What "team records"? Where is this info coming from? And who is "everyone concerned."
In the Globe article, it mentions that Johnson was happy that the team recorded the concussions he suffered first in the game and then in practice. For some reason, I thought that meant it was also recorded that he was not cleared for practice because of the first concussion, but that is a huge leap in logic I should not be making.
As far as "everyone concerned," it's troubling to me that no one has actually refuted Ted's story. Not Belichick, or Kraft, and the media isn't allowed to talk to the trainer involved. Can't they just say Johnson is mistaken, if his events are untrue? It leads me to believe that his story is more or less true.
And the Globe says:
Whalen was not allowed by the Patriots to comment for this story. Two players corroborated Johnson's version of what transpired. Former linebacker Roman Phifer said, "What they did to Ted was just wrong."
So as far as I know, no one connected to the Patriots has said Ted is wrong in his telling of the events.
1. Johnson is mentally screwed up and blames the concussions he suffered in the NFL, particularly his "back to back concussion in 2002"
Sure.
2. Johnson DID suffer back to back concussions
Yes.
3. Johnson suffered his second concussion during PRACTICE, NOT an actual game
Yes, not sure why it matters where he suffered the concussion.
4. Belichick and Johnson had a meeting AFTER Johnson left the team without permission and then returned
Yes.
5. Belichick commented that both he and Ted "apologised" to each other in the meeting. The nature of Belichick's comments suggests that he made a general apology to soothe Ted's feelings for the benefit of the team. NOWHERE in Belichick's comments does it state that he apologised to Ted for "overruling the trainer and giving him a blue jersey to wear in practice".
Right, that is Johnson's view. The nature of Belichick's comments said that he "apologized" for something, not necessarily that the purpose of the apology was to "soothe Ted's feelings for the benefit of the team."
.6. Ted JOHNSON claims that Belichick said he "effed up"....the implication being that this alleged comment by Belichick was made in reference to Johnson wearing a blue jersey at practice. We do not know whether this particular phrase was indeed said by Belichick and EVEN IF IT WAS, whether it was said in reference to ANY SPECIFIC INCIDENT
Right, we only have Johnson's comments that Belichick apologized for the blue jersey.
7. Ted Johnson claims to have suffered more than thirty concussions....to have played with concussions and NOT HAVE REPORTED these concussions
Right.
Let me know if you have any other information besides what I've presented because from that information once CANNOT draw ANY conclusions, certainly not that the "Patriots/Belichick show a lack of value for human life" or "run their organization in a disturbing manner". Here are some relevant unanswered questions...
Where do I say either about the Patriots? At most, if Belichick overruled the trainer then it was a big mistake. I don't think Belichick treats players lives like disposable trash, it only means that he made a mistake.
1. What is the normal period of time IN THE NFL before a player who has suffered a concussion is allowed to PRACTICE with full contact? Everyone keeps condemning Belichick but I have yet to see this question answered.
I don't think that it matters. It's not the coaching staff that should rule on how long a player should practice after a head injury, it's the medical staff and the trainers.
2. Does the answer to number one depend on the severity of the concussion (i.e. how long the player is unconscious, if at all) and if it does...exactly what kind of concussion was Johnson diagnosed with the first time.
Again, if the trainer says no, then it should be no.
4. Who was responsible for clearing Johnson for full contact practice and was the information relayed to Belichick. The answer to this question would determine how much "heat" Belichick should get since it would be wrong for him to overrule medical staff.
That's the whole point thought, isn't it, that according to Johnson, it was Belichick who was responsible for clearing him for practice against the trainer's advice. Or, at least the implication is that Belichick sort of pushed the issue, and the trainers relented.
My opinion on this is that it is Johnson's OPINION that his back to back concussions in 2002 is to blame for his current condition.
Right, that is what I said in my second point.
However, the fact that he suffered multiple concussions over his career, and reported very few of them means that the 2002 incident cannot be reasonably held to be responsible for his condition.
Well I said that it is most likely a combination of drugs and all his concussions that is responsible for his current condition.
There is not enough evidence to say what exactly is responsible for his condition, but as I said, because Johnson says it's those two concussion, all the news angles will take that viewpoint unless someone says otherwise.
But to me, the most important issue in the story is not what the starting point was for Ted's deterioration. It's how the team looks after it's players after injury, and how much say the coaches have over the trainers.
It also shows that he was an active participant in disregarding his health. He was an adult..."brave" enough to leave the team because he was going to be held out of a game and to confront Belichick so he has no excuse for not reporting his concussions or refusing to play.
I made this point in one of my earlier posts, but the NFL culture, where you lose your job if you can't play through injury, where teammates and coaches look down on you for not playing hurt, all contributes to guys pushing themselves when they should not. There was a quote from a player in the Globe article, that said the player has to be his own advocate. But I imagine that can be difficult sometimes.
Lastly, considering how careful the Patriots are with injuries to their players, I find it difficult to believe that they would have treated Johnson's injury with any less care. Not saying it couldn't have happened, but the known history of the Patriots in regards to injuries should prompt any unbiased person to wait until the aforementioned questions are answered before passing judgment.
You're right, maybe I shouldn't rush to criticize, but because the Patriots haven't said much specifically about the issue and certainly haven't shot down the story, it's making it difficult for me not to.
I don't think the Patriots are careless, and I don't think Belichick is an unfeeling satan who deliberatly condemned Johnson to brain damage. But like Ted said, it's not just the Patriots and Belichick, this kind of thing happens all the time in the NFL. Trainers have to feel secure enough in their jobs so that they can stand up to a head coach if need be. Players need to be their own advocates. Things need to change.
I guess the bottom line is that I think there's enough there that I believe Ted's story (not the part about the concussions leading to all his problems, but about the blue jersey thing). It's concerning to me, and I really, really hope someone in the organization addresses this in more depth soon.