The Dolphins Make Me Cry.com - Forums

Sounds like the guy was a great professional through all of this and while I have seen that he doesn't want anyone feeling bad for him, I would still like to offer some support and wish him well!

I wish injuries of this nature could be avoided so that each player could realize their true potential from year to year.  I hate it that Keller was one of the small percent of preseason injuries like this that we see each year.  I think he would have been great for us this year! 

Again, if you or any of your family are seeing this...

Best of luck and you have our support!  (At least mine)

^^^ Agreed, and even though it turned out to not be the best move, I applaud the confidence he had in his abilities that led him to signing the one-year deal. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and can take that shot again with Miami next year.

I'm sad about this, and not just because the Fins are screwed on TE's.

I'm sad because I heard a lot about how hard this guy works and how he was hoping to play for a long term deal with the Dolphins and this was his chance to make it.  Sounded like he was out there trying to prove his worth and this happens.

I hope the Dolphins put him on IR and let him have another chance next year, instead of letting him go back to FA.

Yeah, this is a raw deal for Keller in a few ways.

1) MIA has no particular loyalty incentive to keep him around (not that Ireland believes in loyalty).
2) If his playing career is over, MIA doesn't know him well enough to offer him a front office or coaching job.
3) NYJ is going to need a cooling off period (at the very least) after he went to MIA, not unlike Pennington (and Pennington was a golden boy over there).

I hope so too but he may never play again.  Funny how the guy who hit him was apologizing and saying he hit him low because he knew he would get flagged if he hit him high.  Maybe the NFL will revist that once more players start suffering career threatening knee injuries

cause obviously the knee is connected to the head

The NFL has started penalizing and fining high hits because of all the concussions.   Now that players are hitting low to avoid those penalties, you might see a rash of gruesome knee injuries similar to Keller's.  Then what will the NFL do once players start complaining about that?

That's BS. Tackles are easily made above the knee and below the head without spearing an opponent.

lots of truth to this one....

Right because the only options are to hit in the knee or the head?

that's a cop out.

The NFL fines for hitting IN THE HEAD, not for hitting high.

I have read were players are saying it is the nfl's fault for low hits some even say they would prefer to get a concussion because you can come back from that in a week or two but when your leg gets taken out your season is over.

The NFL issues fines for hits to a certain part of the upper body (the head).
The NFL issues no fines for hits to the lower body (unless you are Tom Brady).

Why should a defender take a chance that the receiver might dive or otherwise lower his head while trying to catch the ball?  (Remember, they are frequently arriving immediately after the ball and have to make a decision while the ball is still in flight.)  Best to play it safe and just blow up his knees instead.

The game is played at 400 MPH, sometimes you don't have a say in where you hit your opponent. It wasn't a malicious hit, it just landed in the wrong spot for Keller and now his career is probably over.

EDGECRUSHER, I think it's more about training and practice.

If the NFL cracks down on hits to the head (even if unintentional), then just as defensive coaches have trained their players to avoid hitting QBs and punters, they will train them to hit receivers low.  It's not really even a question of a decision; it's training and instinct.

Funny, I remember my high school and college coaches telling us to get our shoulders into the body. No one was ever taught to be a headhunter or go for the knees.

I presume you're talking about the same "high school and college coaching" that has resulted in this widespread danger of concussion the NFL is currently addressing?

Steve Young and Troy Aikman were in high school in the '70s, Junior Seau and Zach Thomas were in high school in the '80s, Jay Cutler and Clinton Portis were in high school in the '90s, etc.  It's not like players just started headhunting; the only thing that has changed is the awareness of the symptoms, instead of just saying "oh, guess he got his bell rung" and the like.

I think a lot of hits to the head and knees are both more accident than head hunting or trying to take someone's knee's out.  I played football and I'm a big guy... I was pretty dominating on the defensive line and had many a player trying to take my legs out.  It was coached that way... the easiest way to get a big guy down, take his legs out.

I don't think anyone was ever trying to injure me... I was well aware that I could be injured on any play though.  The speed of the game is so fast and you're taught to hit through the guy. Many times you're trying to anticipate where the guy is going to be when you hit him. You may aim for a thigh but get a knee or aim for a shoulder and a guy ducks his head.

You never know what the guy you're trying to tackle is going to do.  I don't think there are guys out there actually looking to hit guys in the head or knees.... it's just an unfortunate part of the game.