Marpet’s Struggles Triggers Flashback
November 23rd, 2020
Health recalls sad transaction.
Yes, concussions in football happen often. It’s part of the game. As much as NFL strongman Roger Goodell tries, he cannot turn football into flag football.
Football, by its very nature, is a collision sport. That’s all there is to it.
Joe commends the NFL for trying to make the game safer. Who doesn’t want that? But the game would have to turn into flag football to nearly eliminate injuries. Even then, it won’t prevent muscle pulls, blown knees and collisions involving the head.
The reason why Bucs left guard Ali Marpet is in concussion protocol and can’t currently get out of it is that the NFL has stricter health thresholds players must reach to get back on the field.
Ah, yes, cynics would say “safer” is a fancy word for cutting liability lawsuits 20 or 30 years from now. The cynics wouldn’t exactly be wrong, either.
In the not-so-distant past, Marpet probably would be playing by now. May not have even missed a game. However 20 years from now, would he still be able to spell his name?
When Joe heard former Bucs guard Ian Beckles recently say he’s starting to worry about Marpet because linemen generally don’t miss this long with a concussion, it raised a big red flag.
Who would know this better than a former lineman? And trust Joe, ex-NFL players are very informed about concussions. They know they could turn into the retired players you too often read about who lost their marbles from so many blows to the head.
So when Joe read Sunday morning a bunch of Bucs fans invoke the name of a former Bucs defensive lineman when commenting about Marpet, it gave Joe the shivers. In the 2018 offseason, the Bucs signed a veteran Mitch Unrein. In his first training camp with the Bucs he came down with a concussion.
Not only could he not shake the effects, Unrein never played another snap. He was placed on injured reserve by the Bucs in early September 2018 and his career was done.
The Bucs released him 362 days after he was signed.
Joe is not saying that Marpet will become the next Unrein. That’s an extreme example. But with Marpet missing three straight games (he won’t suit up for tonight), given what happened with Unrein and what Joe heard Beckles say, Joe is starting to wonder if Marpet will be back at all this season?
Remember, on Saturday Bucco Bruce Arians mentioned Marpet is so frustrated that he cannot shake the concussion effects — he has symptoms following practicing — that Arians sent him home Friday.
It makes one wonder if Marpet is frustrated, in part, because this issue may be worse than what the Bucs are sharing.
Marpet is a great guy and a helluva guard. That would really be the pits if the Bucs finally make a playoff run and he’s only allowed to watch after all the losing he’s endured.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:08 am
I think he’s frustrated because he want to play and can’t because of a “mental” not a physical injury that he could push thru. He’s a gamer and knows he is the best player on that line.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:10 am
Of course is a very hard situation not having him on the team, but is way much more important his health….Nothing but the very best Big fella!!!Speedy recovery…..
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:11 am
You sound like a moron, Joe. If you favor anti-CTE measures, why mock them as “flag football?” Helmet-to-helmet rules, for example, are crucial, or “flag ball?”
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:15 am
Good article Joe; absolutely it is good the concussion protocol is more strict. It is so sad seeing young men like Luke Kuechley struggle with these injuries, and knowing what could lie ahead. Yup, it’s a risk like other jobs and payoff can be high. So I still am glad for those who decide to walk away and wish them the best. Hopefully this with Marpet is a blip and he’s fine going foward. Back to the old days like we had with Dave Pear…terrible stuff. In fact, I wonder if that was the issue with Arron Sears. Haven’t heard anything else on him in a decade when he was last picked up for wandering the streets.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:19 am
If I am correct, Soccer has the most concussions of any sport. Not sure how they work the stats…as we can make stats say anything really. But my point is even flag football would probably not “nearly elimiate” concussions. Would be interesting to see what the NFL looks like in 30 years.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:24 am
Joe could go into a large dissertation but football is not meant to be basketball. To suggest the extra safety rules hasn’t watered down the game is true ostrich mentality.
It’s a balancing act not sure there is a right answer. Continue to be a collision sport and have injuries or try to be basketball where you can’t touch guys too hard and have less injuries. People are not watching football expecting basketball or otherwise it would be a less popular sport.
Anyone who can’t see that is the true “moron.”
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:28 am
Length of recovery means nothing because there are no universally agreed times for the brain to heal.
Relying on anything Ian Beckles said is a mistake he is a buffoon.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:30 am
I do think there could be a chance that may be as bad as we think it is. We would be drafting that UGA center or another guard this upcoming draft.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:33 am
Let’s pray he makes it back and not another busy by Rockstar
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:37 am
Ken it’s not about what Beckles is saying. For him to not pass these protocols is really bad for his future career. Chris Godwin got his bell rung hard we all saw it.
it took him one week. to be on protocol for this long is bad.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:45 am
I wish they would sit any football player with a concussion for three to four weeks minimum. I know it’s not a popular opinion but it is the best for their long term health. Now as far as Marpet it is definitely concerning he is still having symptoms, but not overly concerning yet. Unfortunately, I personally know a thing or two about brain injury, but as long as he heals within six weeks he should be fine. After six weeks if he still out experiencing symptoms is when we can all collectively start to really worry for his health and immediate and long term future.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 am
I say rest him until after the bye week. This goes way beyond the game
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:46 am
Ian Beckles will say anything to be noticed. Yeah he played in the NFL and I didn’t, I get it.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:50 am
[Not cool to use that word man. — Joe]
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:51 am
I hope Ali Marpet will be okay. NFL football is a violent contact sport so concussions come with the territory. Still hate hearing stories like this one. Luck is a part of a successful career especially with injuries.
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:56 am
I still haven’t heard how or when Marpet got this concussion.
Was it during his last game? Because he played the entire game. Was it a practice injury?
November 23rd, 2020 at 9:58 am
Pretty sure it was a game but Bucs will never offer up the info. Will have to wait for Marpet to give the details, if he ever does.
Marpet can get through an entire practice, but he has problems after practice. Likely what happened in his last game.
Could be a series of hits to the head, not one big blow.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:11 am
I’m getting very concerned.
3 weeks now is a long time to be in concussion protocol. And the fact that he feels better and practices, but then feels symptoms again is not a good sign.
Damn shame as he’s our best offensive lineman, and by all accounts he’s just an all around good dude. Hoping it gets turned around in time for KC but obviously his health is priority #1.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:12 am
Ugh. Not what you want to hear for every party involved. I hope Marpet can make a full recovery. I’ve had my brains scrambled through various life events. BOOMs, surgeries, and crashes. Not being able to recall the day or getting lost in your own neighborhood is no joke. Hope Ali can recover fully and doesn’t try to rush back onto the field. Man, tonights game is going to be telling.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:20 am
A lot of local media gives Marpet a lot of love for his play but outside of his rookie year and a string of games I come away unimpressed with his run blocking at the point of attack. This over paid line is very good to great (at times) pass protecting but run blocking, they are soft.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:32 am
Hope the big man is okay, nothing is more important than long term health problems.
Hopefully this does not turn into an Aaron Sears case.
November 23rd, 2020 at 10:35 am
If I was him, I’d be scared as well as frustrated. Get well!!
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:04 am
Did Aaron Sears have issues due to cte? Scary stuff
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:13 am
@Joe … “It makes one wonder if Marpet is frustrated, in part, because this issue may be worse than what the Bucs are sharing.”
Conspiracy theories don’t help Joe; facts do. And right now, fact is we don’t know what’s going on with Marpet. May well be that the Bucs don’t either.
But one thing we do know: concussions are nothing to screw around with. The long-term effects can be devastating, and in no way is it worth the risk to rush a player back onto the field. Ali may be ‘frustrated’ right now, but this isn’t something that you can just ice-down or put a band-aid on. It takes TIME and we all need to be patient with this … including Marpet.
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:16 am
OK, what “facts” can you bring to the table about Marpet’s concussion the rest of us don’t already know?
And if you think NFL teams are fully and openly transparent about injuries, you need a shrink worse than Joe.
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:40 am
i had the same feeling when he missed his second game and this week. hopefully it gets better and we have an upcoming bye week if he cant get healthy for chiefs game so hopefully that extra time helps. at least he is practicing in some fashion
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:50 am
I am similarly concerned.
3 weeks is not normal, even with higher benchmarks.
November 23rd, 2020 at 11:54 am
I suspect Marpet has failed the Fourth Phase: neurologic and balance testing.
Not good. Not good at all.
And keep in mind that concussions get more prevalent after the first one.
November 23rd, 2020 at 1:02 pm
Flashbacks of Arron Sears.
November 23rd, 2020 at 2:40 pm
Aaron Sears was mental, not concussed.