With the NFL investigating Fletcher Cox’s hit on 49ers tackle Joe Staley, one has to wonder if Cox just ended his team’s interest in trading for Staley before Tuesday’s deadline.
Staley remained in a Philadelphia hospital after Cox possibly shattered his orbital bone when Staley was trying to chase down cornerback Jalen Mills after he picked off a C.J. Beathard pass. Video shows Staley crumbling to the turf and Cox then throwing his hands up.
Should Staley miss significant time because Cox may have thrown a punch into Staley’s grill, then Cox might have not only hurt Staley, but his team’s own chances for a Super Bowl. The Eagles need a left tackle after Jason Peters tore knee ligaments against the Redskins a week ago. Peters was their best linemen, and without him, the Eagles struggled to protect Carson Wentz against a parade of backups and street free agents.
Wentz was sacked three times and hit seven times with defensive end Leger Douzable sacking him twice. Douzable was unemployed two weeks ago and this is his sixth team in his well-traveled career.
Obviously the 7-1 Eagles could use a proficient left tackle, but Cox probably ended any trade value Staley might have had with a possibly dirty play on an interception return. On replay, Staley had no chance to tackle Mills, who eventually scored.
The larger picture is the NFL’s injury problem. The league is on pace for a record 1,200 injuries this year. The 49ers have clearly been decimated, which could cause them to go 0-16 this year. They lost five starters against Philly with Staley and safety Jimmie Ward (broken arm) likely to miss several games.
It’s obvious now that NFL players need to change their approach and stop trying to intimidate each other with viscous hits. We heard former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams encourage his players to decapitate former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and running back Frank Gore before a playoff game a few years ago.
Football wasn’t always this way. Players in the 1970’s were interviewed during an HBO special on Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. They knew for the old AFL to survive, Namath needed to stay healthy, so defensive linemen avoided crushing Namath when they had a shot at him. He was their meal ticket, even if he wasn’t on their team.
According to a story on ESPN, the decline in television ratings is rattling long-time sponsors. Owners seem focused on player protests, however, having an injured Aaron Rogers might turn off televisions far more than Eric Reid kneeling for the national anthem.
Also when players miss games, they lose money. Many contracts are based on play time, to say nothing of the career-shortening impact of serious injury.
While no one will forget that football is a contact sport, players need to take care of each other more during games, and they need to realize that knocking each other out of games hurts the overall product and could deprive their brethren of future dollars.
The Cox hit on Staley emphasized how much players are connected to each other. A needless injury to an established Pro Bowl player hurts everyone from fans, to players and owners. The NFL should consider that as the mull a suspension on Fletcher Cox.