Health is the issue, but can we address it?

15 weeks of concussions, squeaky joints, bad hammy's and torn muscles. Turf toe, broken hands, high ankle sprains. Hot summers with 3 a days to full pads in the winter. It all adds up and it leaves teams like the Texans and Steelers reeling in pivotal games and teams like the Colts, 'Phins and Rams out of it before they can even get off the starting block....

Unfortunately, teams aren't always afforded such a luxury so early in the season. Teams that could benefit include a Raven's team who need to get healthy up the middle to generate the anchor for a defense dependent on it (Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata), the 49er's who will need Frank Gore 100% to control games against the NFC's offensively daunting playoff bunch and the Atlanta Falcons whose walking wounded include a Michael Turner, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, Jasn Babineaux, Tony Gonzalez, two starting CB's and pass rushers. But, alas these teams will have to rough it in the next to weeks to maintain or gain ground on the plethora of teams in the playoff hunt.
However, and ironically enough, the two teams that can actually employ this tactic RIGHT NOW, are the last two participants in the Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here's how and why they must take the opportunity to get healthy and get healthy now.....

Read the breakdown below...

http://harwoodandfields.blogspot.com/2011/12/winter-hibernation.html

Welcome to the board.

I'm in favor of sitting a player like Ben, who is injured and needs to get healthy. But I've never been in favor of sitting players to prevent injuries. The Colts did that nearly every year for a decade. The key starters played little (if any) in the final games, and most times it backfired on them. More times than not, the Colts came out flat in their first playoff game. Being healthy is important, but so is being in rhythm.

Being healthy, imo, is more important than securing a higher ranking in the seedings for the playoffs. While it would be nice to have a BYE week, it won't mean a damn thing if players aren't 100% and holes are left on both sides of the ball.

I say we play whoever is healthy the last 2 games and sit who isn't. (Subliminal message BEN>>>BEN>>>> )
We can win these last 2 without the walking wounded. (Subliminal message BEN>>>BEN>>>> )
Moore won't play but we got that covered with Redman and Dwyer who by the way should be pretty fresh.
Word is Woodley is healed but if he isn't 100% sit him too.

I agree that we need to be in sync and we do that by playing who's healthy.

Welcome aboard, fll!

I say no doubt sit Ben and possibly Woodley against the Rams. Batch and Worilds will do fine against that sad sack team. If Ben is 75% or better by the Cleveland game, let him play, but keep a close eye on him. If he falters, yank him. I would really like to be able to win that Browns game on the off chance the Ravens choke in Cincinnati. I just don't think a Ben a 50% or worse is worth risking in that game. We don't want to just trot him out there again unless he gives us our best chance to win, which he didn't Monday night.

stlrtruck wrote:

Being healthy, imo, is more important than securing a higher ranking in the seedings for the playoffs. While it would be nice to have a BYE week, it won't mean a damn thing if players aren't 100% and holes are left on both sides of the ball.

said this before the 9ers game and i'm still pissed.