Dr. David Chao: Earl Thomas will need a shoulder harness to play

Must knock these two down several times. (Good clean hits of course.)

VrabelJr said:

Earl Thomas is a tough dude. Richard Sherman does all the talking to the media but Earl Thomas is an old soul and very much an old school NFL player. I think he will play the entire game and play well.

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He will try.

VrabelJr said:

Earl Thomas is a tough dude. Richard Sherman does all the talking to the media but Earl Thomas is an old soul and very much an old school NFL player. I think he will play the entire game and play well.

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Playing well might be a stretch

Froob said:

Ugh why is it only Tuesday? I'm keep so ****ing hyped for this.

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Because we haven't had enough time to dissect Deflategate

KontradictioN said:

Get #29 rolling downhill and sent him right at Thomas.

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Via Sherman being double teamed by Gronk and Develin.

I don't think the injuries to Thomas or Sherman will limit them in any significant way. The Pats would be making a big mistake to think their play will be hampered.

Smoke screen? A safety playing with a bum shoulder sounds stupid, who is their backup?

hwc said:

I don't think the injuries to Thomas or Sherman will limit them in any significant way. The Pats would be making a big mistake to think their play will be hampered.

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So if you can't use your arm and shoulder at 100% of its effectiveness, and your job is to make picks and Tackle, you won't be limited? Yea right. Thomas won't be anywhere near 100% Sunday and Sherman I doubt will be over 90%. The only way they'll be effective is if they completely block the pain

Cramden said:

Part of me wants to beat them at their best but I'll take any win, injuries or no injuries.

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After 2011 and all the other years teams celebrated like it was Jesus' return to the earth after beating us without a ton of key players I don't care if we play them and the only person able to take the field is the Seattle gatorade guy...

Archeryaddict12 said:

So if you can't use your arm and shoulder at 100% of its effectiveness, and your job is to make picks and Tackle, you won't be limited? Yea right. Thomas won't be anywhere near 100% Sunday and Sherman I doubt will be over 90%. The only way they'll be effective is if they completely block the pain

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There are so many ways he can be affected by the entire situation (running, tackling, handling balls..)

Hit him a few times and pain medication wont help him over the more mechanical issues with his condition.

Archeryaddict12 said:

So if you can't use your arm and shoulder at 100% of its effectiveness, and your job is to make picks and Tackle, you won't be limited? Yea right. Thomas won't be anywhere near 100% Sunday and Sherman I doubt will be over 90%. The only way they'll be effective is if they completely block the pain

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I think this is why Browner wants to go right at them. He thinks they'll be limited.

Of course, he also has an ax to grind.

varjao said:

Smoke screen? A safety playing with a bum shoulder sounds stupid, who is their backup?

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Snead.

Keep hearing mixed reports of separation vs dislocation.

I separated my shoulder playing baseball barreling over a first baseman. I'm no NFL athlete and I didn't have surgery but it hurt for no less than a year. For the first couple weeks just touching, laying on, or moving that shoulder would give that pain that breaks you out in a cold sweat and makes you want to pass out. For the first 2 months I wanted to puke whenever my arm would be raised over my head. I can't imagine if this is a full separation that he is going to be near even 50% with injections/slings/whatever. If it was a separation first hit or landing on that shoulder and he is done.

Now all that said. If it was simply a dislocation he'll be fine. Dislocations are painful but not a lingering sort of injury. Get it popped back in and you're sore, not injured. He still may require surgery after the season but he wouldn't be playing in an extreme amount of pain.

Reminds me of the injured Gronk going into the SB in 2012.

Yeah, I know...different injuries.

I separated my shoulder playing rugby. It is hard to imagine anyone playing through that and playing effectively. Maybe it is a minor separation, but the structural issues that go with that would be as much an impediment as the pain.

Hobbs unable to lift his arms singled up on Plaxico anyone?

He tackled Lacy after he sustained the injury in the NFCCG. I don't think it'll be a factor 2 weeks after the fact.

I don't remember the Giants taking it easy on Brady in 2007 (ankle) or 2011 (shoulder).

Archeryaddict12 said:

So if you can't use your arm and shoulder at 100% of its effectiveness, and your job is to make picks and Tackle, you won't be limited? Yea right. Thomas won't be anywhere near 100% Sunday and Sherman I doubt will be over 90%. The only way they'll be effective is if they completely block the pain

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Two weeks is a long time and they will completely block the pain.

woolster22 said:

I separated my shoulder playing rugby. It is hard to imagine anyone playing through that and playing effectively. Maybe it is a minor separation, but the structural issues that go with that would be as much an impediment as the pain.

Hobbs unable to lift his arms singled up on Plaxico anyone?

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Sherman and Thomas will be fine. They'd be in troublel if they had deflated shoulders.

woolster22 said:

I separated my shoulder playing rugby. It is hard to imagine anyone playing through that and playing effectively. Maybe it is a minor separation, but the structural issues that go with that would be as much an impediment as the pain.

Hobbs unable to lift his arms singled up on Plaxico anyone?

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Great point. Hobbs got torched as we all know by Burress with a torn labrum, that he had for half a season.

I think we're downplaying how big a separated shoulder is going to restrict Thomas. He made that Lacy tackle running on adrenaline after the training staff most likely popped it back in. That thing is probably sore as all hell right now.

I'd love to see an offensive formation of Gronk, Edelman, LaFell, Amendola and Tim Wright spread out. I think that would do some damage.