Suit Up, T.O.
In December, Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens had surgery on his injured ankle. The doctor put in plates, screws...the whole works. He has since warned Owens not to try to play in the Super Bowl, refusing to give him medical clearance. If T.O. does try to play, he could seriously damage the ankle in a moment that could only be compared to Roy Hobbs in The Natural. So what should Owens do? Play, of course.
It has been ingrained in the minds of coaches, players and fans that an athlete should always listen to the doctors orders. He should keep his future firmly in mind and not take any chances. In almost every instance, this is solid advice. But not this time.
Owens is 31-years old. He's been in the NFL for 9 years and is known as one of the top three or four receivers in the game. He has nearly 10,000 yards of career receiving yards and is approaching 100 touchdown catches. He has accomplished all there is to accomplish. Except for one thing. He's never won a Super Bowl.
When an athlete gets to the twilight of his career, the way he looks at things has to change along with his age. Owens no longer has anything to be cautious about. There is no reason for him to be on the sidelines if he can help his team, no matter what the risk to his ankle. If it were his heart that could fail, things would be dramatically different. But it's not. It's his ankle. He can tear it to shreds and live a perfectly happy and productive life before dying in his sleep at 105-years old. But if he sits this one out, he will likely never have another chance at a Super Bowl.
This isn't just another game. This is the goal of every football player from the day he first picks up the pigskin. In my opinion, it's worth the price of a 31-year old ankle.
It has been ingrained in the minds of coaches, players and fans that an athlete should always listen to the doctors orders. He should keep his future firmly in mind and not take any chances. In almost every instance, this is solid advice. But not this time.
Owens is 31-years old. He's been in the NFL for 9 years and is known as one of the top three or four receivers in the game. He has nearly 10,000 yards of career receiving yards and is approaching 100 touchdown catches. He has accomplished all there is to accomplish. Except for one thing. He's never won a Super Bowl.
When an athlete gets to the twilight of his career, the way he looks at things has to change along with his age. Owens no longer has anything to be cautious about. There is no reason for him to be on the sidelines if he can help his team, no matter what the risk to his ankle. If it were his heart that could fail, things would be dramatically different. But it's not. It's his ankle. He can tear it to shreds and live a perfectly happy and productive life before dying in his sleep at 105-years old. But if he sits this one out, he will likely never have another chance at a Super Bowl.
This isn't just another game. This is the goal of every football player from the day he first picks up the pigskin. In my opinion, it's worth the price of a 31-year old ankle.
posted by Joe Siple | 3:29 PM
4 Comments:
How do you strike a balance between tough, brave athlete and stupid athlete that is jeopardizing his career? This situation reminds me of "Varsity Blues" or "Friday Night Lights". Star player gets injured and will do anything at any cost to play. Even go against doctors orders to play while taking injections or just going in a game with many cobwebs. For a player and position that relies so much on speed, you cannot say that the ankle will heal and everything will be better before training camp next fall. I think T.O. should sit it out if the doctor that performed the surgery says to. Can you believe a trainer that is paid by the organization for which you are player for? I would hope so, but owners have millions invested in these players and millions invested on the outcome of one game. It comes down to winning. If you win, season tickets and advertising make the millionaires become billionaires.
IN RESPONSE TO A COMMENT
I always enjoy reading the comments I receive in response to my web mail. Whether they come to my personal e-mail account (joe@joesiple.com) or through the comment box. The dialogue that follows the writing of the column is what makes this so enjoyable.
In this case, I think the reader didn't focus on the point I was trying to make. The references to the movies "Varsity Blues" and "Friday Night Lights" don't fit because my attempt was to highlight the difference between that group of athletes (high school/college kids) and a 31-year old, 9-year veteran of the NFL whose last chance to play in a Super Bowl is one week away. I emphasize that I wouldn't think this way if there was a potentially more serious outcome, such as death. But for Owens, the worst that can happen is his ankle is injured beyond repair. I'm not saying that would be a good thing by any means, but he is not a high school kid. And he shouldn't fall victim to the same career-protecting standards when he has had a productive career and it is nearly finished.
Liemer, Liemer, Liemer. Although I agree that T.O. and Roy Hobbs are nothing alike, the comparison was not of their personalities, but of their injury situations. True, Roy was shot and T.O. just broke his ankle. But the point was that they were both in the later stages of their careers, both had an injury that could potentially get worse if they played and both decided to play anyway. Whether you like T.O. or not (and I definately don't) you have to admit it was a good decision to play. He had nothing to lose except more money that he doesn't need.
T.O. is not at the back end of his career, he is in his prime. I will admit he had a good game and it was the right thing to do, but I still don't see the connection. By the way, I hit a double on a broken fibula!!! I don't compare myself to Hobbs!!!!
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