Kodos
09-27-2007, 08:42 AM
hxxp://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7264002?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=5
He's far and away my favorite current Dolphin, but I agree that he should retire. The Dolphins aren't going to be a contender any time soon.
Get out before you do more damage, buddy. It has been a great pleasure watching you over the years, and you're right up there among my very favorites with Marino and O.J. McDuffie. But football isn't ever worth brain damage. And you have nothing left to prove.
Should Thomas call it a career?
Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com, Updated 9 hours ago STORY TOOLS:
How many concussions are too many for a football player?
The world's leading medical experts don't know the exact number needed to cause permanent damage. But when it comes to someone as classy as Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas, I don't want to find out.
Thomas missed last Sunday's 31-28 loss to the New York Jets after suffering what is classified as a minor concussion from the previous game against Dallas. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron sounds optimistic that Thomas will receive clearance to play in Sunday's matchup against Oakland.
Still, maybe Thomas shouldn't return — ever — even if he passes a litany of tests.
During 12 NFL seasons, Thomas isn't believed to have suffered the major concussions that end careers and greatly affect the quality of life for others. But the 34-year-old Thomas has clearly taken excessive cracks to the cranium.
Exactly how many isn't clear. The NFL only recently instituted tougher guidelines and safeguards for concussion testing and keeping affected players from re-entering games.
Yet even those changes aren't fool-proof. Thomas didn't tell Dolphins trainers something was amiss early in the Cowboys game, allowing him to continue playing after getting "dinged."
Commendably, Thomas was always candid and insightful during my eight seasons as a Dolphins beat reporter. But his eyes were sometimes glazed and speech slower in the aftermath of a major head blow.
"I was probably in the same state of mind half the time," former Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad told FOXSports.com. "Zach would hit everything that moves. He probably suffered a bunch of small concussions during the year and never said anything about it."
Konrad played with Thomas from 1999 to 2004, but retired in 2005 shortly after signing with Oakland. Raiders physicians told Konrad he was at greater risk for permanent harm after having suffered two concussions in a 12-month span while with the Dolphins. Because he stepped away, Konrad said he has no lingering effects.
Konrad initially kept the reason for his retirement quiet because of concerns it would affect his post-NFL career as president and CEO of the Allen Konrad Asset Management Corporation. Konrad's company has done so well that Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently named him to the state's Board of Administration, which oversees $184 billion in retirement funds.
Konrad, though, had worried individual clients and institutions wouldn't invest with someone perceived as possibly having brain damage.
"You can deal with the other injuries," said Konrad, who has a herniated disc and arthritic hands at the age of 30. "But with concussions, you're dealing with valuable real estate between your ears. That's tough."
So is Thomas, who has missed only 14 of 186 games during his Dolphins career. Such durability stems largely from Thomas' dedication.
As an undersized 1996 fifth-round draft choice, Thomas has always sought an edge in physical and mental preparation. He purchased a hyperbaric chamber for accelerated healing from injuries and had blood analysis done to design an optimal diet for athletic performance. Plus, no Dolphins player spends more time analyzing game film.
Thomas was financially rewarded for being Miami's all-time leading tackler and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He invested so wisely that Thomas will never need a day job.
But as Konrad points out, "Zach lives and breathes football. He's willing to sacrifice every ounce of himself, which is why a guy his size has done all the things he's done."
Thomas has traditionally loathed discussing possible long-term damage caused by concussions, which explains why he declined my interview request. Thomas did tell FOXSports.com co-worker Jay Glazer last week that he didn't push to play against the Jets like he would have before.
"There's too much information out there now to ignore," Thomas said.
Thomas told Glazer that he is seeking ways to minimize the risk of concussions, like changing his tackling technique. But Thomas is likely to continue with the same breakneck style that has many of those who know him worried about his future health.
"From a friend standpoint, I'd love to see everybody walk away and be fine," Konrad said. "That's probably not going to be the case. But you can't fault the guy. He loves the game and still wants to play at a high level."
Thomas has given his heart and soul to football. Here's hoping he won't leave anything else behind.
He's far and away my favorite current Dolphin, but I agree that he should retire. The Dolphins aren't going to be a contender any time soon.
Get out before you do more damage, buddy. It has been a great pleasure watching you over the years, and you're right up there among my very favorites with Marino and O.J. McDuffie. But football isn't ever worth brain damage. And you have nothing left to prove.
Should Thomas call it a career?
Alex Marvez
FOXSports.com, Updated 9 hours ago STORY TOOLS:
How many concussions are too many for a football player?
The world's leading medical experts don't know the exact number needed to cause permanent damage. But when it comes to someone as classy as Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas, I don't want to find out.
Thomas missed last Sunday's 31-28 loss to the New York Jets after suffering what is classified as a minor concussion from the previous game against Dallas. Dolphins coach Cam Cameron sounds optimistic that Thomas will receive clearance to play in Sunday's matchup against Oakland.
Still, maybe Thomas shouldn't return — ever — even if he passes a litany of tests.
During 12 NFL seasons, Thomas isn't believed to have suffered the major concussions that end careers and greatly affect the quality of life for others. But the 34-year-old Thomas has clearly taken excessive cracks to the cranium.
Exactly how many isn't clear. The NFL only recently instituted tougher guidelines and safeguards for concussion testing and keeping affected players from re-entering games.
Yet even those changes aren't fool-proof. Thomas didn't tell Dolphins trainers something was amiss early in the Cowboys game, allowing him to continue playing after getting "dinged."
Commendably, Thomas was always candid and insightful during my eight seasons as a Dolphins beat reporter. But his eyes were sometimes glazed and speech slower in the aftermath of a major head blow.
"I was probably in the same state of mind half the time," former Dolphins fullback Rob Konrad told FOXSports.com. "Zach would hit everything that moves. He probably suffered a bunch of small concussions during the year and never said anything about it."
Konrad played with Thomas from 1999 to 2004, but retired in 2005 shortly after signing with Oakland. Raiders physicians told Konrad he was at greater risk for permanent harm after having suffered two concussions in a 12-month span while with the Dolphins. Because he stepped away, Konrad said he has no lingering effects.
Konrad initially kept the reason for his retirement quiet because of concerns it would affect his post-NFL career as president and CEO of the Allen Konrad Asset Management Corporation. Konrad's company has done so well that Florida Governor Charlie Crist recently named him to the state's Board of Administration, which oversees $184 billion in retirement funds.
Konrad, though, had worried individual clients and institutions wouldn't invest with someone perceived as possibly having brain damage.
"You can deal with the other injuries," said Konrad, who has a herniated disc and arthritic hands at the age of 30. "But with concussions, you're dealing with valuable real estate between your ears. That's tough."
So is Thomas, who has missed only 14 of 186 games during his Dolphins career. Such durability stems largely from Thomas' dedication.
As an undersized 1996 fifth-round draft choice, Thomas has always sought an edge in physical and mental preparation. He purchased a hyperbaric chamber for accelerated healing from injuries and had blood analysis done to design an optimal diet for athletic performance. Plus, no Dolphins player spends more time analyzing game film.
Thomas was financially rewarded for being Miami's all-time leading tackler and a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. He invested so wisely that Thomas will never need a day job.
But as Konrad points out, "Zach lives and breathes football. He's willing to sacrifice every ounce of himself, which is why a guy his size has done all the things he's done."
Thomas has traditionally loathed discussing possible long-term damage caused by concussions, which explains why he declined my interview request. Thomas did tell FOXSports.com co-worker Jay Glazer last week that he didn't push to play against the Jets like he would have before.
"There's too much information out there now to ignore," Thomas said.
Thomas told Glazer that he is seeking ways to minimize the risk of concussions, like changing his tackling technique. But Thomas is likely to continue with the same breakneck style that has many of those who know him worried about his future health.
"From a friend standpoint, I'd love to see everybody walk away and be fine," Konrad said. "That's probably not going to be the case. But you can't fault the guy. He loves the game and still wants to play at a high level."
Thomas has given his heart and soul to football. Here's hoping he won't leave anything else behind.