08-26-2007, 02:31 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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Morgan defends choice
Charlotte Observer | 08/26/2007 | Morgan defends choice<br> to keep playing football
Quote:
Dan Morgan has heard the myriad critics who say he shouldn't be playing football. They, he said, don't know what's going on inside his head. Only the Carolina Panthers middle linebacker and a team of some of the best concussion doctors in the world do.
In the moments after his first game action in almost a year, he passionately defended his decision to return to football after sitting out almost all of last year when he suffered two concussions in less than three weeks.
"Nobody really knows how I feel," Morgan said. "Unless you're in my shoes and know how I feel, then that's something somebody can't talk about because they don't know. As far as people having doubts about me coming back, everybody's entitled to their opinion. We live in America, so I'll let them have it.
"I took the necessary steps to come back. I'm smarter than that. I do care more about my future with my family than anything. They're No. 1 in my life and if I felt like it was a threat for me to come back and I was going to put my health in great danger for my family, I wouldn't have been back."
Morgan was back Friday night, playing most of the first quarter in an exhibition against the New England Patriots. He was involved in several tackles and said he experienced no problems, other than a bit of fatigue toward the end of his playing time. That's understandable because he last played in last year's season opener.
He spent much of last season visiting doctors at a time when concussions have been a hot topic in the NFL. Recent studies have linked concussions to problems later in life, and earlier studies repeatedly suggest players who have several concussions become more susceptible to future injuries.
Morgan, who has had at least five reported concussions, is well aware of that research.
"There's been a lot of talk about concussions, more so this offseason than any other," Morgan said. "I think people are concerned about it, which they should be. It is something not to mess with. I know that. I took the necessary steps. When I feel like it is harmful to myself, that's when I won't be playing anymore."
Morgan said none of his concussions have been severe. He said he felt fine a few weeks after last year's problems, but doctors wanted him to rest because they believed the concussions coming so close together put him at risk.
He was brought along slowly in the offseason and early in training camp. He's been working with his teammates since March, but contact was off limits as recently as the start of training camp in late July.
The exposure to contact was allowed and gradually increased as time went on. With the first game test out of the way, the Panthers might rest Morgan in Thursday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh to have him ready for the season opener against St. Louis.
"I made the decision not for anybody else, but for me, my family and my teammates," he said. "I look at the positive in things. I came out (Friday) and made one step toward having a healthy season. We'll talk on a later day if that changes, but I feel pretty good about things."
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Imo he shouldnt be playing. Hes going to be a veg when hes old.
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Morgan defends choice
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