Remember this about the Burnett injury

[Manster68]

Losing Kevin Burnett is very disappointing. He became the third draft pick to go to the IR following Justin Beriault and Jay Ratliff. He has been fighting injuries the whole season and was just starting to show some production the last few games.

Oh Mannnnnn!!! Bummer!

Some posters, on various message boards, I think are getting too critical. However, let's keep this in mind.

Ken Norton Jr. was labled a bust his first few seasons in 88 and 89 (to a point 1990 also). He went on the IR one of those seasons (maybe two). However, when 1991 came along, Norton broke out and went on a six season tear of outstanding seasons.

We are seeing a trend in a similar fashion now with Bradie James. He has had a breakout season and we fans are expecting improvement in 2006.

It is just going to take some time with Burnett folks. Some players are like that. We should be very fortunate that five of the eight draftees last April have played (or started) nearly every game this season. They all deserve leeway this season due to the fact that they are rookies. This is especially true for Petitti.

When was the last time Dallas had five draftees make a contribution like these five have?

Regardless what happens Sunday, it has been a frustrating, yet inspiring season. I do not believe I have witnessed a season filled with so many "What ifs" as this one has.

I just think when Burnett breaks out, as we are seeing in James now, Dallas will have something special.

And the same could be said for the other rookies as well.

 

[Billy Bullocks]

I have 2 words for you, Bradie James. Everyone wanted to get rid of this guy, labeled him a bust...just look at him this year. He looks like a real player out there. Besides Ware, he's been our best LB, definately the most consistant.

 

[Manster68]

I have 2 words for you, Bradie James. Everyone wanted to get rid of this guy, labeled him a bust...just look at him this year. He looks like a real player out there. Besides Ware, he's been our best LB, definately the most consistant.

Billy, you do know that I mentioned Bradie James several times in my original post, right?

 

[sago1]

And just think how much these 3 guys can contribute next year. Ratliff was playing pretty good behind Spears after Spears was promoted to starter over Coleman. Also Bieraut had looked pretty good in TC & even Burnett was starting to show something in last few games he got into. With the experience Spears, Canty, Ware & Pettiti (and to a lesser extent Ratliff gained this year and their opportunity to participate in our offseason weight conditioning program these guys will get really be ready to play. Add these guys to the rookies coming back from IR along with the new rookies we draft or undrafted rookies we sign & any FA vets we can get & next year should really be good.

Having said all that, I bet the "experts next year" will pick us to finish last in NFC East cause our division will be so tough and they all in love with the Skins or Giants and of course Eagles will surely come back. I think next year we will shock the NFl with how deep we go into the playoffs.

 

[jterrell]

James is a good comparison.

Both were team leaders in college. Serious alpha male types that might not take to being a pup or rookie all that well. Used to being followed as opposed to following.

I still have hopes for Burnett. He was simply so good at Tennessee.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

very good points.....i had forgotten about Norton.....

 

[VACowboy]

I think Ratliff will have a bigger impact than most people believe. It was when Parcells started playing him that the defense was doing its best work pressuring quarterbacks.

 

[uberfan]

I am not down on Burnett, and have not been. I just think he is better suited to ILB. If Dat retires as is expected, Burnett will get his chance to move inside.

That leaves us needing a good starting OLB opposite Ware. I am not sure who on the current roster will step up here.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Everyone keeps mentioning Brady James. IMO, it's apples and oranges.

Burnett for some reason just can't stay healthy. Go look at his college career at UT. Missed significant time with injuries. He's been with the Boys less than 10 months and already he's suffered significant injuries on 3 seperate occassions.

Hopefully it's just bad luck, but Burnett has a long history of not being able to stay healthy. It seems to me that should have red-flagged him for our scouts and pushed him out of the 2nd round, but of course, I know that's hindsight.

 

[TunaFan33]

All we can say is that injuries can happen on any given play. This IS football.

 

[AsthmaField]

already he's suffered significant injuries on 3 seperate occassions.

I wouldn't call it 3 significant injuries. I'd call it one significant injury... that being the knee he just hurt.

One of the three was simply a voluntary clean out job on his hip... just cleaning up from the college game.

Knees happen. Al Johnson hurt his knee in training camp his rookie season... now he's gone two full seasons (minus tomorrows game) as a starter with no injuries... not even a nick. Burnett almost made the entire season before getting hurt (significantly). Does that make him less injury prone than Johnson, who didn't even make it to game one? Of course not... but neither does it mean that Burnett is injury prone and that he'll have problems in his career staying healthy.

Just my $0.02 worth.

 

[jazzcat22]

very good points.....i had forgotten about Norton.....

Same here. Fogot about his injuries.

 

[ravidubey]

Brady James wasn't known for being injury prone, was he? Burnett gets banged up walking to the men's room and he's a 49ers fan.

Burnett has a higher pedigree than James and has been a major disappointment-- you realize that with an ACL injury he's going to be a non-factor most if not all of next year too? BUST.