Patriots Injury News Campbell Says He's Been Playing with a Torn Ligament in His Knee

[One-If-By-Sea]

They better be very careful with this offensive line situation, the last thing you want this leaky line in the playoffs to continue against a harder schedule next year then all of a sudden your QB is banged up and then next thing you know is he's missing games and derailing seasons.

Learn from what has happened to Joe Burrow, the one way to derail the entire franchise and end up back at the bottom is getting your quarterback hit and hurt.

I agree. It is a story as old as time. The Bengals with Joe Burrow. The Colts with Andrew Luck. The Texans with David Carr. Lots of posters discount the significance of the OL. The Bengals, Colts, and Texans did not want to ruin their QB. They thought the OL chemistry would gel, or the OL needed more time, or it was only due to OL injuries that will not happen next year, or how can we find anyone better.

If we don't fix the OL as the #1 priority it will get ugly. It was ugly for 4 games, what more do posters need to see to understand that we need major OL changes? Not one more guy or a FA and a backup tackle, we need wholesale upgrades.

 

[VrabelJr]

It seems apparent to me that Vrabel treated the entire year as a rebuilding year, including the postseason. He was not going to bench his young players/core players because they had some small struggles or injuries they were working through. He wanted them to get the reps and the experience. If I were to put myself in his shoes, he probably looked at it as - "we might not win a Lombardi, but these kids will get reps that will be invaluable to help them grow over the next few years, and me keeping them in there will massively build their trust in me. If I bench them, we might have a marginally better chance at a ring (but we'll probably still lose), but the locker room won't be quite the same and the kids won't get the reps and experience."

So yes, Vrabel probably made the "wrong" decision as far as winning this game, but I don't know if that was truly the goal. He was doing what was best for the growth of his team long term. Which, I realize, is kinda crazy to be focused on in the Super Bowl... but I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens. If these guys are back in the postseason playing at a high level next year or two years from now and they're saying how much it meant to them that their coach kept them in the game as rookies and had faith in them and it helped them get where they are today, we will be viewing it differently.

If that’s the case that’s wacky logic. We played our best offensive football of the year when Lowe and Brown started, which honestly is painful to type. Maybe I won’t post reply. Ah screw it here goes.

 

[mike_usagisan]

I think it was a very questionable decision by Vrable, but I think it's part of his fundamental coaching mentality from being a former player. Players don't lose their starter spot because of injury. If someone can go medically, then they play.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Then he shouldn't have been playing. Lowe did a more than adequate job filling in for him.

This.

Lowe needed to start. If Campbell insisted on playing, the coaches need to tell him to sit and that it's best for the team.

I don't blame Campbell as much now. I blame the organization.

 

[NFL Mystique]

I think it was a very questionable decision by Vrable, but I think it's part of his fundamental coaching mentality from being a former player. Players don't lose their starter spot because of injury. If someone can go medically, then they play.

There is a huge difference between say a 75% Maye playing instead of Dobbs. Vs....an injured Campbell playing over Lowe. The gap between the OL guys is much much smaller than the former.

As for the bolded, wasn't Vrabel a Patriot when Bledsoe lost his job to injury. And....it led to historic success for the franchise? It's odd he would have that mentality.

 

[mike_usagisan]

There is a huge difference between say a 75% Maye playing instead of Dobbs. Vs....an injured Campbell playing over Lowe. The gap between the OL guys is much much smaller than the former.

As for the bolded, wasn't Vrabel a Patriot when Bledsoe lost his job to injury. And....it led to historic success for the franchise? It's odd he would have that mentality.

Good question. He might have argued that Bledsoe had already lost his spot due to his play (like Dugger), and the injury was just coincidental. We'll have to see if he ever does allow the backup to keep playing after the starter is healthy.

 

[Real fan 02]

I agree. It is a story as old as time. The Bengals with Joe Burrow. The Colts with Andrew Luck. The Texans with David Carr. Lots of posters discount the significance of the OL. The Bengals, Colts, and Texans did not want to ruin their QB. They thought the OL chemistry would gel, or the OL needed more time, or it was only due to OL injuries that will not happen next year, or how can we find anyone better.

If we don't fix the OL as the #1 priority it will get ugly. It was ugly for 4 games, what more do posters need to see to understand that we need major OL changes? Not one more guy or a FA and a backup tackle, we need wholesale upgrades.

Left side of the OL.as you perfectly stated was an issue all post season... need know for sure Campbell had no business playing on a torn ligament.. he was hurting the team not helping... Wilson also had like 2 concussions and that high ankle.. they were weaknesses on the OL as they were limited by injuries..

Lowe and Brown would have been better to have a go at it.. Lowe actually played decently..

 

[NFL Mystique]

Good question. He might have argued that Bledsoe had already lost his spot due to his play (like Dugger), and the injury was just coincidental. We'll have to see if he ever does allow the backup to keep playing after the starter is healthy.

You never want an owner involved. But...couldn't Kraft just say "Mike if a guy is that badly injured, please put in the backup." It will never happen.

But that is a concern with Vrabel. Loyalty to a fault. It's the complete opposite of Bill. Who would have benched Campbell and questioned McDaniels throughout the game.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Left side of the OL.as you perfectly stated was an issue all post season... need know for sure Campbell had no business playing on a torn ligament.. he was hurting the team not helping... Wilson also had like 2 concussions and that high ankle.. they were weaknesses on the OL as they were limited by injuries..

Lowe and Brown would have been better to have a go at it.. Lowe actually played decently..

That's why Vrabel really had a poor game on Sunday. I can't believe he allowed that to continue.

 

[ViperGTS]

Yep saw him say that. So now the issue is Wilson to center and find a LG? That would be easier to do in the draft as well. I now agree with Vrabel give the kid an offseason to work on getting better. He isn't even fully grown yet.

 

[Real fan 02]

That's why Vrabel really had a poor game on Sunday. I can't believe he allowed that to continue.

Agreed the only thing I can Critique him on... likely it was more of Vrabel honoring them for how solid they had been during the regular season... it cost them

 

[mike_usagisan]

Yep saw him say that. So now the issue is Wilson to center and find a LG? That would be easier to do in the draft as well. I now agree with Vrabel give the kid an offseason to work on getting better. He isn't even fully grown yet.

I wonder if they'll have Wilson and Bradbury battle it out in camp for the center spot again.

 

[Pape]

Mike Vrabel: We’re not moving Will Campbell to guard, center, tight end, or anywhere else

Patriots left tackle Will Campbell's struggles in Super Bowl LX have been well documented at this point.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[ViperGTS]

I wonder if they'll have Wilson and Bradbury battle it out in camp for the center spot again.

They need to. Plus they need to grab a guard in the draft, or sign one. Then you need another tackle to backup either Campbell and Moses. Campbell, New Guy, Wilson, Onwenu, Moses is a pretty decent line and the makings of a really good one imo.

I don't remember now how much time Wilson had at guard in his career but I know he was a center at Georgia. So he acquitted himself pretty well a a guard.

 

[borg]

I get you don’t want to shoot the kids confidence long term.. but this is still the Super Bowl

Malcolm Butler agrees

 

[mike_usagisan]

They need to. Plus they need to grab a guard in the draft, or sign one. Then you need another tackle to backup either Campbell and Moses. Campbell, New Guy, Wilson, Onwenu, Moses is a pretty decent line and the makings of a really good one imo.

I don't remember now how much time Wilson had at guard in his career but I know he was a center at Georgia. So he acquitted himself pretty well a a guard.

And maybe Lowe and Munford as backup. I can't imagine they'll be able to keep Bradbury as a backup at this point in his career. So keep Brown there and the rest of the IOL?

 

[203Pat]

I think you have to understand the landscape of professional sports now. The guy is a laughing stock right now. People are making memes of him left and right. I can only imagine the mean and nasty things a lot of people are writing in his social media comments and even on his girlfriend's profile. I understand that they get paid well and it comes with the territory of being an athlete to be in the public eye, but with the 24-7 scrutiny and the way fans can hide behind a screen to say such awful things to players, I can't really fault them for coming out and defending themselves. Most people if they saw him in person would stay respectful but you let them hide behind a screen and they'll say awful things about what's probably the worst day of the guy's life right now and the lowest he's ever felt.

This isn't like the "old days" where if you sucked you'd get a snarky reporter writing some pointed stuff about you. There's such direct access to these athletes now that I'll never fault them for trying to stick up for themselves with something like this.

I agree that that is the state of sports media/social media right now and it is unfortunate that players feel the need to defend themselves because I can't imagine how hard it is to have the world crapping on you without knowing the circumstances. That being said it just seems like excuse making when it should be used as motivation to get better. On a positive note there have been some very good former tackles somewhat backing Campbell on social media. The consensus seems to be that the arm length isn't really the issue it is the hand placement and his stance/footwork and they seem to think it stems from an inexperience/confidence issue. If that is the case those things are fixable so I would assume next year at this time we will have a much better idea if he is a tackle or a guard.

 

[grux]

Mike Vrabel: We’re not moving Will Campbell to guard, center, tight end, or anywhere else

Patriots left tackle Will Campbell's struggles in Super Bowl LX have been well documented at this point.

www.nbcsports.com

Great news and I am glad Vrable didn't waist anytime supporting Will. He is 22 years old and deserves the opportunity to grow into a solid tackle. He played well during the regular season and did his best throughout the playoffs/superbowl. Looking forward to seeing how he progress's the next 2-4 years.

 

[RxJock1120]

It hurt them but the 14 pressures thing is pure B.S and horrific reporting. His real pressure rate was about 6-8 on 56 dropbacks against an elite front. Thats really not that bad. The full losses he had were BAD losses I won't disagree but it wasn't as bad as everyone said initially.

There was a really good video posted here earlier highlighting WC on all the pass plays and I counted 10 legit pressures, 12 pressures if we are being overly critical. All in all, the SB was a pretty big disaster for WC. Not as bad as some have stated, but not far behind.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Then he shouldn't have been playing. Lowe did a more than adequate job filling in for him.

Against crap defenses