imagine that brilliant fan like yourself would have thrown Aaron Rodgers out with the trash after HIS first 3 years. There are dozens of other examples of players who had slow starts to their careers and then came on to be very effective players in the league.

What is it with you guys who sit on their asses and feel that can make blaknket judgements about people with little experience and NO knowledge of the situation. WTF- Is your life so shallow that you feel the need to degrade and dismiss these athletes just because you can.

I don't know if Dowling will ever live up to his promise. And I do know that his first 2 years have been very disappointing. However I also know that when he's been on the field he's had a measure of success, and that you cannot equate this year with those of the past. Every year is distinctly different. Hey if you based Rob Ninkovitch's production based on his first few years, he'd be selling insurance now.

dowling's situation doesnt compare to rodgers at all. we needed instant help when he was drafted and so far he's just a huge sob story on here. i hope he can turn it around but i'm expecting him to bust at this point

goheels22002 · Aug 3, 2013

MAYOnaisse said:
Yeah, those ankle and hamstring injuries really caused him to hurt his hip and tear his thigh muscle.

Ras-I Dowling's history of four lower body injuries over the last four years is probably not the best place to begin making the case that prior injuries are not predictive of future injuries.

Here's a pretty good story from Men's Fitness worth looking at:

Most Injury-Prone Pro Athletes - Men's Fitness

This NY Times piece about emphasizing leg strength in football leads to other leg and hip injuries: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/sports/01hips.html?_r=0

PatsWickedPissah · Aug 3, 2013

Not every athlete's body is built to withstand the contact and the strain from speed cutting in NFL football. Freaks like Wes Welker could take it and manage their hits; others cannot. The odds are that Glass IR is one of those athletic guys whose body just isn't built to take the punishment.

This Pats Homo is betting against the odds and say he'll be a player for us this season.

BTTA · Aug 3, 2013

Questioning the team's judgment given Dowling's injury history is reasonable, and an argument can be made either way.

Turning this into an issue of Dowling's toughness or character, as if he just needs to try harder or is somehow deficient, is silly and more a reflection of the toughness and character of the poster than it is of Dowling.

neuronet · Aug 3, 2013

patfanken said:
...you cannot equate this year with those of the past. Every year is distinctly different.

Data from the past help us predict the future. That's pretty much an axiom.

While each year is different, I don't expect radical changes. E.g., Tebow isn't going to suddenly be a quick accurate passer. I wish people would fundamentally change for the better, but it doesn't happen. Dowling is a bust. People can deny it, the same people that kept coming her claiming that Maroney was going to stop tap-dancing, or that Ochocinco was going to have a break out day.

While this site has its share of chicken littles, it also has its share of ostrich cheerleaders who think things are better than they are, that any complaint is a sign of disloyalty. Both extremes are signs of emotion overriding rational thought and critical evaluation.

NEPettyOfficer72 · Aug 3, 2013

neuronet said:
Data from the past help us predict the future. That's pretty much an axiom.

While each year is different, I don't expect radical changes. E.g., Tebow isn't going to suddenly be a quick accurate passer. I wish people would fundamentally change for the better, but it doesn't happen. Dowling is a bust. People can deny it, the same people that kept coming her claiming that Maroney was going to stop tap-dancing, or that Ochocinco was going to have a break out day.

While this site has its share of chicken littles, it also has its share of ostrich cheerleaders who think things are better than they are, that any complaint is a sign of disloyalty. Both extremes are signs of emotion overriding rational thought and critical evaluation.

I think as long as he is healthy now, and is playing well in camp then you go with that until something happens. None of us have a crystal ball or use what God has to see into the future. While healthy, he is extremely talented with ball skills and a versatile defensive back that we hope can contribute.

Raymond · Aug 3, 2013

neuronet said:
......Dowling is a bust. People can deny it.......

Up to this point, you are correct. How much more rope BB allows him is another question. I would guess, if Dowling does not establish himself this year as a healthy contributor he'll be gone.

We'll see.

Ring 6 · Aug 3, 2013

neuronet said:
Data from the past help us predict the future. That's pretty much an axiom.

While each year is different, I don't expect radical changes. E.g., Tebow isn't going to suddenly be a quick accurate passer. I wish people would fundamentally change for the better, but it doesn't happen. Dowling is a bust. People can deny it, the same people that kept coming her claiming that Maroney was going to stop tap-dancing, or that Ochocinco was going to have a break out day.

While this site has its share of chicken littles, it also has its share of ostrich cheerleaders who think things are better than they are, that any complaint is a sign of disloyalty. Both extremes are signs of emotion overriding rational thought and critical evaluation.

Your error is assuming that Dowling being injured twice equals Dowling being injured indefinitely which is not the same as Tebow changing his ability level, Maroney changing his running style (which wasn't the problem except to ignorant fans) or 85 learning a system and set of site reads he wasn't smart enough to.
Being injured is not a flaw or deficiency, it is bad luck. I recognize that there are people on this board who like to show their internet muscles by implying injured players are ****ies, but that is simply ignorance personified.
Maybe Dowling will get hurt every season of his career, maybe he will not. But to call him a bust because you have decided that injuires in 11 and 12 are somehow part of his 'skillset' is ridiculous. He has lost 2 years which makes him more likely to be labeled a bust because, well, he lost 2 years. But so have many players drafted that season who just aren't good enough, and THAT is inherent.

Ring 6 · Aug 3, 2013

NEPettyOfficer72 said:
I think as long as he is healthy now, and is playing well in camp then you go with that until something happens. None of us have a crystal ball or use what God has to see into the future. While healthy, he is extremely talented with ball skills and a versatile defensive back that we hope can contribute.

But he isn't healthy, andeof course the concern is that the injuries and activities will cause his skills to deteriorate. We don't know.

Deus Irae · Aug 3, 2013

Whether this injury is a 2 day injury or a 2 year injury, the guy's a china doll. People may be overreacting to this particular injury, but the guys been king of the boo boos since high school, so this notion that things will be different this time is really just some people hoping that he beats the odds. There's nothing wrong with that hope, but I don't see why there should be indignant defense of Ras-IR just because people are bagging on his durability when it's clearly a major problem.

Boston Boxer · Aug 3, 2013

NEPettyOfficer72 said:
I think as long as he is healthy now, and is playing well in camp then you go with that until something happens. None of us have a crystal ball or use what God has to see into the future. While healthy, he is extremely talented with ball skills and a versatile defensive back that we hope can contribute.

i dont thnk i have ever seen him healthy

TB12_laser designator · Aug 3, 2013

So frustrating to see Dowling off injured again. But at this stage, it's as predictable as the sun rising in the east - you just know it will happen. If the guy isn't healthy when we reach the final roster cut down, I wouldn't be surprised to see him sent packing.

PatsWickedPissah · Aug 3, 2013

Cap hit would be a factor in cut decision vs IR

Froob · Aug 3, 2013

Hope I'm wrong but, I see this guy getting waived, picked up by the jaguars and then eventually retiring next offsesason after he plays in like one game.

Henroc · Aug 3, 2013

I was pulling for the guy because he was looking good according to analysts. But if he's fragile then cut your losses bb. Such a shame.I see talent there and I think that if he could stay healthy then our cb depth would be pretty deep.

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