Comments on: Jahvid Best hopes to play next year

By: jimmylions

jimmylions — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 08:47:28 +0000

This is not a game of chicken between Best and the Lions. This is a guy who has to face the pain of walking away from his life-long dream sitting right in front of him.

I think seanx40 is correct … once Best accepts reality, that his career as a football player is over, the Lions will reach a settlement with him regarding what remains on his contract. Best’s pay for this year was $500K-ish. His pay next year is $800k-ish.

According to MLive the league doctors were willing to clear him to play, but his personal physician is not. The reason the doctor gave was that the consequences of another concussion is not worth the risk.

MLive has said a number of times that the off-the-record chatter is that the Lions kept Best this season knowing he was not going to play. By letting him get 3 years as an NFL player, it impacts the quality of retirement benefits he will get.

It’s a sad situation for Best, but I think he’ll retire before training camp next year. The tough part is that none of these guys are ready for life after football – I think a reason Best is fighting retirement is because he doesn’t know what he’ll do.

By: foxcitiesartists

foxcitiesartists — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 07:00:44 +0000

As a Lions fan I don’t even consider him an asset to the team anymore. If he gets back on the field again I’ll be amazed. I read a rumor that the only reason they even kept up the “he could be cleared to play this season” routine was to make him qualify for the NFL Pension. I hope this is the case. Let him become eligible for that, give him a reasonable injury settlement that will let him put a trust aside for his potential future medical bills, and cut him loose.

There’s almost 200 former NFL players suing the NFL over concussions right now. Let’s face it, Jahvid Best is the TEST CASE for how the NFL handles concussion prone players in the future. If Best or Austin Collie go out on the field again and get another one soon after returning to the field, it’s a giant “I told you so” for everyone suing the NFL. It’s just not good business to let Best back in again. It’s time that he moves on. I hope the only hesitation here is Detroit trying to do the right thing.

By: davekezer

davekezer — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 23:05:49 +0000

Sad for best. It’s sad in general when so much talent is stopped by something so serious. I know he really just wants to play but he has many more years beyond the game to think about. Total bummer.

By: ososrule

ososrule — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:42:43 +0000

Poor guy! Sorry Javid, hope you can come back next year!

By: majbobby

majbobby — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:39:43 +0000

This is a risk for a team drafting a player with concussion problems in the 2nd round.

By: zeeman911

zeeman911 — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 22:33:07 +0000

The lions are doing best the favor, if they keep him under contract till next year he gets the 4 year min. league pension.

By: funktron2x

funktron2x — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:56:11 +0000

The Lions could cut bait whenever. It is in their best interest to hang on to him though, in case he can return. As, of course, he’s dynamic and can change games quickly.

By: stevenfbrackett

stevenfbrackett — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:55:44 +0000

I would advise using his downtime completing his college degree, if necessary, or taking classes to prepare him for life after football because that is coming much sooner than he thought it would. Besides, it would do him good to work on something productive instead of dwelling on his circumstances.

By: seanx40

seanx40 — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:24:38 +0000

Yes, he gets paid for this. I think the team can reach an injury settlement in the off season, and let him go. Let some other team take the risk of letting him get further brain damage.

By: philrat

philrat — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:20:09 +0000

Some players are more susceptible to long term damage from concussions than others. It’s better that players who are susceptible to concussions not play so every player doesn’t get painted with the same broad brush.

By: footballfan84

footballfan84 — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:17:30 +0000

Wish you all the best bro, get well soon.

By: mikeyarch53

mikeyarch53 — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:16:27 +0000

Is he able to keep any of his money? Is he getting paid currently? This is just a sad situation and I sure hope he’s being compensated currently… Not the Lions fault or really problem but it would mean a lot to the kid if he didn’t have to worry financially

By: thetokyosandblaster

thetokyosandblaster — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:07:00 +0000

“Maybe next year…”

What Lions and fans have been saying forever.

By: dapell

dapell — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:06:01 +0000

As a Lions fan it’s sad to say, but this situation has degraded to nothing more than a game of chicken between Best and the Lions over money.

Best wants ever penny remaining on his contract and will keep saying he’s going to play next season rather than retire. The Lions don’t want Best to ever see the field again for his own good based on what all the doctors are saying, but don’t want to cut him while injured and have to pay the full year remaining on his rookie contract. They’d like him to just see the writing on the wall and retire, but Best has millions of reasons to keep trying to return.

By: packfaninvikeland

packfaninvikeland — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 20:03:16 +0000

i like Best. However I really feel his career is over