Has time come for Jahvid Best to call it a season?

Written by Al Beaton | 27 October 2011

Reportedly the Lions are going to wait a few weeks to see where RB Jahvid Best stands in regard to his concussion issues.

Via Jason La Canfora of NFL.com:

The team plans to gauge where Best is in his recovery from his latest concussion following their bye. The Lions believe that, barring a setback, Best will be able to play again this season.

The Lions did not plan to have Best practice fully this week and will continue to follow the NFL's concussion protocol.

If suffering 2 concussions in one season isn't a huge red flag, urging all involved to move forward with extreme caution, then there is no such thing in life as a red flag. Yet the Lions say Best could play barring a "setback." Optimism is one thing, but let's be honest. At this point of Best's recovery from the after effects of not 1, but 2, concussions, a setback could be caused by a stiff breeze or bright lights in his eyes.

I didn't like seeing the qualifiers used at the beginning of Dave Birkett's piece in Thursday's Freep:

The headaches have mostly subsided, and Jahvid Best is feeling “pretty normal,” but the Detroit Lions running back is likely to miss his second straight game Sunday with a concussion, a person close to Best said today.

"Mostly subsided?" "Pretty normal?"  That's like saying after you've been shot you are "slightly wounded" and "occasionally bleeding."

The Black Knight would approve of Best's quick return...which is not a good thing.

Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound."
King Arthur: "You're a looney!"

I realize football players want to do one thing more than anything; play. But they also want to have a life after the NFL. If I'm Best, I follow my own protocol and seriously contemplate sitting out the rest of the 2011 season.

Contemplate, Hell.  I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

In order to have a healthy Best available in 2012 means sitting the kid for the remiander of 2011, then do it. It shouldn't even be debated.

Despite all the best practices being taken, it doesn't sound as if Best is close to returning. If he comes back too soon, Best is flirting with brain damage. Or as the Lions might say later in the season, "Jahvid Best is probable for Sunday's game."