Last season we saw Ohio State running back Master Teague go down with an injury. We have seen the injuries to Justin Fields that made everyone hold their breath as well. The reality is football is a dangerous sport and injuries do occur. Players opting out to focus on the draft garners a lot of heat from fans, but as we are seeing, serious injuries happen.
Watching Dak Prescott go down in the Dallas Cowboys game and get carted off after a contract battle was eerily similar to Earl Thomas’ situation in Seattle. One thing we forget on game day is that this is a business and at any point and time a player’s career could hang in the balance.
Players sometime come back and do great things, sometimes players return and are not the same as they were before, and sometimes their career is over. Look no further than former Buckeye Ryan Shazier. In the blink of an eye his career was over. The concern switched from football to whether Shazier would walk again.
Day called it "amazing" the work running back Master Teague has put in to get healthy and be ready to play. He said Trey Sermon has looked good as well but they haven't seen him in pads yet.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) September 17, 2020
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When a player opts out of a season, whether it is for COVID-19 or to prepare for the draft, fans need to understand they are looking out for the business side of football. Teague returning and playing to the same level is the best-case scenario. What happens if he didn’t make it back? What happens If Teague isn’t the same player? I am using him as an example to point out the reality of this sport.
We should take time to remember these young men on Saturdays and Sundays are risking their bodies for sport and business. Injuries will happen as long as football, or really any sport, is played. Players making the best decision for themselves should not be overlooked just because we are fans and want our teams to win.
There. I’ve gotten that off my chest and I feel much better.
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