QBs Concussed At Dizzying, Alarming Pace
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By DERON SNYDER
On Monday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brady Quinn missed his second consecutive game as he recovers from a concussion. On Sunday, one-fourth of the games featured a starting quarterback who was knocked out of action with a concussion. At least nine other players suffered similar head injuries in Week 10 (making it a typical NFL week), but they’re virtually an afterthought.
Quarterbacks get the most money, publicity and protection, topped with outsized portions of credit and blame. They’re often the face of their franchise and marquee attractions in the league. So their absences are much more noticeable than, say, Raiders tight end Brandon Myers, who Sunday suffered his second concussion this season.
There’s no need to change the billing for Oakland’s upcoming game versus New Orleans. But Sunday’s game at FedEx Field is no longer a showdown between Washington’s Robert Griffin III and Philadelphia’s Michael Vick, just as the Monday night game might not be able to market Chicago’s Jay Cutler against San Francisco’s Alex Smith.
Because of a trio of head-ringing collisions, it’s now RG3 versus less-scintillating fellow rookie Nick Foles and perhaps journeyman Jason Campbell against the obscure Colin Kaepernick. The anticipation for those alternate matchups, particularly in the eyes of TV executives, has taken a hit similar to the blows that sidelined Vick, Cutler and Smith.
