2008 Woodie Awards
Guts or career
Was it the right decision?
Lance Cartelli
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Sports
The aftermath of the Super Bowl has arrived and the NFL season is over in disappointing fashion for San Diego Charger fans. With a severely hurt 'Big 3' in Philip Rivers', torn ACL, LaDainian Tomlinson's, hyper extended knee, and Antonio Gates', dislocated big toe, the Chargers lost 21-12 on Jan. 20 to the New England Patriots. Sorry to remind you Charger fans.
The question I raise is 'Was Philip Rivers decision to play with a torn ACL in his right knee, the right decision?'
The evidence on why it was the wrong decision: Rivers hurt his knee the week before against the Indianapolis Colts game; back up QB Billy Volek showed that he was more than capable, leading the game-winning drive against the previous Super Bowl champions.
Volek would have been a game manager and would not have been put into situations where he would throw interceptions as Rivers did.
Rivers had arthroscopic knee surgery just so he could play in the AFC championship game, meaning he was unable to practice for the most important game of his life against one of the greatest teams of all time.
On a personal level, Rivers is a young QB with a long career ahead of him that is facing surgery that will require at least 6 months for recovery. One hit could easily have ended his career and lost him millions of dollars with the chance of returning to the playoffs.
There is no doubt Rivers decision to play was gutsy and should be praised for his dedication to his team and his desire to win. But we have no crystal ball, no way to tell the future. His play was that of a man with a hurt knee throwing three interceptions, the same as godlike Tom Brady.
Would back-up Billy Volek played better than a hurt Rivers? With a healthy Tomlinson would the Chargers have won? Would all of it matter? We just don't know, it's all speculation to say it was the right or wrong decision.
The question I raise is 'Was Philip Rivers decision to play with a torn ACL in his right knee, the right decision?'
The evidence on why it was the wrong decision: Rivers hurt his knee the week before against the Indianapolis Colts game; back up QB Billy Volek showed that he was more than capable, leading the game-winning drive against the previous Super Bowl champions.
Volek would have been a game manager and would not have been put into situations where he would throw interceptions as Rivers did.
Rivers had arthroscopic knee surgery just so he could play in the AFC championship game, meaning he was unable to practice for the most important game of his life against one of the greatest teams of all time.
On a personal level, Rivers is a young QB with a long career ahead of him that is facing surgery that will require at least 6 months for recovery. One hit could easily have ended his career and lost him millions of dollars with the chance of returning to the playoffs.
There is no doubt Rivers decision to play was gutsy and should be praised for his dedication to his team and his desire to win. But we have no crystal ball, no way to tell the future. His play was that of a man with a hurt knee throwing three interceptions, the same as godlike Tom Brady.
Would back-up Billy Volek played better than a hurt Rivers? With a healthy Tomlinson would the Chargers have won? Would all of it matter? We just don't know, it's all speculation to say it was the right or wrong decision.
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