Getty ImagesLions running back Jahvid Best last played football on October 16, 2011. Some within the organization reportedly fear that will be the last time he ever plays.
Best has a history of concussions. And while some teams had him completely off the draft board in 2010, the Lions traded back into the bottom of round one to get him. It was a calculated risk, with a definite potential reward.
Best’s most recent concussion ended his season, only six days after he rushed for a career-high 163 yards in the team’s first Monday Night Football appearance since the dawn of the Millen era. And while Best has said he’ll “definitely” be back on the field in 2012, Anwar Richardson of MLive.com (via NFL.com) reports that “many within the organization” are concerned that he may not return, ever.
If that happens, it’s unfortunate. But it’s not surprising given the league’s new litigation-influenced sensitivity to concussions. Of all positions, running back is most akin to a giant magnet rolling through a warehouse full of anvils. By virtue of the punishment they routinely absorb, running backs will continue to suffer blows to the head, and every other part of their bodies.
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Thats the Worst news for Best.
Sad if it’s true
Sucks to see good talent go to waste because of an injury. Hope everything goes well.
Very sad news if true, but he should start thinking about his life after football. His quality of life is more important than watching him play on Sundays.
Rick Speilman 1
Everyone else 0
Too Bad ! Everyone just wants the
chance to play !
So much potential
So much Speed
So many TDs scored in my madden franchise with the later round Jahvid Best fantasy draft pick up.
2016 Jaguars with the three headed rushing monster of…
Best
Blount
M.Bush
Here’s the bottom line(they dont tell you this). He’s been cleared, he’s symptom free, he WILL play another game. If he finishes, who knows. How many more games will he play, who knows, will he be cut before-hand, who knows.
Rick Spielman – 1
Everyone else – 1,856,534,826,026,528
Best is really AMAZING to watch toting the rock. Hope he can make it back….
Lions SHOULD look at RB Lamichael James in the draft, dude has rocket legs as well.
Fear and concerned are two different things. One is a phony report headline, the other speculatess why the Lions are interviewing running backs at the Senior Bowl.
The NFL’s concussion rules are merely theater.
If we’re still on the concussion topic in five years, the league will lose a lot of money. Because a lot of today’s players will be out of the league with permanent brain injuries.
J. Best, M. Forte, F. Jackson.
This why I have no problem with guys holding out for a contract. You just never know. Though DeSean Jackson and Chris Johnson should have handled it better, I can’t really blame them. The owners expect blind loyalty from the players, but at the first sign of trouble the teams cut them lose.
Just business.
Life’s too short to be spending the rest of it using a drool cup.
This guys career was over the moment he was drafted by Detroit
Quit while you’re ahead, Jahvid. You’re financially set for a long time, start coaching and don’t risk the rest of your life for a few games at best.
anyone remember kevin jones?
When Willie Lanier, Mark Kelso and Steve Wallace were faced with the decision facing Jahvid Best…
…whether to take the risk and continue playing or stop playing…all three of these great NFL players opted for another option that few if any of today’s players consider.
Willie Lanier, Mark Kelso and Steve Wallace opted to add a layer of foam padding to the outside of their helmets and continue playing.
All three players extended their careers and retired on their own terms, when they chose to walk away from the game, because their helmets, with the foam padding added to the outside, protected their brain from further injury due to helmet to helmet or any other form of contact.
It seems the NFL is never going to mandate safer helmets with additional padding added to the outside of the helmets, so it is up to the individuals to make that choice, just as Lanier, Kelso and Anderson did.
The ProCap should be an option for any player who feels the need for additional protection from the risk of concussion…it is up to the players to protect themselves.
Bigger injury dissapointment than the great bob sanders
Jahvid Best is a great talent (just watch his youtube videos) if he never plays another down of Football we will all be robed of what could have been a career filled with highlight real type plays.
The Vikings traded out of the first round, skipping on Best and the Lions took him the next day. The Vikings then took Toby Gerhart. I thought at the time that was the stupidist thing I’d ever seen and thought for sure Javid would spend the next ten years making the Vikings pay for that mistake. I was worried about that but sure didn’t want it to end this way! I hope the experts are wrong and he gets a few more years to play out his dream. Good luck Javid!
This report *might* be true, but keep in mind Anwar has been a Lions beat reporter since the end of October and was previously not a Michigan resident. Not exactly well-connected in the organization yet. Long ways to go before Killer’s shoes are filled.
Did Jahvid Best’s career ever really start?
Such a shame, he really is a talent but I don’t think he should put the rest of his life at further risk.
It’s open game to hit runningbacks in the head, the NFL should really do something about that. They take more hits than anyone and have such a small shelf life, tough to fault any of them who are looking out for their health and financial well-being.
It’s Leshore Time!!!
If (stress IF) this is true, it’s a shame. On an aside, I hope he saved the money he has earned thus far and paid attention in school. The “have something to fall back on” cliche would apply here.
Most NFL fans feel the same way about Mark Sanchez’ career.
Picking Best had risks given his history. I agreed with the pick given the risks but ultimately his health is far more important than football.
HBO Real Sports opened Pandora’s box. Ever since they did that story linking concussions to Lou Gehrig’s and they showed that former Raiders fullback laid out like a vegetable, concussions are not to be taken lightly. It’s inevitable concussions will do to football what AIDS did to prostitution.
quote: ” The Vikings traded out of the first round, skipping on Best and the Lions took him the next day. The Vikings then took Toby Gerhart. I thought at the time that was the stupidist thing I’d ever seen and thought for sure Javid would spend the next ten years making the Vikings pay for that mistake.”
Didn’t the Vikes take Chris Cook with that pick…..sure they took Toby G later.
But I’d bet dollars to donuts that J Best takes more snaps with the lions team than Cook takes for the vikes.
kevin jones had knee/foot problems, dont think he ever had concussions. i thiink he had major linsfranc problems.
“But I’d bet dollars to donuts that J Best takes more snaps with the lions team than Cook takes for the vikes.”
Are you really sure you want to take that bet? Cook has been a calamity so far in the NFL. Injuries and arrests…
Lions could have gotten him a lot lower than the 1st round. Very risky pick to trade up for him. A move that will be questioned now since Best may not be able to play anymore.
That’s terrible news, I remember picking him up on FF his rookie year and he made like fifty points in one game
Hopefully he’ll come back, if not then I hope he has a plan for the future
Lions can’t get lucky with a running back in the draft jones,brown,smith,best,lashoure always injuries with our picks .hope best can recover and come back he would be the perfect one 2 punch with lashoure and could be used on less snaps and screen plays . But he better be sure 100% because that is something not to mess with .god bless and speedy recovery.!
Best Wishes for Javid…. cool guy, great talent
Most of you have forgotten about Mike Leshoure.
Let’s hope he comes out strong and stays healthy. If so, he’s a battering ram. Love his style.
GO LIONS!!!
Weird article because it lacks some very crucial facts. If this is a Sydney Crosby type situation where he’s still feeling major effects from his last concussion, it would be fair to question his return. Yet the article says absolutely nothing about that and Best is saying he’ll definitely be back. Getting medical clearance isn’t all that hard in the first place and there’s several months before he’ll have the chance to play again. Why would a large chunk of the team be wondering if he’ll be back?
What’s the saying again? Oh yea, playing the 49ers is bad for your health…
PFT, please do some investigative reporting and tell us exactly how many millions of dollars the NFL is spending annually on safer helmet technology.
There has been research done on helmets at Virginia Tech.
Where is the NFL on this?
Save the rest of your mind, body and spirit Mr. Best. Hopefully he can go into the studio with NFL Network or something.
I remember when he had that horrific injury in college, where contact between his brain and body was cut off and he “postured.” I didn’t think he’d ever be playing football again, let alone in the NFL. He’s extremely fortunate to have gotten the chance and made some coin in the process.
Good luck to you, Jahvid. You had a lot of potential, but take care of yourself and invest that money well, unlike some of your moronic contemporaries.
I’d rather see his career end than his life end.
The Nancy’s filing all these lawsuits are ruining this guys chance to play.
And as a bears fan.. Thanks Hunter Hillenmeyer! Bye bye Best!
Lions will trade down with either Miami or AZ to pickup a RB.
If rumors are true, the Lions will be selecting a RB in the 1st and 3rd rounds of the draft.
Every RB they had this season got hurt.
This isn’t really news. Most Lions fans feared this on or a little before October 17th, 2011.
gmen1987 says:
Jan 28, 2012 6:28 PM
Lions could have gotten him a lot lower than the 1st round.
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I love posts like this…how would you know what’s on the other 31 teams’ boards?! LMAO!!!!