Wes Welker’s knee

Sometimes sports are so disgusting they make me physically ill just from watching it. I remember watching Joe Theismann’s leg shatter under Lawrence Taylor and feeling sick and scared at the violence of it. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain that he must have felt and I seriously hope I am never injured that badly. I have now seen enough destroyed knees in football (and I hope it is never worse than Willis McGahee) that I have become somewhat desensitized to the awkward leg angles that can occur when caught in the path of a powerful force. But Wes wasn’t even hit. He was just making a cut like he has probably done a million times in his lifetime and his knee just snapped! I have not been able to get it out of my mind since it happened two days ago and have actually been having nightmares about it. Of course, part of my dread comes simply from losing my favorite player on my favorite team on the eve of the playoffs but it is so much sadder than that. He looked devastated on the bench, screaming and crying into a towel; I don’t think it was from the physical pain but a deeper frustration knowing that he had played his last down for the season. His whole life has been devoted to competitive football and the pursuit of a championship; he has been an outstanding receiver but his help now will be as supportive fan. I hope he never forgets what he contributed this season and also never feels guilty in any way should the Patriots (somehow) not win the Superbowl…

Last season when Tom Brady’s knee was destroyed, it was Bernard Pollard making the hit. It was barely even a hit because Pollard was already on the ground, but it was still enough. On Sunday, Welker was making a cut to avoid the lunging Bernard Pollard. Pollard missed him completely, but it was still enough… This is the nature of football and I don’t believe Pollard should in any way feel responsible, but I never want to see him across the ball again.