Interesting radio point regarding Cowboys training and overall health

[bounce]

I listened to the same interview this morning. The doctor's name BTW is Dr. Jason Garrett (No lie and no relation to Ginger that I'm aware) and claims to know the training and physical therapy staff well. When he was asked if certain players were injury prone, used Miles and Sean Lee in examples. He stated that Miles would not undergo the recommended therapy because of the initial discomfort and pain which leads to longer recovery and will be more prone to re-injury. He said that it was not the fault of the training staff to force Miles into the recommended rehab and that it was a situation that begins higher up. He said that on most pro sports teams, not just NFL, that the training staff have more power within the organization and that Jerry Jones is more concerned about the players perception of him. He wanted to be viewed as the caring father figure and not the businessman, which trickles into all aspects, training, workouts, etc not just rehab.
In Sean Lee's case he speculated that he is a workout warrior and trains very hard partly due to the fact that he is not as physically gifted as some and his greatest attribute is in the mental aspect of the game. He gets injured playing partly because he is working his body harder than some more naturally gifted and forces his body to keep up with quick thinking and instincts.

It was an interesting interview and particularly scathing about Jerry. He also said that Jerry tends to hire people he can control and not necessarily the best for the job.

Thanks. That gave it more context. Glad someone else heard it, too. He's on every week, and normally it's just filler radio, but this one was particularly interesting.

 

[waving monkey]

totally unacceptable if true

 

[dropdeadfred5]

those claiming this cannot be happening are ignoring Jerry's past. He gets into EVERYTHING that is involved with the boys. EVERYTHING. So why would him interfering there be any surprise?

And it is known that he really wants to be liked by his players. So defering to them on certain things like this would also not be a surprise.

And maybe its getting worse.

 

[Doc50]

I don't think anybody will disagree when I say that injuries has been a big problem in Dallas. This thread explains why. If Austin is refusing better methods of treatment and the FO is overruling the trainers, this constant injury situation will continue to be a problem. I would say Austin set a bad example and needs to go, but the FO must have agreed to his treatment. In any case, it is s mess, and it seems that the curse of injuries in Dallas is by their own doing. This organization is such a mess.

This doesn't definitively explain anything, because it's just speculation.
I wouldn't get too riled up about a minor bit of hearsay on one individual's several-year history of torn hamstrings, which have been treated with every strategy known to mankind.

And BTW, each case is different -- each tear, each player, each subsequent treatment regimen.

 

[Doc50]

What oath is that? There may be some legal issues if true, but NFL doctors sold their soul years ago and magical oaths have little relevance. They are grabbing the money and don't really care about the players anyway.

#head trauma

Have to call BS on this one.

It's illegal to share patient information without the patient's consent, even to a spouse.

 

[dropdeadfred5]

This doesn't definitively explain anything, because it's just speculation.
I wouldn't get too riled up about a minor bit of hearsay on one individual's several-year history of torn hamstrings, which have been treated with every strategy known to mankind.

And BTW, each case is different -- each tear, each player, each subsequent treatment regimen.

sounds like someone in the Health Industry trying to protect his territory.

sure its just speculation but it sounds a whole lot more realistic then what you are spouting.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Here is my solution. Get rid of Miles Austin we don't need cupcake players. There is enough on this team already.

That's not a solution. This is an institution, of failure.

 

[JBond]

Have to call BS on this one.

It's illegal to share patient information without the patient's consent, even to a spouse.

I'm well aware of HIPAA. I own a record center. All I was getting at is what should be and what is are usually two different things and that medical staffs have not taken their oaths seriously for decades. They have swept the head trauma issues under the rug. Not exactly ethical. If they care so little about their patients, a little thing like confidentiality will not mean much to them.

Obviously I am not saying all doctors are like this, but many simply do not care.

 

[Hoofbite]

This is a good topic, btw, OP.

I'm not sure what the issue with the injuries has been the last two seasons, but something's obviously going on. On the one hand, we obviously have accomplished trainers who know what they're doing. On the other, I find it hard to swallow that we'd spend all that money on trainers, and then just ignore their recommendations. It's fun to poke fun at Jerry and say it's his ego, but the guy didn't get where he is by hiring good people and then doing what he wants to do, anyway.

I suspect this is, at most, a case where one therapist's at-a-distance diagnosis differs from that of the staff, and it creates an opportunity for criticism. That doesn't explain why we've got so many people hurt all the time, though.

Jerry has admitted to doing just that in the past.

 

[Doc50]

Well, if some doctors don't care, then they must be motivated simply by money.

If so, any substandard or negligent care in the bright lights and high-dollar world of professional sports will soon result in separation of those docs from their money, and maybe even their license.

 

[Gameover]

This is why I believe Jerry stepping down as GM won't solve all our problems.

Jerry the owner is as big a problem as Jerry the GM.

 

[Idgit]

Jerry has admitted to doing just that in the past.

Has he? That's not anything I've seen before. You remember the context?

 

[JBond]

Well, if some doctors don't care, then they must be motivated simply by money.

If so, any substandard or negligent care in the bright lights and high-dollar world of professional sports will soon result in separation of those docs from their money, and maybe even their license.

It has been happening since the first day of football regarding head trauma. The docs work for the team, not the player. They do as they are told.

 

[Hoofbite]

Has he? That's not anything I've seen before. You remember the context?

It was during draft time.

Said he had 3 doctors who wouldn't sign off on a RB that he wanted to trade for. All 3 said the guy couldn't play because his knee was shot. Jerry traded for him anyway. I'm on the phone or I would find the clip.

 

[gmoney112]

From what I've heard of these types of rehabs is that the initial treatment is not just a little pain, it's supposed to be excruciating.

No rehab is "excruciating".

Not sure if it was your intention but it sounds like you're making an excuse for Austin's decision. It hurts yeah, it's definitely not ideal, it's going to be sore a lot, but this is rehab that normal guys can/have done. It's much less "excruciating" than it is time consuming and it makes Miles seem lazy. I mean come on bro, you're a professional. I guess that what happens when you pay a UDFA out of Monmouth.

/rehabbed a torn rotator cuff and meniscus. the first 6-8 weeks after a torn cuff the only thing you want in the world is the ability to sleep laying down

 

[Doc50]

It has been happening since the first day of football regarding head trauma. The docs work for the team, not the player. They do as they are told.

Not true in a court of law -- the responsibility is to the patient.

My point is that there is huge amount of financial liability for the team and all parties involved in players' health.
If, for example, we can now say that CTE is a major problem directly associated with multiple concussions, then taking improper precautions would be negligence, actionable in court. If standard of care is maintained without prior knowledge of such delayed consequences, then there is no liability.

You can see the attempt at safety, with all the new rule changes addressing that formidable liability.

 

[Picksix]

So he knows this for sure, through the grapevine or whatever? It isn't speculation?

The world of athletic training and physical therapy at that level is a pretty small one, and there are national seminars every year for the pro AT/PT society. I've been to a couple on the baseball. We all talked. I'm sure they do, too.

 

[Hoofbite]

Has he? That's not anything I've seen before. You remember the context?

It was Alonzo Highsmith.



You can listen to the whole bit but the part where he basically brushed aside the advice of 3 doctors comes around 1:40.

 

[Idgit]

It was Alonzo Highsmith.



You can listen to the whole bit but the part where he basically brushed aside the advice of 3 doctors comes around 1:40.

Great find. I hadn't heard that before, or I didn't remember it.

 

[Plankton]

It was Alonzo Highsmith.



You can listen to the whole bit but the part where he basically brushed aside the advice of 3 doctors comes around 1:40.

While this sounds good, I don't believe that Jerry Jones knew Alonzo Highsmith from a fence post back in 1990.

Highsmith played for Jimmy Johnson for three years at Miami, and was a captain for two of those seasons. He was one of Johnson's all time favorite players in college. Being that Johnson was in charge of personnel back then, and with his personal history with the player, I think this had Jimmy's name written all over it.

In Bayless' book The Boys, he indicated that Johnson needed to be convinced by his coaching staff that Highsmith couldn't play anymore. When confronted about it, he said, "no, not Alonzo - he can still play!" He was eventually convinced.