Steve Slaton (1 Viewer)

[MAC_32]

If you had told me I'd be writing this on May 10th this time last year I'd have called you a crazy person, but here we are. The love for him was too blind, and too thick this time last year. Now? It's come full circle. Owners got burned because they over valued the situation and now Slaton can be had for nothing, just got him at pick 219 in a startup dyno (plus idp). Why? Because he played hurt last year, developed a case of the fumbles, and there's a rookie (only a late 2nd rounder) for competition. You all who took him in the top 10 last year did it for a reason, you were wrong but you still did it and there was an argument for it. The situation has not changed that much since.

I had zero intentions on taking the guy until we got to round 16 and I saw his name still sitting out there. I had a couple of guys I wanted first, but when he was still sitting out there after I got them so...what the hell. I got a 1st rounder last year at his peak age in the 19th, whether he pans out or not that should not happen.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

It is for the same reason, imo, the Texans drafted Tate. Slaton had his neck fused together. There is a ton of risk.

Here is a links to the issue from ESPN's Stephania Bell:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcsouth/post/_/id...or-a-compliment

ESPN's resident physical therapist Stephania Bell weighs in on Steve Slaton.

The good news for Slaton is that he woke up feeling better immediately. Not everyone does. What that does seem to indicate is that this was certainly the problematic area and that pressure relief around that nerve root had an immediate impact. That is very good news for his prognosis (however not a guarantee that symptoms won't return).

That said, fusions are a serious matter. Even with advanced techniques, it's worth remembering that surgery requires going deep into the neck to access the vertebrae -- and there are very delicate structures right nearby -- the spinal cord and all of the nerves that exit out toward the arms. No one enters into this surgery lightly. (Sidebar: that makes Peyton Manning's recent surgery serious no matter how lightly it's being treated -- when you talk about the spine, it's not like doing a routine knee scope.)

Back to Slaton: We are supposed to have movement between each vertebral segment, not only for normal motion but it helps disperse the load of weightbearing borne through the head and neck. When you fuse a segment, the other segments above and below necessarily have to compensate some for that new stiff segment. This can mean that down the line, you can have problems (hypermobility or too much movement) at adjacent segments as they are naturally subject to more stress and strain.

Also, with a running back, the concern relates to the type of hits they take, often putting their head down and leading with their shoulder to gain extra yardage. It may be one of the reasons we see them suffering concussions more often when they collide with would-be tacklers. Any axial (meaning vertical through the head and neck) load is going to be potentially more threatening to an athlete who has a cervical fusion. Not necessarily in a quantifiable way, and there are a number of variables at play, but the bottom line is that the neck is not as adaptable to those loads, simply because of the history.

Running backs can also suffer stingers when they take a big hit to the neck or shoulder that either stretches the neck away from the shoulder or jams it toward the shoulder. Knowing there is a history of nerve irritation and potentially a less mobile cervical spine (neck), etc., a stinger may be more problematic following this type of injury.

He will need to work diligently to strengthen the stabilizing muscles around his neck (very deep muscles) as well as all the muscles in the upper back that help support the neck. While he can very well be cleared to return -- and he can indeed go on to have success and not have another major incident -- there is inherently more risk, simply because of what he has been through. -- Stephania Bell

 

[MAC_32]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

The fumbling is a big deal. 7 fumbles on 175 touches is a lot.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

JT makes a great point. Slaton might never be the same. There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton, might as well look elsewhere. I was into Slaton on the comeback trail but have lowered him significantly after viewing this injury.

 

[TheFanatic]

I still see some potential value in PPR's. But I don't see him pulling an Addai with Donald Brown.

 

[MAC_32]

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

 

[footballman_696969]

What happened to Steve Slaton last year? He went from averaging 4.8 ypc in 2008 to 3.3 in 2009. I watched this guy quite a bit in 2008 and thought he was the real deal. He had speed, quicks, vision, patience, balance, ran great routes, caught the ball well and just overall had that 'wow' factor you look for in a RB. He passed the eyeball test for sure. Did the Texans as a team just struggle to run last year?

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

What happened to Steve Slaton last year? He went from averaging 4.8 ypc in 2008 to 3.3 in 2009. I watched this guy quite a bit in 2008 and thought he was the real deal. He had speed, quicks, vision, patience, balance, ran great routes, caught the ball well and just overall had that 'wow' factor you look for in a RB. He passed the eyeball test for sure. Did the Texans as a team just struggle to run last year?

he added weight to handle the bigger workload and did not have the same explosion as 2008

 

[Ministry of Pain]

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

Mac, you're going to want to take a look at the x-ray that circulated around the internet and shows pretty graphic what Slaton had done to his neck and the metal piece in his neck right now. Until you look at this and get some background on the type of injury he sustained I would allow others to try and educate you. You seem really set on this guy, that's fine but don't fire up a thread if you don't want to hear what others are saying. I felt like you did until I started researching it further.

 

[massraider]

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

Mac, you're going to want to take a look at the x-ray that circulated around the internet and shows pretty graphic what Slaton had done to his neck and the metal piece in his neck right now. Until you look at this and get some background on the type of injury he sustained I would allow others to try and educate you. You seem really set on this guy, that's fine but don't fire up a thread if you don't want to hear what others are saying. I felt like you did until I started researching it further.

Really don't think anyone has convinced me he isn't worth a 19th round pick, either.Is he undraftable? And if not, which round? Is 23rd round OK, but 19th unthinkable??

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

Mac, you're going to want to take a look at the x-ray that circulated around the internet and shows pretty graphic what Slaton had done to his neck and the metal piece in his neck right now. Until you look at this and get some background on the type of injury he sustained I would allow others to try and educate you. You seem really set on this guy, that's fine but don't fire up a thread if you don't want to hear what others are saying. I felt like you did until I started researching it further.

Really don't think anyone has convinced me he isn't worth a 19th round pick, either.Is he undraftable? And if not, which round? Is 23rd round OK, but 19th unthinkable??

I do not think the point for me is where he was taken in Mac's draft, rather the perceived upside he may offer. At that point in a draft, there is little argument about any pick not providing value. But, I think the the thought that he can be the Slaton of 2008 is not likely, imo.

 

[MAC_32]

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

Mac, you're going to want to take a look at the x-ray that circulated around the internet and shows pretty graphic what Slaton had done to his neck and the metal piece in his neck right now. Until you look at this and get some background on the type of injury he sustained I would allow others to try and educate you. You seem really set on this guy, that's fine but don't fire up a thread if you don't want to hear what others are saying. I felt like you did until I started researching it further.

My background is in physical therapy, I'm aware of the injury's severity, I understand his career could be over. Still not seeing why he's being mentioned in the same breath as has been's and (likely) never was'. What are the chances those long shot darts amount to anything? 5%? maybe? I'm not sure about a number on the likelihood of Slaton coming back, but I feel confident saying it's much higher than that.

 

[karmarooster]

http://blogs.chron.com/texanschick/2010/04...bionic_man.html

 

[Sweet Love]

How could anyone forget Slaton? Every time he touches the ball, there is a scrum.

 

[whitewizard]

slaton's career will be much shorter with this injury but i think he will have a good bounce back this year. myself i think he can be where he was in 08 or he will get hit wrong and never take a step faster than a 9.9 40 time.

yes this injury is very serious but i think he will be able to bounce back to a very respectable level.

 

[Hoot&HoLLer]

People who drafted Slaton last year as first or second rounder in dynasty also have nothing to lose in holding on to him...unless they traded him after his fumblitis and before his neck injury was known.

 

[jsharlan]

What happened to Steve Slaton last year? He went from averaging 4.8 ypc in 2008 to 3.3 in 2009. I watched this guy quite a bit in 2008 and thought he was the real deal. He had speed, quicks, vision, patience, balance, ran great routes, caught the ball well and just overall had that 'wow' factor you look for in a RB. He passed the eyeball test for sure. Did the Texans as a team just struggle to run last year?

all the talk about a loss of explosiveness and quickness and him getting too heavy is all hog wash to me. The Texans lost both starting guards and the center played hurt. The run blocking was horrid. If you watched the season you will see the running backs taking hits in the backfield most of the time. The fumbling is on Slaton and can partially be attributable to the nerve issue and mostly to mental. Slaton is not to blame for the running woes, the fumbles sure, but not the ineffective running. The only games we ran the ball well were against Buffalo with their bottom of the barrel rush defense, and the last two games of the season, one of which was against a nothing to play for New England team who didnt even put Wilfork in the game.The biggest risk now is not whether Slaton had/has the talent, its how will he recover from this injury. Even if Slaton was totally healthy and had a decent year, the drafting of a running back was inevitable imo. There was nothing for depth behind him and the NFL today is about having 2 or even 3 really good running backs. They had a now cut Chris Brown, Moats is nothing but a journeyman, and an undrafted rookie behind him. That isn't very safe, which is why he was poised to be the workhorse in 09 before his and the oline's issues. I think if Tate is anywhere near as good as the coaches talk him up, you will see much more of a Williams/Stewart combo or the Jones/Barber/Choice monster of Dallas just much more scaled down as Houston is still a pass happy team. But it all depends on how he comes back from this injury, its a giant question mark.

 

[Sabertooth]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

 

[fruity pebbles]

The type of compression a RBs neck suffers from being hit repeatedly, i am actually concerned about Slaton's safety out there if he returns this year.

 

[meanjoegreen]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

True, but a RB can bounce back. Chris Johnson bounced back completely after having neck surgery after his sophomore season in college.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

Still not seeing why he's being mentioned in the same breath as has been's and (likely) never was'. What are the chances those long shot darts amount to anything? 5%? maybe? I'm not sure about a number on the likelihood of Slaton coming back, but I feel confident saying it's much higher than that.

Because he's a "has been" himself.When we look at all the things that cause a running back to go from a solid fantasy producer to completely worthless in his prime, Slaton is one of the very rare guys that actually fits every single one of those things.1) Relied on situation more than talent? Check.2) Problems with turnovers? Check.3) Serious injury? Check.4) (Multiple) Replacements brought in? Check.I don't see why Steve Slaton is any more likely to turn it around and have one more great season than has beens like Portis or Tomlinson even. Those "over the hill" guys were much more productive than Slaton when they played last year and didn't cost their teams games by turning the ball over.It's great that you drafted him in the 19th round and now are happy about it, but that means that even YOU passed on him in the 18th round, and the 17th, and the 16th, so I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make here. That's he's worth a flyer in the 19th round? Who isn't?

 

[Lord Fantasy]

The type of compression a RBs neck suffers from being hit repeatedly, i am actually concerned about Slaton's safety out there if he returns this year.

I'm a little surprised he's coming back, too. One of the side effects of fusions is that there is now extra pressure on the discs above and below the fix. If Slaton's back condition is degenerative he could very well suffer a life-changing injury out on the field.

 

[JAA]

Im the biggest Slaton pimper around these parts. That said, Its hard for me to defend his drop in stock. His fumbling puts a huge question mark on his ability to produce in redraft leagues. As far as Dynasty, do you really want to pay for a RB2 who may lose his job? We simply dont know whats going to happen to him. Does he Tiki Barber or Dominik Davis?

Im in hold mode with him in PPR. I wont pay asking price and I wont sell for offering price.

 

[footballman_696969]

What happened to Steve Slaton last year? He went from averaging 4.8 ypc in 2008 to 3.3 in 2009. I watched this guy quite a bit in 2008 and thought he was the real deal. He had speed, quicks, vision, patience, balance, ran great routes, caught the ball well and just overall had that 'wow' factor you look for in a RB. He passed the eyeball test for sure. Did the Texans as a team just struggle to run last year?

all the talk about a loss of explosiveness and quickness and him getting too heavy is all hog wash to me. The Texans lost both starting guards and the center played hurt. The run blocking was horrid. If you watched the season you will see the running backs taking hits in the backfield most of the time. The fumbling is on Slaton and can partially be attributable to the nerve issue and mostly to mental. Slaton is not to blame for the running woes, the fumbles sure, but not the ineffective running. The only games we ran the ball well were against Buffalo with their bottom of the barrel rush defense, and the last two games of the season, one of which was against a nothing to play for New England team who didnt even put Wilfork in the game.The biggest risk now is not whether Slaton had/has the talent, its how will he recover from this injury. Even if Slaton was totally healthy and had a decent year, the drafting of a running back was inevitable imo. There was nothing for depth behind him and the NFL today is about having 2 or even 3 really good running backs. They had a now cut Chris Brown, Moats is nothing but a journeyman, and an undrafted rookie behind him. That isn't very safe, which is why he was poised to be the workhorse in 09 before his and the oline's issues. I think if Tate is anywhere near as good as the coaches talk him up, you will see much more of a Williams/Stewart combo or the Jones/Barber/Choice monster of Dallas just much more scaled down as Houston is still a pass happy team. But it all depends on how he comes back from this injury, its a giant question mark.

How is the O-Line shaping up this year?

 

[JAA]

What happened to Steve Slaton last year? He went from averaging 4.8 ypc in 2008 to 3.3 in 2009. I watched this guy quite a bit in 2008 and thought he was the real deal. He had speed, quicks, vision, patience, balance, ran great routes, caught the ball well and just overall had that 'wow' factor you look for in a RB. He passed the eyeball test for sure. Did the Texans as a team just struggle to run last year?

Hou's OL and running game was horrid last year. I dont blame Slaton one bit.

 

[footballman_696969]

Still not seeing why he's being mentioned in the same breath as has been's and (likely) never was'. What are the chances those long shot darts amount to anything? 5%? maybe? I'm not sure about a number on the likelihood of Slaton coming back, but I feel confident saying it's much higher than that.

Because he's a "has been" himself.When we look at all the things that cause a running back to go from a solid fantasy producer to completely worthless in his prime, Slaton is one of the very rare guys that actually fits every single one of those things.

1) Relied on situation more than talent? Check.

2) Problems with turnovers? Check.

3) Serious injury? Check.

4) (Multiple) Replacements brought in? Check.

I don't see why Steve Slaton is any more likely to turn it around and have one more great season than has beens like Portis or Tomlinson even. Those "over the hill" guys were much more productive than Slaton when they played last year and didn't cost their teams games by turning the ball over.

It's great that you drafted him in the 19th round and now are happy about it, but that means that even YOU passed on him in the 18th round, and the 17th, and the 16th, so I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make here. That's he's worth a flyer in the 19th round? Who isn't?

I understand the fumbling and injury concerns regarding Slaton, but I don't see how you can say that he relied more on situation than talent. The guy had all the skills pre-injury to be a top RB in this league.

 

[JAA]

Id have to find the articles, but Slaton has overcome a lot since a child. Something about being deaf and no one knowing for years.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

I understand the fumbling and injury concerns regarding Slaton, but I don't see how you can say that he relied more on situation than talent. The guy had all the skills pre-injury to be a top RB in this league.

Plenty of people didn't believe in Slaton's talent even before he completely crapped the bed this year. And even before the team brought in a replacement for him. Kubiak is Denver-lite.

Hou's OL and running game was horrid last year. I dont blame Slaton one bit.

Arian Foster certainly looked fine behind that line. Even Ryan Moats averaged a decent 4.0ypc. In fact, the Houston running game as a whole averaged around that, minus Slaton.Not good by any means, but not Slaton-bad.

 

[JAA]

I understand the fumbling and injury concerns regarding Slaton, but I don't see how you can say that he relied more on situation than talent. The guy had all the skills pre-injury to be a top RB in this league.

Plenty of people didn't believe in Slaton's talent even before he completely crapped the bed this year. And even before the team brought in a replacement for him. Kubiak is Denver-lite.

Hou's OL and running game was horrid last year. I dont blame Slaton one bit.

Arian Foster certainly looked fine behind that line. Even Ryan Moats averaged a decent 4.0ypc. In fact, the Houston running game as a whole averaged around that, minus Slaton.Not good by any means, but not Slaton-bad.

Not in the games I watched. Im not talking stats here, Im talking watching the RBs trying to run behind the LOS where they are hit 2 yards deep.

 

[zamboni]

Injury aside, we all know that talent and opportunity are critical success factors for fantasy purposes.

He's got the talent, but with Tate on board, the opportunity may not be there anymore for him unless Tate really falters or gets hurt himself. And even then, there's no assuming that Slaton will be given another shot to carry the load given his poor year last year.

 

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

The added weight from day one was a negative to me. Watching him in preseason last yr you could see he didnt have the same explosiveness.

The yr before he would hit a hole and burst thru it. For a guy who didnt have a great 40 time his rookie yr he had a awesome burst as soon

as he touched the ball. I think when he added the weight in the offseason it hurt him more than helping him. He was trying to bulk up to take on

more of a everydown role for the texans.

Reason for the value drop cause its not hard for him to drop the added weight is the injury concens are serious, fumbling problem that cost him his job and not to mention the drafting of Tate. Not sure what to think of Slaton this yr....he was one of the good players on the O.

 

[Zoomanji]

Slaton had his neck fused together.

This is all I need to know

There are too many healthy RBs at the stage you take Slaton,

I don't buy that.The RB's taken before him were James Starks, Anthony Dixon, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Ward, and Chester Taylor. After? LaGarrette Blount, Rashad Jennings, LaDanian Tomlinson, Javon Ringer, and Clinton Portis.Those Rb's are either old, hurt themselves, a young late round dart, or some combo of all of the above.

Mac, you're going to want to take a look at the x-ray that circulated around the internet and shows pretty graphic what Slaton had done to his neck and the metal piece in his neck right now. Until you look at this and get some background on the type of injury he sustained I would allow others to try and educate you. You seem really set on this guy, that's fine but don't fire up a thread if you don't want to hear what others are saying. I felt like you did until I started researching it further.

Really don't think anyone has convinced me he isn't worth a 19th round pick, either.Is he undraftable? And if not, which round? Is 23rd round OK, but 19th unthinkable??

Sure, 19th round why not? Probably not much earlier that though

 

[domvin]

The injury had a lot to do with his fumbles.

Heard an interview, a few months ago, and they had a Texans OL on.

When asked about Slaton, the OL defended him a ton, and said he had a ton of toughness. Slaton would be in the huddle, telling guys he had no feeling in his arms.....obviously nerve damage, yet continued to play through the injuries.

I think the OL was Eric Winston, and Pat and T Ryan were doing the interview.

The 19th round is a bargain to take a flier on the guy, yet, he has a serious, potentially career ending injury, and I would not be surprised if he can not come back from it.

 

[moderated]

I think there is a 50/50 shot he ever plays again, and even if he does he won't be getting enough work to be useable at all.

He's WW material, in the 19th round there is nothing left but at least those guys have some hope.

 

[simey]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

True, but a RB can bounce back. Chris Johnson bounced back completely after having neck surgery after his sophomore season in college.

Johnson broke a vertebrae in his neck his sophomore year in college (and played several games with it broken), and he had neck surgery right after the season was over. He missed spring practice leading into his junior season due to recovering from the neck surgery, but he did start the junior season at RB. He ended up starting only a handful of games that year, but it wasn't due to his neck surgery. He got turf toe his junior year, and was played sparingly in several games. He was back 100% his senior season.

 

[MAC_32]

It's great that you drafted him in the 19th round and now are happy about it, but that means that even YOU passed on him in the 18th round, and the 17th, and the 16th, so I'm not really sure what point you're trying to make here. That's he's worth a flyer in the 19th round? Who isn't?

To be honest, I had no plans on drafting him and didn't pay much attention to where I ranked him on my board because I expected someone to take him earlier. I was one of those that completely avoided him last year because I didn't think he was that good and not worth the asking price, figured someone would still believe enough that he had the bounce back in him to take him in the 9th-12th range. When round 17 was coming around and I was going through my tiers I was surprised to see him still there. I was about to get tier dropped on LB's so I took them in 17 and 18, but had I missed on my 17th or 18th round LB's EJ Henderson and Stephen Tulloch I'd have taken Slaton there.My whole point is you don't usually find an RB with that kind of upside in round 19, you might find someone with that sort of ceiling but the chances of him ever getting a chance to hit it is slim-to-none. Slaton has a pretty serious injury to over come but if he does he has shown in the past that he can produce when given the touches.I think a decent comparison is Welker, I say decent because Welker has a large enough sample size to consider him a true talent whereas Slaton could still be the mirage I (and others) thought he was. Welker is still going in the top 100 even though he is rounding 30, recovering from two brutal injuries, and will have lots of young competition for touches when he does come back. I'd take Welker before Slaton but there is not a ~ 150 pick value difference between them.

 

[FreeBaGeL]

My whole point is you don't usually find an RB with that kind of upside in round 19, you might find someone with that sort of ceiling but the chances of him ever getting a chance to hit it is slim-to-none. Slaton has a pretty serious injury to over come but if he does he has shown in the past that he can produce when given the touches.

I don't really see why Slaton is any more likely to be a fantasy stud next year than Portis is. Honestly I didn't even know his neck injury was potentially career ending before stepping into this thread and I still didn't think any differently.Slaton is a guy who had people doubting his talent even when he was producing, and who has never felt like he's had a secure hold on his job. And that's the problem with those type of guys, the second they get dinged and someone else comes in it's unlikely they ever get another shot. Sometimes things work out like they have for Ryan Grant where they just keep holding on, but as soon as one of these guys misses time they're done, and Slaton's injury was worse than most in this aspect, he was benched even BEFORE the injury, someone else excelled while he was out, AND they drafted another player early in the draft.Slaton has as much (if not more) to overcome as any of those other guys. As late in the draft as you got him is worth the shot, no doubt, but Slaton was already three quarters of the way down the path to being the next one year wonder even before he hurt his neck.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

This is a picture of Steve Slaton's X-Ray and you can also read the article. This is what JT and I are talking about. Someone mentioned the 19th round...he went inside of 10 in the SSLs we are working on over in the Mock Draft forum.

My thing is not whether he is worth a flyer, it's more about wanting to take a flier on someone else. I really hope I already my 4 or 5 backs come round 19, I'd rather use that round for my PK, or 2nd or 3rd Defense/ST...yeah if everyone had to pick a RB in round 19, sure he's as good as anyone, but it's nothing to wrap the whole draft around.

Like JT said, everyone has some value at some point but let those guys fill up other rosters as far I'm concerned. I'd rather gamble on LT with the Jets than Slaton in Houston, but that's just me.

 

[moderated]

This is a picture of Steve Slaton's X-Ray and you can also read the article. This is what JT and I are talking about. Someone mentioned the 19th round...he went inside of 10 in the SSLs we are working on over in the Mock Draft forum.

My thing is not whether he is worth a flyer, it's more about wanting to take a flier on someone else. I really hope I already my 4 or 5 backs come round 19, I'd rather use that round for my PK, or 2nd or 3rd Defense/ST...yeah if everyone had to pick a RB in round 19, sure he's as good as anyone, but it's nothing to wrap the whole draft around.

Like JT said, everyone has some value at some point but let those guys fill up other rosters as far I'm concerned. I'd rather gamble on LT with the Jets than Slaton in Houston, but that's just me.

has he been cleared to play by doctors?i'm surprised he even wants to play football with his neck connected by screws.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

True, but a RB can bounce back. Chris Johnson bounced back completely after having neck surgery after his sophomore season in college.

different injuries ... that is like comparing back or knee injuries

 

[meanjoegreen]

There is a ton of risk.

19th rounders don't carry a ton of risk, they carry very little.

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

True, but a RB can bounce back. Chris Johnson bounced back completely after having neck surgery after his sophomore season in college.

different injuries ... that is like comparing back or knee injuries

Johnson had a neck vertebrae broken and it was fused and screws were put in it. I think it is more similar to Slaton's injury than comparing back or knee injuries.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

I was talking in general ... There is a ton of risk for a RB with that type of injury

True, but a RB can bounce back. Chris Johnson bounced back completely after having neck surgery after his sophomore season in college.

different injuries ... that is like comparing back or knee injuries

Johnson had a neck vertebrae broken and it was fused and screws were put in it. I think it is more similar to Slaton's injury than comparing back or knee injuries.

I have looked for the exact injury you state. I know he had neck surgery but cannot find what you state above. I would be interested in finding out more about the surgery Johnson had at ECU.

 

[meanjoegreen]

I have looked for the exact injury you state. I know he had neck surgery but cannot find what you state above. I would be interested in finding out more about the surgery Johnson had at ECU.

It seems you don't know exactly what happened to Johnson, so why are you telling me that the injuries are so different, etc?Back when he had surgery it was in the newspaper. All I could find glancing this morning is this:

Likewise, Johnson suffered a neck injury as a junior at East Carolina, breaking a vertebrae in his neck that required surgery after the season.“We’re playing Central Florida and he gets hurt, comes to the sidelines and has the trainers look at him and then goes back in,” Holtz said. “He plays the next three games to end the season and then the bowl game. When he finally lets them do an X-ray, they find he has a broken [neck]. He’s that tough.

The writer is wrong about it being his junior year, it was his sophomore, but the rest is correct. Here is another comment from another article:

Chris Johnson is a fine tailback, but he had screws inserted into a loose vertebrae in his neck after last season. He’s expected to be ready for opening day, but there are still concerns about his durability this year.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I have looked for the exact injury you state. I know he had neck surgery but cannot find what you state above. I would be interested in finding out more about the surgery Johnson had at ECU.

It seems you don't know exactly what happened to Johnson, so why are you telling me that the injuries are so different, etc?Back when he had surgery it was in the newspaper. All I could find glancing this morning is this:

Likewise, Johnson suffered a neck injury as a junior at East Carolina, breaking a vertebrae in his neck that required surgery after the season."We're playing Central Florida and he gets hurt, comes to the sidelines and has the trainers look at him and then goes back in," Holtz said. "He plays the next three games to end the season and then the bowl game. When he finally lets them do an X-ray, they find he has a broken [neck]. He's that tough.

The writer is wrong about it being his junior year, it was his sophomore, but the rest is correct. Here is another comment from another article:

Chris Johnson is a fine tailback, but he had screws inserted into a loose vertebrae in his neck after last season. He's expected to be ready for opening day, but there are still concerns about his durability this year.

First time I have ever used the emoticon. Thanks.

 

[Lord Fantasy]

I withdraw my comment but still reserve the right to be personally freaked out that dudes with fused vertebrae are allowed to play the most violent, head-and-spine damaging sport on earth.

 

[meanjoegreen]

First time I have ever used the emoticon. Thanks.

first link and second link

 

[PewterFan]

I withdraw my comment but still reserve the right to be personally freaked out that dudes with fused vertebrae are allowed to play the most violent, head-and-spine damaging sport on earth.

MMA?

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

I have looked for the exact injury you state. I know he had neck surgery but cannot find what you state above. I would be interested in finding out more about the surgery Johnson had at ECU.

It seems you don't know exactly what happened to Johnson, so why are you telling me that the injuries are so different, etc?Back when he had surgery it was in the newspaper. All I could find glancing this morning is this:

Likewise, Johnson suffered a neck injury as a junior at East Carolina, breaking a vertebrae in his neck that required surgery after the season.“We’re playing Central Florida and he gets hurt, comes to the sidelines and has the trainers look at him and then goes back in,” Holtz said. “He plays the next three games to end the season and then the bowl game. When he finally lets them do an X-ray, they find he has a broken [neck]. He’s that tough.

The writer is wrong about it being his junior year, it was his sophomore, but the rest is correct. Here is another comment from another article:

Chris Johnson is a fine tailback, but he had screws inserted into a loose vertebrae in his neck after last season. He’s expected to be ready for opening day, but there are still concerns about his durability this year.

Thanks for the articles. I still maintain that these are two separate injuries. While Johnson's was serious enough to have screws inserted, Slaton had his neck fused together. Johnson is a tough dude to play three games (per Yahoo article) to finish the season after the injury.