Belichick Prodded Him to Practice With Concussion

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:58 pm

Click this Link for the story........

Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said coach Bill Belichick subjected him to hard hits in practice while he was recovering from a concussion - against the advice of the team's top trainer.

Johnson, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles before retiring two years ago, told The New York Times that a collision with another player during that 2002 practice led to another concussion. And, after sustaining additional concussions over the next three seasons, he now forgets people's names, misses appointments and suffers from depression and an addiction to amphetamines.

"There's something wrong with me," the 34-year-old Johnson said in Friday's Times. "There's something wrong with my brain. And I know when it started."

*****************
So, what are your thoughts on players with concussions and coaches that let them play.

*****************

My take,

The Coach's job is to motivate his player to play. It is up to the player and the team physician to decide if a player can play.

This is a sad story that has happened to many retired NFL players and will happen to many more in the future (ahem Roesthlisberger...)

Ted Johnson was a great player and represented himself as a role model while he was a player. I feel bad for Ted and wish him the bestbut Ted Johnson is not right to blame the coach for this...

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 10:18 pm

Belichump, besides being personable, congenial, and great with the press...well he's GOD!

sin.

All the bottom dwelling fans who relished the Pats gift over the Bolts.

sin.

Bitter Chargerfan

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:14 pm

I figure it's the price you pay to play Pro Football.

It has to be the most brutal sport on the body of all the major sports unless you consider boxing to be a major sport.

Imagine if your career was over at age 34 and your brain is now MUSH!!!

I can't be hard on Teddy Johnson. He is a big reason that the Patriots won 3 SuperBowls!!

Tom In VA · Post by **Tom In VA** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 11:29 pm

I think Football and Boxing are the toughest on the head. Hockey on the teeth .... lol.

Seriously though, I think boxing takes second fiddle to football in terms of brutality on the body. Not only there's the .... War Wagon put it best on this board recently .... being in a car accident type impact on almost every down, just think of the twisting, turning and "bending where it ain't supposed to bend"ing going on in trenches.