http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_23080916/jahvid-best-at-nfl-crossroads-after-concussions

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"I am never giving up hope," he told the Baltimore Sun last month. "I'm staying ready so if the opportunity does present itself, I'll be ready."

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Best spent last season, his third in the NFL, on the physically unable to perform list. The Michigan-based website Mlive.com reported that the Lions didn't expect Best to be cleared medically but kept him on the roster so he could qualify for the NFL pension. Players are vested after three years of service.

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He suffers from post-concussive symptoms and undergoes what doctors call cognitive therapy. One area of focus is memory function. During an interview last fall with the Detroit Free Press, Best compared the therapy to "going to school."
"We are very hopeful," Dean Kleinschmidt, the Lions' coordinator of athletic training, told the Free Press. "We just don't know if it is going to happen. I would say the concussion is healed, but he has residual issues."

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i hope he doesnt play anymore. if he wants to pursue anything athletically maybe he can focus on track.

Given some time, I really thought he could have become one of the most feared RBs in the league, especially now that that lions have established a strong passing game. Such a shame. I hope he retires too. Not worth the risk.

Jahvid, I may have been one of the last folks to hold on to the hope that I'd get to see you electrify football crowds again. No more. Leave the game. As physically gifted as you are, it's still your mind that matters most in life. Don't risk having your mind turn into a prison.

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Best's concussion problems began during his junior season at Cal, but not on the play everyone remembers. His first concussion, deemed mild, came during a late October game at Arizona State and forced Best to miss several practices.
He was back in the lineup the following Saturday against Oregon State. Midway through the second quarter, Best hurdled a defender at the goal line, was hit in midair and plunged approximately seven feet to the ground. He landed on the back of his head.
Flat on his back, his body motionless, Best briefly lost consciousness. He was removed from the field on a stretcher and was hospitalized overnight.
"It was very frightening," Tedford said. "People, when they get knocked out, they kind of go rigid sometimes. I saw that happen but it became more concerning when it lasted for quite a long time. I went over and stood over him, and it was a very scary thing.
"I went to the hospital after the game and saw him. He had a headache, but he was alert. Seemed like a football injury that happens from time to time. I thought about his immediate future right then -- he's not going to play the rest of the year."
He didn't.

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So, here's another thing we can blame Tedford for.
Had his squad held Best for a bit longer, Best might have healed and not be having today's problems.

It's like giving the President credit/blame during an economic upcycle/downcycle.

mild concussions happen all the time. dont think we can blame tedford for this one. its not unusual for the player to play the next week. i think best's concussion problems come from that specific play, it was such a horrific play. it was a combination of best's speed, and jumping combined with the impact of the hit and hitting the ground directly on the back of his head.

even if he hadnt had a prior concussion, if he repeats that play, he still gets a severe concussion

Here's to the Detroit Lions for keeping him on the roster to qualify for a pension.

As for blaming Tedford, knock it the F*** off. He's gone and if you don't think he did the best by Best, you're wrong. Keeping him out the rest of the year was absolutely right. Also everyone knew JB was gone after junior year.

gobears725;842116279 said:

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mild concussions happen all the time. dont think we can blame tedford for this one. its not unusual for the player to play the next week.

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That's the thing - MAYBE players shouldn't play the next week, but they do, and do frequently in CFB and levels above and below. They also still don't report possible concussions for fear they'll be held out. If there's not a blanket rule across the NCAA, or even the conference, there is no reason to believe that Tedford and the medical staff did anything wrong in letting JB play.

The OSU concussion was a hit of such force and angle that it in itself is can easily be the cause of all future issues.

i personally dont think they should be allowed to play the next week if they suffer a concussion especially in college football where you have a lot of players on the team and arent being paid.

i agree its a sport problem not an individual coach problem.

jahvids play still is sickening to watch whenever i see it. just one of the more horrific head injury kind of plays ive ever seen.

JB is extremely lucky to be playing in the league at a time when attention on concussions in the NFL is at an all-time high.

JB could have been easily cut by the Lions last year but I assume the strategic thinkers in the NFL decided that this would be legally untenable given future mass-tort litigation.

1) JB gets paid another year of his contract (I assume this is true);
2) JB qualifies for an NFL pension;
3) JB perhaps gets the opportunity to play in sets that less drastically risk his future health; and
4) JB gets to make an informed decision about his future.

JB just needs to stay in shape, keep playing this "game of chicken" with the Lions and the League, and he can eke out another year or two on his contract at minimmum risk.

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Best is slated to earn $876,000 in 2013 ($1.97 million salary cap number) and $856,500 in 2014 ($2.2 million salary cap number). His salary will count toward the salary cap if he is on the roster and does not play. It is very possible Best could spend the upcoming season on the PUP list again.

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Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best has a great chance to spend the entire upcoming season on his team's roster.

It just may not be the active roster.

Best has not played football since sustaining a career-threatening concussion injury in 2011. He spent last season on Detroit's physically unable to perform list, and general manager Martin Mayhew believes that could be an option again this year.

Mayhew was asked if a decision about Best's future needs to be made soon at today's NFL Annual Meeting. In Mayhew's opinion, there is no need to cut Best if he is not medically cleared again to play this season.

"We could put him back on PUP and carry him through the season if we wanted to," Mayhew said. "We'll see what happens."

Mayhew would not say if Best was going to take a neurological exam anytime soon, however, Detroit moved in a different direction by signing running back Reggie Bush this offseason.


Best will earn $876,000 ($1.9 salary cap number) this season and $856,500 ($2.2 million salary cap number) in 2014.

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http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2013/03/jahvid_best_could_spend_upcomi.html

I saw Jahvid at a Crossfit Gym in the East Bay. His way of staying in shape without physical contact. Not sure if he is just testing Crossfit out or if he is really taking it seriously as a post-career alternative.

concordtom;842116275 said:

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So, here's another thing we can blame Tedford for.
Had his squad held Best for a bit longer, Best might have healed and not be having today's problems.

It's like giving the President credit/blame during an economic upcycle/downcycle.

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You don't know what the F you are talking about. Best to just shut up.

B.A. Bearacus;842116274 said:

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Jahvid, I may have been one of the last folks to hold on to the hope that I'd get to see you electrify football crowds again. No more. Leave the game. As physically gifted as you are, it's still your mind that matters most in life. Don't risk having your mind turn into a prison.

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Even if he hadn't got a guaranty of $6 million I would be giving him your advice. 6 large is an impressive amount to make in a 30 year career in one of the fields that the average Cal grad finds himself in, not to mention making that amount in a couple of years. I hope he has a productive, happy, and healthy life (BUT GET THE F OUT OF THE NFL NOW!).

bearister;842116417 said:

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Even if he hadn't got a guaranty of $6 million I would be giving him your advice. 6 large is an impressive amount to make in a 30 year career in one of the fields that the average Cal grad finds himself in, not to mention making that amount in a couple of years. I hope he has a productive, happy, and healthy life (BUT GET THE F OUT OF THE NFL NOW!).

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Perhaps he needs to do this rehab to stay on roster and show an interest in playing. He went to Cal, he's smart enough to know what he is doing

if jahvid could shave off .7 of second off his 100m time, id love to see him take out usain bolt. ran a 10.31 in high school with probably little to no coaching.

bearister;842116417 said:

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Even if he hadn't got a guaranty of $6 million I would be giving him your advice. 6 large is an impressive amount to make in a 30 year career in one of the fields that the average Cal grad finds himself in, not to mention making that amount in a couple of years. I hope he has a productive, happy, and healthy life (BUT GET THE F OUT OF THE NFL NOW!).

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Best is on the PUP list, collecting nearly a $1 million a year, and increasing the amount of his pension. He should continue doing what he is doing, unless some undesirable change occurs (such as if he is put on the active roster).

gobears725;842116481 said:

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if jahvid could shave off .7 of second off his 100m time, id love to see him take out usain bolt. ran a 10.31 in high school with probably little to no coaching.

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His 200m time of 20.65 is much more impressive. If he were to focus on track that would be the better event for him, in my opinion.