2008 InJuRy PrOnE?

So this past weekend was the opening weekend for the 2008-2009 NFL season. What more could you ask for? The Denver Broncos smashed the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football, Tom Brady is out with season ending knee surgery, Shawne Merriman is out with season ending knee surgery, Nate Burleson is out with season ending knee surgery, Dallas Clark left Sunday night's game in the first quarter with a reported right knee injury, Vince Young suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) knee sprain, Brodie Croyle left the game with what the Kansas City Star reported to be a separated right (throwing) shoulder, Marion Barber sustained a rib injury and last, Joseph Addai left the game with a reported "head injury".

It seems like this past weekend was full of injuries and loss of number one starters, both on the offensive side and defensive side of the ball. Is everyone injury prone all of the sudden?? By the end of week one into the NFL season, many predictions and fantasy stats are talked about, but not at all this past weekend. Most of the headlines were injury reports to star players. Knee injuries and surgeries were the topic this past weekend. Brady, Merriman and Burleson are all starters for their teams and all three out for the entire season. What are these first class players going to go through?? PAIN yes PAIN!! Surgery then more PAIN.

Don't get me wrong, the NFL has some of the best trainers and doctors/ surgeons in the entire world, but was it really worth it Merriman to play on your torn knee throughout training camp and the first NFL game before you decided to have the surgery? Or were you scared to be the only star player out the first week on injury reserve? After all, you had four doctors’ opinions and ALL four of them said that you should have surgery, but you rejected it. Did Tom Brady and Nate Burleson's injury change your mind thinking that now you won’t be the only star player out for the entirety of the season? Or did you think with your brain and figured it out that this knee injury could jeopardize your entire career and or future???