| Randolph Carlotin. 12th October, 2007 - 1:02 pm
 On Sunday, Seattle fullback Mack Strong played against the Pittsburgh Steelers. By Tuesday, he announced his retirement after suffering a herniated disk that was pinching his spinal cord.
Strong shouldn’t be the only player immediately calling it quits.
Anyone who saw the blow to Trent Green’s head as he tried to block Houston Texans defensive tackle Travis Johnson during a reverse gave a hushed “Oh…” after Johnson’s knee crashed into Green’s helmet. Knowing it was Green lying on the turf motionless, what was a serious injury became much worse.
It was only last year that Green, then playing for Kansas City, had an “Oh no…” moment when a Cincinnati Bengal player decked Green as he executed a hook slide. Green’s head bounced against the field. He was knocked unconscious.
Green suffered a severe concussion. Even though Green said he was ready to play just a few weeks later, the Chiefs’ doctors held Green out until he missed eight games.
Now, as a member of the Dolphins, Green was diagnosed with a grade three concussion, the most severe rating. With the new standards set by the NFL regarding head injuries, there’s no telling how long Green will be held out.
Green should take the decision out of the doctor’s hands and never return. Anyone who suffers a concussion becomes susceptible to more concussions. The more he absorbs, the greater chance of post concussion syndrome. Since both concussions were severe, it might not take much at all. Or it could just be a matter of time for symptoms to show like headaches, difficulty remembering, or depression, or all three and more.
Green should listen to Strong. Mack got injured in the first half. He felt his hands tingling, a burning in his arms and legs, and patches of numbness. Strong returned in the second half, but after another hit made the symptoms return, he got out of Sunday’s game, and days later got out of the game completely.
It is an injury to a vertebrae in Strong’s neck. He won’t need surgery to recover and, more importantly, it won’t impact his quality of life.
As Strong sees it, there’s life after football. He believes life will only get better. He’s made plenty of money playing the sport. He has more time to spend it. He can spend more time with his family. Mack has an interest in working as a broadcaster. Maybe we’ll still see him on Sundays, but in a jacket and tie analyzing games and players.
I can think of someone else who could be a great analyst like Strong. But it will be up to Green to decide whether to keep playing and risk further damage or step to the sidelines.
Randolph Charlotin can be contacted at lordrc@netzero.net |
