RayClay
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Lots of players in the league have back problems and some have had operations. Vollmer played every game for his last two seasons in college after back surgery.
He had a procedure this season and it's sensitive, yet he is playing most of the time. It will get better, it Might get worse for spells, just like every player in football with back problems.
If he was in traction, I'd be a lot more worried than him playing most of the snaps after an off season procedure. Nerve pain flares up and subsides, but you don't play NFL football on a destroyed back, it just makes you one of many who have back problems.
Absent any evidence, and i don't think anyone here has any, He's one of many who have had back operations and lost major time. The fact it leads into a contract year makes it an issue, but it doesn't necessarily make it any more significant than the back injury of McGinest, who had his best seasons after a back issue many writers etc. thought might lead to his retirement, or gronk who's history so far mirrors Vollmers as far as we know (both missed a whole season and bounced back to play (though only Vollmer played every game the following two (college) years.
I can't find anything on McGinests 1990s injury, but he apparently had another operation in 2007 at age 35.
McGinest will miss six weeks with back surgery; Steinbach sprains knee - NFL - ESPN
My point is, playing with back pain for years after operations, with off and off flareups is not an unusual situation in the NFL at all. there are hall of fame type careers between operations like McGinests.
Barring a lot more medical information, we can assume the Patriots know more about Vollmers condition than anybody and are prepared to do the risk reward on a very valuable player.
Backs aside, do you think any players in the NFL don't have injury risk/history considerations on contracts? I can guarantee many have shredded shoulders (Chung?) knees or even plauying styles that are injury risks before the fact.
The Pats know, better than anyone and my amateur guess, as someone with a minor back problem (chronic? They all are) is that Vollmer being able to play at a high with only periodic rests is a good sign, as upcoming years likely point to periods of remission and learned therapeutic and exercise programs which will ameliorate the issue at times.
A back operation likely makes the issue worse in the short run until the sensitivity subsides.
He had a procedure this season and it's sensitive, yet he is playing most of the time. It will get better, it Might get worse for spells, just like every player in football with back problems.
If he was in traction, I'd be a lot more worried than him playing most of the snaps after an off season procedure. Nerve pain flares up and subsides, but you don't play NFL football on a destroyed back, it just makes you one of many who have back problems.
Absent any evidence, and i don't think anyone here has any, He's one of many who have had back operations and lost major time. The fact it leads into a contract year makes it an issue, but it doesn't necessarily make it any more significant than the back injury of McGinest, who had his best seasons after a back issue many writers etc. thought might lead to his retirement, or gronk who's history so far mirrors Vollmers as far as we know (both missed a whole season and bounced back to play (though only Vollmer played every game the following two (college) years.
I can't find anything on McGinests 1990s injury, but he apparently had another operation in 2007 at age 35.
McGinest will miss six weeks with back surgery; Steinbach sprains knee - NFL - ESPN
My point is, playing with back pain for years after operations, with off and off flareups is not an unusual situation in the NFL at all. there are hall of fame type careers between operations like McGinests.
Barring a lot more medical information, we can assume the Patriots know more about Vollmers condition than anybody and are prepared to do the risk reward on a very valuable player.
Backs aside, do you think any players in the NFL don't have injury risk/history considerations on contracts? I can guarantee many have shredded shoulders (Chung?) knees or even plauying styles that are injury risks before the fact.
The Pats know, better than anyone and my amateur guess, as someone with a minor back problem (chronic? They all are) is that Vollmer being able to play at a high with only periodic rests is a good sign, as upcoming years likely point to periods of remission and learned therapeutic and exercise programs which will ameliorate the issue at times.
A back operation likely makes the issue worse in the short run until the sensitivity subsides.
