David Pollack

themaninblack · 03-10-2008, 05:13 PM

I figured this could be put here. As most of you know Mr. Pollack suffered a catastrophic neck injury a few years ago but according to Bengals.com he has been fully cleared to play by his specialist. He is currently making a decision as to whether or not he actually will play. I'm glad to hear he is doing well and hope he can play if he feels like its the right thing to do.

I already posted this in our team forum but thought this is something you all might want to see.

energizerbunny · 03-10-2008, 05:29 PM

He was Chris Long before Chris Long....

I'm curious to how he looks... I for one never expected to see him on the field again

SaintsFanForLife · 03-10-2008, 05:37 PM

I dont know I would hate for him to get on the field and get hit the wrong way and be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Scotty D · 03-10-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaintsFanForLife

I dont know I would hate for him to get on the field and get hit the wrong way and be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

From how I understand by being cleared to play he has the same chance at that happening as anyone else in the league. I think him returning to the game is more of a mental thing now for him.

PalmerToCJ · 03-10-2008, 05:44 PM

If he comes back, things seem to point to him going to DE in order to avoid some of the contact LB's would take.

Ness · 03-10-2008, 05:49 PM

Hopefully he receives multiple opinions from different physicians.

LonghornsLegend · 03-10-2008, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty D

From how I understand by being cleared to play he has the same chance at that happening as anyone else in the league. I think him returning to the game is more of a mental thing now for him.

Thats good news then, it scares me that he might get hit wrong and something bad happen, but if he's at the same risk as everyone else then it should be fine, just as long as he's not out there playing with it on his mind...Until he gets some contact it probably will still be in the back of his mind.

neko4 · 03-10-2008, 06:22 PM

i think he should sit one more year, if he can. condition his body some more, and make sure his neck is completly healed and strengthend

The Legend · 03-10-2008, 06:53 PM

wait didint he say he wont play linebacker unless its in a 3-4 or a d-line-man in a 4-3
maybe thats what hes thinking

Thunder&Lightning · 03-10-2008, 07:00 PM

Ya i would have to agree I dont think hes at risk physically he just has to overcome the mental part of it. He was a class act in the NFL and i would love to see him come back...only if he thinks he is ready though.

PalmerToCJ · 03-10-2008, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neko4

i think he should sit one more year, if he can. condition his body some more, and make sure his neck is completly healed and strengthend

His neck is healed, that's why he's been cleared.

In terms of body conditioning, he appears better than ever... Beating pretty much all of his outstanding combine numbers.

Quote:

Gil Brandt, czar of the NFL scouting combine, listened to David Pollack's time in the three-cone drill and crunched the number before spitting out the verdict.

"You have a time like 6.69 seconds for a defensive lineman and there is a high percentage that guy will make the Pro Bowl," Brandt says from Dallas.

That's not Pollack's time from 2005, when he authored one of the greatest combine workouts in history. It's lower. And it's from Friday's session of his daily regimen that now includes helping college prospects prepare for the combine as well as taking another step forward to his return to the NFL.

"He's probably in better shape from a cardiovascular standpoint than at any point in his life," says Clif Marshall, who oversees the workouts as director of the Ignition Athletics Performance Group. "And obviously he still has the agility that makes him a special player."

Then, his take on positioning...

Quote:

But, at 6-2, 255, he admits, "I had the perfect body for a 3-4. When I came out (of Georgia), that's all I heard. I was going to be a 4-3 end or a 3-4 (outside) linebacker. I've been trying to convince (the Bengals) forever to go to a 3-4."

Pollack says he'd have to sit down and discuss it with people if the Bengals do indeed switch to a three-man front and make him that outside backer. But he doesn't think it would be much of a problem even if his hand isn't on the ground because, "You would still line up on the line and your target would only be about six inches in front of you."

The Great Jonathan Vilma · 03-10-2008, 07:25 PM

boy was he a force in college. didn't have all the measureables, but he had some heart, and it doesn't look like that's changed much. He better be careful, at this point he still has his health, something that could be taken away in a split second if he returns.....

PalmerToCJ · 03-10-2008, 07:35 PM

Pollack has made it extremely clear that if there's anything even close to a 50% chance that it could be reinjured (over the normal person I suppose) that he won't be back. If he comes back, it will be the smart decision, everyone involved understands that.

Geo · 03-10-2008, 07:56 PM

I hope he comes back and plays. Hopefully he's recovered and able to do so.

nfrillman · 03-10-2008, 08:22 PM

The issue with his coming back isn't his odds of getting hurt again, it's what if he does get hurt again. That answer is simple. You are lucky to walk away from a broken neck once, you don't get to walk away twice. As a rule injuries are more and more severe each time they happen.

bigbluedefense · 03-10-2008, 08:28 PM

these things always scare me. i hope him and Morgan will be ok out there.

PalmerToCJ · 03-10-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nfrillman

The issue with his coming back isn't his odds of getting hurt again, it's what if he does get hurt again. That answer is simple. You are lucky to walk away from a broken neck once, you don't get to walk away twice. As a rule injuries are more and more severe each time they happen.

Yeah, I think that's what they're talking about. If it happens again, given how it's healed, what is the liklihood that it'll be worse than the first one. He's making a very sound decision, life trumps football for Pollack more than just about any player out there... He's very religious and family oriented. He's said the one gift from all this is becoming a better husband.

themaninblack · 03-11-2008, 12:01 AM

he's got a good head on his shoulders. he will make the right decision for himself. for our sake, i hope it means he'll wear the orange n black. if not, all the power to him.

eaglesalltheway · 03-11-2008, 06:30 AM

I wish the guy the best of luck and would congradulate him on even being able to consider making a comeback.

portermvp84 · 03-11-2008, 12:12 PM

I hope he doesn't turn out to be like Chris Speilman years ago.

asmitty45 · 03-11-2008, 02:31 PM

he was nasty at Georgia, i wish him the best and would gladly take a flyer on him

DeathbyStat · 03-11-2008, 04:06 PM

Its just not worth it

rickscott · 03-11-2008, 04:08 PM

Comin out of Ga. he was exactly the type player and personality the Bengals needed to set an example for some of our problems children. Sometimes life just ain't fair. Hope he can make the comeback, but not if it means any type of injury in the future.

Addict · 03-11-2008, 04:10 PM

Gives a whole new meaning to 'football is my life'

anyways, here's to hoping he really has fully recovered. I'm confident he'll make the right decision about coming back, whichever choice he makes.

RAZERSAINTS · 03-11-2008, 06:39 PM

Yea I just dont want to see they guy get hurt to where he cant walk. Or need to put that metel thing back on his head.