Though much of the discussion in Detroit currently focuses on the number of games that the second overall pick in round one of the 2010 draft will miss over the balance of 2011, the Lions’ other first-round pick will miss the rest of them.
Jahvid Best, more than a month after suffering his latest concussion, has been placed on injured reserve.
Per a league source, multiple teams had removed Best from the draft board completely, due to his history of concussions, including a scary incident that occurred at Cal.
And yet the Lions traded up for Best.
As explained on Saturday, Best’s case illustrates one of the significant tensions between players and the league office regarding the issue of concussions. The fact that he won’t play again this year will make it even harder for teams to justify relying on players (especially running backs) with a history of concussions, and it will make it even more tempting for players to conceal their concussions.