Poor coaching calls

We all saw the devastating play during the Redskins-Seahawks game in early January 2013. It was the 4th quarter and a low snap left Robert Griffin III scrambling to recover a lost ball. As the star rookie quarterback attempted to pivot, his knee had a mind of its own and rotated the opposite direction of its regular mobility. RG3 hit the ground, the Seahawks recovered the ball, and the end of the rookie’s star-studded season came to a close. The Seahawks went on to win the game, and to add insult to injury, RG3 has now had post-season surgery on his injured knee.

While many speculated what incurred during the game, RG3’s actual injury was two torn ligaments (ACL and LCL) in his right knee. The injury occurred during the final quarter, and recovery time is looking to be several months. Though RG3 believes he will be ready for next season, the injury is in the right knee, which he injured during college in the 2009 season while playing for Baylor.

Though injuries do happen, the real question here is whether or not this injury could have been avoided, and what will happen to RG3’s future career. Many speculate that with Griffin having already injured his knee in the regular season, and an obvious tweak in the 2nd quarter of the playoff game left him limping, Head Coach Mike Shanahan could have pulled his star rookie, and saved him from injury. Any fan knows a coach wants to win, but with back up Kirk Cousins already having performed well in his one NFL outing, competing for the win would have still be an option.

Regardless of what most people think, the fact is RG3 sustained injury, had a surgery, and only time will tell what type of player he will be after recovery. The aftermath for Head Coach Mike Shanahan may be looming in the future results as well.

Image courtesy of Los Angeles Time/Al Bello