Nick Collins On Injury: Career In Doubt

[Packers4Glory]

boo. we were lucky to have the run of safeties we've had. Hoping for the best!

[Smidgeon]

This is what ended Sharpes career too, right?
I had the same discectomy procedure done on my C4/C5 disc back in fall 2007, and there's realistically no way he plays any contact sport again.

I thought Sharpe's issue was stenosis?

[pbmax]

Sharpe had what they termed laxity in his C1 and C2 cervical vertebrae. The news reports said he did not have a disc problem or stenosis. Though we found out from a report about Collins that stenosis can develop after such procedures if there is sufficient inflammation and scarring.

Sharpe had what was termed a very unusual condition. His stinger like symptoms were normally associated with pinching of nerves much lower in the column.

The fusion they were set to perform (the article was written in advance of the surgery) would leave him with normal extension and flexion. But pivoting and rotating would be limited by fusion, meaning turning his head from side to side would be limited.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oB4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=On8EAAAAIBAJ&dq=sterling%20sharpe%20neck%20injury&pg=3903%2C3763410

[Lurker64]

I think "in question" is a better way to put it than "in doubt." The thing that causes doctors to recommend retirement in cases of neck injuries that are corrected by surgery is generally narrowing of the spinal column (spinal stenosis). This is what ended Jeremy Thompson and Terrence Murphy's careers, for example. Collins doesn't have any pre-existing history of stenosis, so it all comes down to whether or not he develops it during his recovery. If he does, the doctors will probably recommend he retires, if he doesn't then he will probably be able to continue playing.

But there's no way of knowing whether or not he will at this point, so there's no point in Nick being unrealistic. He's at a point in his life where there's a realistic chance that his football career is over, so he might as well admit that to himself. It's not certain (or even necessarily probable) that he's done at this point, there's just a significant chance that he is. We should have realized this as soon as he got neck surgery, honestly.

[Kiwon]

Sometimes just when you are tempted to gripe about how much these guys get paid to play a game you have to remember what they are risking. They can lose their livelihood and their health in an instant.

[SkinBasket]

Sometimes just when you are tempted to gripe about how much these guys get paid to play a game you have to remember what they are risking. They can lose their livelihood and their health in an instant.

So can a bus driver. Or a bum, for that matter.

[woodbuck27]

Nick Collins is a great Packer in my eyes regardless. Great teammate, such a positive guy and a complete safety with uncommon speed for the position who made a lot of big plays. A shoe-in for the Packer Hall of Fame.

Here's how I'll remember him.

Ohh my goodness this is sad news for me. I think of Nick Collins as our Donald Driver on 'D'. Terrible news. Right up there with Robert Brooks and Sterling Sharpe. . . and Chad Clifton. We can remain hopeful ?

[woodbuck27]

Ohh my goodness this is sad news for me. I think of Nick Collins as our Donald Driver on 'D'. Terrible news. Right up there with Robert Brooks and Sterling Sharpe. . . and Chad Clifton. We can remain hopeful ?

That pick on Brett Favre (Viking Edition) is utterly amazing in terms of Nick Collins athleticism.

As always you deliver and THANKS Vince for this Video clip of Nick Collins Highlights.

[pbmax]

So can a bus driver. Or a bum, for that matter.

My actuary would like to make some bets with you.