Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner woke up Sunday morning still dealing with the symptoms of a concussion he had suffered a week earlier.
But he says he considered lying to team doctors about it.
“That’s the whole key with this issue, is a player being honest, which is hard,” Warner told Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic. “I can tell you I wrestled with it when I was going down to that room to talk to them [before the game], saying, ‘Uh, do I want to stretch the truth a little bit? Do I not want to tell them everything so I can play?’ Because I know I could dictate that.”
With those words, Warner hit on the biggest problem with football players and concussions: For all the talk about whether teams and the NFL are doing enough to protect players, a lot of players would prefer not to be protected, if “protected” means “sidelined on game day.”
Ultimately, Warner said he struggled with his own instincts as a competitor before deciding that he needed to think about the potential long-term health consequences of taking the field while dealing with symptoms from a concussion.
“I had to go, ‘What are you thinking? This is bigger than that,’” Warner said. “The easy thing to do is play. The hard thing is to make that decision where you feel like you could be hurting your team, but you don’t know whether you’re putting yourself at risk or not.”
Warner, who said he plans to play Sunday night against the Vikings, describes his symptoms as, “a fogginess that’s in and behind or on top of my eyes and it’s something that’s just not right, it’s not normal.”
Warner also noted that one of the reasons players have a hard time deciding to miss a game is “because you wonder if your teammates second-guess you.”
In light of Hines Ward’s comments about Ben Roethlisberger, there’s not much doubt that some teammates do second-guess players who choose to sit out. Between pressure from teammates and the pressure athletes put on themselves, it’s no surprise that many players make a different decision than the one Warner made on Sunday.
He better think about sitting against the Vikes because we are gonna hit him until that fogginess comes back. Minnesota is Miami bound and the Cards are in our way
Warner’s situation is a little more the exception than the norm- he has a credible guy on the sidelines to take over that knows the system well and could be a starter on prolly a half-dozen teams right now…
Kurt…..take another week off. The Vikes D-line is coming to town. Do you really want to spend the rest of your years with a drool sponge strapped to your chin?
Kurt, since you are a class-act and I respect what you’ve done (and because I face you and Fitzgerald in a fantasy playoff game), take the time off. It’s not worth it, man.
Kurt is a class act.
Based on the above comments I can see why people hate Vikings fans. Must be all that cold weather that is making Vikings fans delusional. You guys could go 0-16 and you’d still think you should be going to the Super Bowl.
And you think Kurt Warner has fogginess in HIS head?
I’m so sick of Vikings fans already. You’ve done nothing in the NFL. NOTHING. Talk about fogginess in the head…
I’m a die hard Vikings fan, but I’ve critiqued the team even in this time of 10-1.
Regardless, Kurt Warner is and has been my favorite player. I was born in Iowa so I automatically relate to that as he is the homegrown hero, based in Christian roots.
I love it that he has opened up to the fact, sometimes it’s the players’ competitive nature that gets the best of him.
Regardless, the Vikes D-Line will be hitting him, and I’d personally suggest letting Matt Leinart “take the beating” physically and mentally. Not many defenses are as stingy as the Vikes of ’09, great learning experience.
Kind of sad to see some Vikings fans brag like we’ve been undefeated. We have a great team guys, but so do the Colts and Saints. The Saints proved they have the edge last night.
Kurt, God speed.
“You guys could go 0-16 and you’d still think you should be going to the Super Bowl.”
Around here, they usually disappear even if they sniff .500 like the usual band wagoners they are. These are the same fans who could barely sell out a playoff game last year and had to have JA go on TV to beg them to buy tickets. When they do well, they of course are the most obnoxious people on the planet which is why I despise that entire fanbase even though I could care less about the Vikings otherwise.
The macho NFL may very well be its downfall, We all know that what Ward was saying to Ben is “…take off the skirt and play…” the only way for the NFL to get a leash on this is going to be for the NFL to start giving concussion tests to every player every week, so they do not have the option of not telling Doctors. The problem with this is it might get hard to fill a roster every week.
Not all Vikings fans are bandwagon’ish.
The key to find a humble Viking fan, is to find ones that laugh at the Marshall Wrong Way Run, lol.
But really, some friends of mine here in Florida are Vikings fans, and we’re very humble. It’s on the internet the current bandwagoners are irritating.
Regardless, all the “haters” need to understand, the Vikings aren’t a team for the faint hearted. We wear purple with pride.
PURPLE.
I’m a Vikings fan and I’m sick of Vikings fans….there are a bunch that really give us a bad rap. Especially the idiots that post in all caps:
“THIS IS OUR YEAR” – they need to stfu
this is a perfect example of why hines ward is the bad guy here. he’s basically making public the disdain the guys in the locker room have for any player that puts his own health above the team.
the sad thing is, the player’s health *should* be above the team… but according to hines ward, if that cat comes out of the bag, you’re labelled a “p*ssy” by your teammates and they question your toughness.
i question hines ward and his mentality there, personally.
Why is Kurt Warner talking about this???? Retire and you won’t have to worry about getting a boo-boo while collecting your 10 million bucks. It’s football. Sit home and count your money if you’re worried about getting your bell rung. Better yet, go back to bagging groceries and hitting on milfs.
Careful all you people bashing the Viking fans, they’ll accuse you of being Packer fans. They are delusional in the fact that they can’t understand that EVERYONE is sick of them, not just the GB fans.
Remember… Jared Allen is a beast (fog maker) that will be gunnin’ for you.
As a Vikings fan, and as a person who thinks concussions should not be overlooked, I feel like Warner should not play if those symptoms continue.
I would say that about Vikings, too.
Did a doctor ask Mr. Warner where his wife got her haircut?
It doesn’t matter who plays quarterback for the Cards.
Vikes 35
Cards 13
“Did a doctor ask Mr. Warner where his wife got her haircut?”
She got rid of the buzz cut quite a while ago. This isn’t 2001 anymore.
http://www.theodoresworld.net/pics/0209/KurtandwifebrendaImage4.jpg
hahha I am a big vikings fan, and I think it’s funny when everyone is thinking we are already in the superbowl. But I think it’s more funny how many people are hating on them because they are supporting their team…. my best friend is a packers fan and he talked mad shit when they were kicking are ass…sooo i think its funny when the hypocritical stupid ass packer fans talk shit when the vikings fans do it…. I’m not saying were the best, but were pretty good you cant deny that
So your all Viking fans and your team is going to the Superbowl blah blah blah..and that has what? to do about Kurt Warner and concussions?
rusH1023 says:
December 1, 2009 2:28 PM
I’m so sick of Vikings fans already. You’ve done nothing in the NFL. NOTHING. Talk about fogginess in the head…
————————————————–
Easy fix mate…get the hell out the thread then!
launcher says:
December 1, 2009 2:43 PM
I’m a Vikings fan and I’m sick of Vikings fans….there are a bunch that really give us a bad rap. Especially the idiots that post in all caps:
“THIS IS OUR YEAR” – they need to stfu
—————————————————Totally agree guy. We are nowhere yet. I bring the smack hammer down on many,but if anyone notices,I’m a counter puncher. Talk shit about my team,I will tear into your ass. We don’t need to be posting SB Banners yet.
Boy, Warner’s wife looks 10 times better without the buzzcut there CapsLock — why the hell don’t they show her in the stands every 2 minutes now that she actually looks good?