[Lefty Noob]

According to an Associated Press report, "Former New England Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said coach Bill Belichick subjected him to hard hits in practice while he was recovering from a concussion -- against the advice of the team's top trainer... Johnson, who helped the Patriots win three Super Bowl titles before retiring two years ago, told The New York Times that a collision with another player during that 2002 practice led to another concussion. And, after sustaining additional concussions over the next three seasons, he now forgets people's names, misses appointments and suffers from depression and an addiction to amphetamines."

What do you guys think of Johnson's allegations?
Report: Former Patriots LB says Belichick prodded him to practice with concussion

[EmpireWF]

Well this is just overall bad. There's no doubt NFL players are subject to an unthinkable amount of punishment. The concussion problem in sports is a rising one and ever more serious.

Hopefully, the NFL and sports in general can somehow combat the growing problem in head injuries.

[Lefty Noob]

Couple of issues here. One is, in health matters, shouldn't a trainer be able to pretty much trump a coach? I know that's probably not a very realistic thing to expect, but in medical situations, a trainer should be able to clear or refuse to clear a particular player for practice or gameday. And that aside, what about Johnson himself? We was a talented, respected player on the Patriots... couldn't he have just held himself out of practice?

[simple simon]

i have a problem with this story

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

And that aside, what about Johnson himself? We was a talented, respected player on the Patriots... couldn't he have just held himself out of practice?

and thats it

i suppose its possible Teddy is just one of those people that cant say no ?

coach says come practice with us and you just dont have the nuts to say no ?

if thats the case id say Johnson has the blame here........any coach will try and get the most out of their players

seems to me if this were true an old Patriot that was there might would confirm the plausibility of it.......Branch....Givens.....Law....Vinatieri.... ...Malloy.....Klecko......one of them should know and be able to speak about this

[legend]

The mentality of football is such that it would be hard to say no for a player the caliber of Johnson, who has to take his share of the blame here. That being said, this is painting a less than flattering picture of the genius Belichick. And I am sure that he is not the only coach in football that has and will do this sort of thing.

[Newkid]

I kind of doubt it was really Bellichick's fault, why would he put a good player like Johnson under a risk like that? I think it's a bunch of accusations.....It wouldn't make sense for Bellichick to do that. But then again you never know.