Two Pains in the Neck
February 2nd 2012 20:19
The world of sport is focused on two literal pains in the neck which may have long term repercussions for two players, two franchises and two sports.
The neck injuries of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby are the talk of pro football and hockey fans respectively. Both are serious enough that neither man is playing at the moment and may never play again.
If they can't, both the Colts and Penguins will have to find replacements for the most important players on their teams. And the National Football and Hockey Leagues will have to find someone else to become the face of their leagues.
Manning's neck injury has been well known for months. He has had three surgeries on it in the last 19 months. The final one was a fusion performed on September 8. The injury forced him to sit out the entire 2011 season and Indianapolis finished 2-14. There is talk that the Colts may release him in the off season and draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck to take his place.
The bigger question is not whether Manning will play for the Colts, but whether he will play again. Doctors have not cleared him to play yet and there is no guarantee that the nerves in his neck which are causing the problem will regenerate.
As, for Crosby his injury was not diagnosed until recently. For two years he has been suffering from injuries that caused concussion like symptoms. The problem was thought to be post concussion syndrome, but doctors have since diagnosed it as a soft tissue neck injury that can be treated.
Crosby has begun getting treatment for his injury, but there is still no timetable for his return. The all-star says that he will not take to the ice until he is completely healthy.
As for the leagues in which they play in the NFL does not need Manning as much as the NHL does Crosby. Though both leagues will survive and move on the NFL is more about teams than stars. The NHL is team oriented also, but more fans tune in nationally to see stars than teams.
Having said this it is more important for Manning and Crosby to get healthy than it is for them to play again. Fans would like to see them perform again, but if they can not both have accomplished everything that an athlete can in their sport.
But one can be sure that these are two pains in the neck that the NFL and NHL want to go away.
The neck injuries of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby are the talk of pro football and hockey fans respectively. Both are serious enough that neither man is playing at the moment and may never play again.
If they can't, both the Colts and Penguins will have to find replacements for the most important players on their teams. And the National Football and Hockey Leagues will have to find someone else to become the face of their leagues.
Manning's neck injury has been well known for months. He has had three surgeries on it in the last 19 months. The final one was a fusion performed on September 8. The injury forced him to sit out the entire 2011 season and Indianapolis finished 2-14. There is talk that the Colts may release him in the off season and draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck to take his place.
The bigger question is not whether Manning will play for the Colts, but whether he will play again. Doctors have not cleared him to play yet and there is no guarantee that the nerves in his neck which are causing the problem will regenerate.
As, for Crosby his injury was not diagnosed until recently. For two years he has been suffering from injuries that caused concussion like symptoms. The problem was thought to be post concussion syndrome, but doctors have since diagnosed it as a soft tissue neck injury that can be treated.
Crosby has begun getting treatment for his injury, but there is still no timetable for his return. The all-star says that he will not take to the ice until he is completely healthy.
As for the leagues in which they play in the NFL does not need Manning as much as the NHL does Crosby. Though both leagues will survive and move on the NFL is more about teams than stars. The NHL is team oriented also, but more fans tune in nationally to see stars than teams.
Having said this it is more important for Manning and Crosby to get healthy than it is for them to play again. Fans would like to see them perform again, but if they can not both have accomplished everything that an athlete can in their sport.
But one can be sure that these are two pains in the neck that the NFL and NHL want to go away.
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