Regarding wishing injuries on NFL players.....

[Iron Mike]

Pot, meet kettle:

http://www.charlotte.com/panthers/story/361952.html

The Panthers probably need to hope that Favre, who is playing far better than in the past couple of seasons, tweaks a knee or something and has to sit out. Nothing serious, just something to keep him from trotting out there and facing Carolina. Don't expect it to happen; although he took a shot to the head late in the third quarter Sunday, he's fine, and has played a record 246 consecutive games.

What's with the current wishes for player injuries???

[MJZiggy]

That was in a STORY?? Good Lord!!

[Cheesehead Craig]

In other words, they don't feel they have a chance in hell of winning.

This is no big deal, IMO. You see this all the time when a mediocre team is going to play a real good one.

"Nothing to see here you bunch of looky-loos!"

[Iron Mike]

In other words, they don't feel they have a chance in hell of winning.

This is no big deal, IMO. You see this all the time when a mediocre team is going to play a real good one.

I'm guessing you missed all of the drama between Rastak and Justin Harrel???

[Deputy Nutz]

This whole injured player thing is bullshit and some on here are full of shit, each week we look at the opposing teams injjury report and we breath a sigh of relieve that the other team's star player is listed as doubtful or even questionable. The bottom line is wins and I will take them any way I can get them.

[Cheesehead Craig]

In other words, they don't feel they have a chance in hell of winning.

This is no big deal, IMO. You see this all the time when a mediocre team is going to play a real good one.

I'm guessing you missed all of the drama between Rastak and Justin Harrel???

No, just ignoring it.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I'm guessing you missed all of the drama between Rastak and Justin Harrel???

Did they call each other poopy heads? Damn, I missed it too.

[packinpatland]

Then you've got Belichick who puts 1/2 his starters on the 'probable' or 'doubtful' list. Brady's been on it most of the season!

[footballfever]

I think JH's perception was a little misconstrued....... I don't think there is any harm in wishing injury on a team, we aren't wishing death or anything. This is a savage sport and it comes with a lot of injuries. I saw an interview once with Deacon Jones, he said he hated every single person on the field and he hated himself for doing it. But it made him play like a man possessed, he was one of the best players to ever play the game. When you go out there you're not supposed to pussy foot around and say golly I sure hope this sumbitch im goin up against here doesn't break an ankle or a nail. You go out there and you smash each other in the mouth and whoever stays down the other wins. It's like watching boxing and cheering like mad but when the guy that loses goes down you chastise the people for cheering. It's hyprocritical. Adrian Peterson is only one on a long list of individuals who have left games against us injured. One person cheering for that isn't the end of the world. Adrian Peterson only makes 20 million dollars of guarunteed money, oh what a shame if he can't finish out the year and make another 10 million in incentives. He tore a ligament in his knee its a common injury and I sure as hell wasn't sad to see him go down. The hit was clean and legal and the injury was bound to happen with AP's running style. So get over it and lets hope steve smith breaks something

[Partial]

^ go figure

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'd never wish for a player on any team to get injured. If it happens, it happens. Every team gets injuries. However, I wouldn't take any glee out of it. What fun is that? I hope this is the only injury in Peterson's career, and I mean that. (I also hope we beat the hell out of the Vikings for Peterson's entire career.) I'd rather the other team have a healthy squad, so that there's no excuses for when my team wins.

[MJZiggy]

I'd never wish for a player on any team to get injured. If it happens, it happens. Every team gets injuries. However, I wouldn't take any glee out of it. What fun is that? I hope this is the only injury in Peterson's career, and I mean that. (I also hope we beat the hell out of the Vikings for Peterson's entire career.) I'd rather the other team have a healthy squad, so that there's no excuses for when my team wins.

I agree with all of this, but I'd take it even a step further. Although these are football teams and players that we wish to conquer each week, they still remain human beings, and although they do make millions of dollars to play a violent sport in which injury often happens, I believe the goal remains to conquer not to maim. It is a very short trip from the injury that Peterson suffered to tearing a knee up that will cost a player his career (and those millions of dollars) and have him in pain the rest of his life. And from there, it's not too far removed from Kevin Everett and still hoping he'll walk again someday. He will not see the rest of his contract. He will never play again, but in the grand scheme of things, his health is more important than the contract. This is why the stadium goes quiet when a player goes down. This is why players that celebrate injury are looked down upon as low-class turds. It's because beyond being a football player, the guy laying on the turf is a fellow human being and that is more important.

[Carolina_Packer]

Um, yeah. I realize that football is not pairs skating, and I know the possibility for injury exists, but I've never felt glad a guy got hurt. Do I love a good hit? Who doesn't? I think there's a gap between liking the physicality of a sport like football and being glad an opposing team's player got hurt. There's a reason why they (generally) stop hitting each other after the whistle and after the final gun. It's called sportsmanship and it cuts both ways. Playing hard, tough and physical football is one thing, but feeling ok about the misfortune of another player crosses a line.

The reporter for the Charlotte Observer who wrote the Packer/Panther preview piece was out of bounds for even suggesting such a thing, even jokingly. If you are on a message board shooting off your mouth or sitting on a bar stool that's one thing, but being a reporter...not responsible. If you wish to contact this guy, here is his info:

http://www.charlotte.com/312/index.html

Stan Olson covers the NFL's Carolina Panthers for the Charlotte Observer and also writes about Major League Baseball. Olson is in his 34th year of writing for Charlotte newspapers, 22 of them with the Observer. You can reach him at (704) 358-5114 or e-mail solson@charlotteobserver.com.

[packinpatland]

I did email him.
Simply said a 'real' sports reporter would not even hint for an injury to an opponent. And furthermore......if that's all he has, if that's the only hope the Panthers have...........then God help them both.

[Carolina_Packer]

I emailed him and told him that his attempt at ironic humor may not play well, and...

How do you think the Panthers players and coaching
staff will react to your suggestion that they need to
hope Favre gets hurt in order for them to have a
chance?

Yeah, that's just what you want to hear when you are a frustrated team. Good luck to Stan Olson getting player and coaches to answer his questions.

Here was his quick response:
I was kidding. Guess I'll find out today in the locker room...
Stan