UPDATE: It’s an ACL and MCL tear. That’s what happens when one’s ligaments are so gritty.
Wes Welker and his 122 receptions might be sitting on the bench for the playoffs after injuring his knee in the first quarter of the Patriots’ game with the Texans. NFL.com has reported that Welker will not return to the game.
New England had clinched the AFC East title and a playoff berth heading into today’s game, and were mathematically eliminated from first-round bye contention in the AFC playoffs.
Should Welker have been in the game? If you read what I had to say about the Colts, who were grilled by some fans and media when they pulled their starters last week against the Jets. The Colts played their starters for two-and-a-half quarters before suddenly yanking their headliners off the field. That’s not exactly “resting” their players, especially if one of them would have taken an errant cut in the first quarter, as Welker did.
The Patriots weren’t playing to kinda-sorta continue an undefeated season. The Patriots didn’t have a first-round bye in the playoffs. And the Patriots wouldn’t have been doing a disservice to their fans by keeping their marquee players in street clothes. But they didn’t. They went out and played the game The Right Way. It’s a damn shame they weren’t better rewarded for it.
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It’s sad, and he was one of my top fantasy players this year. When I saw it live (I just happened to change the channel to the game), I suddenly felt ill. Until I realized the FF season was over, and we decided against a keeper league this year.
So the Patriots can shove it. That’s what you get for being jerks. You know that shit was a fumble.
Injuries can happen at any time, and I’m not devastated by Welker getting hurt, but it’s going to suck a lot.
There’s nothing you can do about something like that, but hopefully the Patriots will have time to adapt and change their plans for the playoffs if Welker won’t be back.
Punch, still holding a grudge against New England for the Tuck Rule? I mean, I thought you would have moved on and been pissed about them getting Randy Moss for a bag of donuts, or the fact that you guys mortgaged the future to them for Richard Seymour.
But yeah, Welker should have been in street clothes on the sideline, much like Darrius Hayward-Bey.
But they didn’t. They went out and played the game The Right Way. It’s a damn shame they weren’t better rewarded for it.
What possible reward would there be for putting players in unnecessary danger? I know injuries can happen at any time. That’s why you reduce the risk by not putting players out there when they don’t need to be. The less time on the field, the smaller the chance of getting injured.
It’s not about “resting” your starters (well, it is in some cases, where guys are nursing injuries). It’s about reducing risk.