What If: Nick Collins · PACKERSHOME

MintBaconDrivel
Senior Member Topic Starter

10 years ago

Let's say Nick Collins signs a waiver assuming all responsiblity for any football related neck injury.

Let's say the Packers sign Collins under this premise.

Then Collins suffers a paralyzing injury on Lambeau Field in front of 80,000 fans.

What if this were to happen?

What would you as a fan feel towards the Packers organization?

What would you as a fan feel towards Collins in regards to responsibility?

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rabidgopher04
Member

10 years ago

Any football player can suffer a paralyzing injury in any game. It's happened before. I watched a guy form the New York Jets lay on the field for a long time during a game against the Lions in the 90s. It was awful that it happened, but these guys play knowing the inherent risks involved. It's a hazardous occupation. I don't want to see anyone get injured, but the reality is that the risk is always present for every player in the NFL.

With that in mind, the question should be re-framed as to how we as fans feel about supporting and perpetuating such an inherently violent and dangerous sport. If these risks are involved for every player, and theoretically it could happen to all of them, how do we feel toward the entire sport of football (the organizations, the players, the league, the fans)? Just something to think about.

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ddeucher
Registered

10 years ago

I would be sick about it. But I'm not sure if I would be more sick than if it would happen to any other Packer player (or any person in any line of work for that matter).

If Collins chooses to come back, he is going into it with his eyes open and must feel that the risk is worth it for him to play football.
If Packers let him play, I feel comfortable that they must have gotten a solid medical opinion that assured them the risk was within normal range for any football player.

Bottom line, as a Packer fan, I strongly feel that the Packers have demonstrated that they are NOT an organization that takes player safety lightly.

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steveishere
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Its an odd situation because even if theres a slight higher chance of neck injury now I feel like most docs wont give all clear when as long as the player understands the risk I say let them play. There are also guys though that would play even if they got a 50% chance of breaking their neck. Those guys you have to stop. I dont know on which end of the spectrum nick falls on.

texaspackerbacker
Veteran Member

10 years ago

I'm a fan of the TEAM, not necessarily the players on any personal level.

Back in the 80s I think it was, a year when the Packers were basically a crap team, and there was a players strike, the Packers put a "scab" team on the field. That team was better in comparison to other scab teams than the real players. I watched and enjoyed those scab games, and was disappointed when the strike ended and the regulars came back - and lost most of the time.

If the weird premise set up here actually happened, I would feel sad we again lost a quality player - no more, no less.

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musccy
Veteran Member

10 years ago

As others have said, the risk is there for each player on each play, and it's no secret, so the waiver becomes redundant. The Packers don't force Nick or anyone else to join the team. If something were to happen, of course I'd feel bad, but it'd be no different than Joe Theisman, Mike Utley, or anyone else...it's an unfortunate reality of the game.

Zero2Cool
Elite Member

10 years ago

The only doctor that was really unsure was Dr. McKenzie. He wasn’t quite sold on the idea of me playing for the Packers anymore,. That’s not saying that I wasn’t cleared to go nowhere else. I was cleared to go somewhere else. He just wasn’t 100 percent sold on the idea.

Nick Collins wrote:

Saying there is risk for every player is grossly missing the point here. Has every player had spinal fusion? No. That is the point. That is key here. Quite true, ANY player could be paralyzed on ANY play in the NFL. I feel that goes without saying.

I wouldn't want Nick Collins on the field UNLESS doctors put their name to the words "he is at no further risk now than prior to the surgery". If doctors are willing to do that, I would be glad to have him back.

texaspackerbacker
Veteran Member

10 years ago

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

So you're calling Collins a liar?

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play2win
Senior Member

10 years ago

I took this comment to imply there were doctors that cleared him, yet he singles out the only person who said no? Why not put names to those who gave him clearance? I think that would enhances his chances of a team biting on their interest for him.

Saying there is risk for every player is grossly missing the point here. Has every player had spinal fusion? No. That is the point. That is key here. Quite true, ANY player could be paralyzed on ANY play in the NFL. I feel that goes without saying.

I wouldn't want Nick Collins on the field UNLESS doctors put their name to the words "he is at no further risk now than prior to the surgery". If doctors are willing to do that, I would be glad to have him back.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool

I agree with this 100%.

texaspackerbacker
Veteran Member

10 years ago

#10

Either Collins is telling the truth or he is not.

Sounds to me like the guy is getting a little frustrated that his career is being hijacked by damn hyper-cautious doctors (and gutless GMs). Obviously he still wants to play; Apparently he prefers to play for the Packers - instead of accepting one of those other offers - unless we call him a liar, of course. Sign the guy; Get him on the field; and Let the chips fall - with an iron clad legal disclaimer to protect the team, of course.

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