Mike LaFleur will speak today. 3/30/26

[kerouac9]

Yeah it's really dumb. You could have TWO MAJOR ISSUES and not be 100%. I'm (un)fortunate that I have a lot of issues, but none too major other than PTSD.

Praying for you brother

 

[BritCard]

I don't see what the Cardinals get from being so coy about injuries. Just be honest with your fans about what's going on with the team to set realistic expectations. It's not that hard.

What do they get from not being coy? Other than you want to know, what advantage is there in them disclosing it?

Competitive advantage is one. Information is currency. If your telling the league the exact nature of the injury your opening up the possibility of that being taken advantage of. Say, Nolen has a left knee MCL tear. Opponents might think that may physically or psychologically make it less likely he's as good pushing off that leg to move right. In a league where minor advantages can win games why give opposing teams any possibly advantage?

I've mentioned this before but players still have HIPAA rights despite extensive waivers. Players only sign medical waivers allowing teams to disclose they are injured to league requirements, and that's only the body part that is injured (Knee, shoulder, calf etc). The CBA says "shall not disclose confidential player health information except as permitted". The HIPAA waiver that players sign gives a broad spectrum on medical providers, team employees and even certain NFL staff access to medical records, but it does not give them the right to share that info and it is not allowed to be shared with other NFL teams (hence medicals). Players retain the right to what teams can share beyond league requirements.

Players often don't want that information shared because, back to point 1, what's the advantage? It might possibly affect future contracts. Say Bensons knee injury. If it's disclosed he has a repeat injury, or a chronic condition, that's going to affect his next contract. That information is private from other teams. Even staff that move from one team to another cannot share that info without legal liability. Any future team signing him has to do their own medical checks.

So why would Benson (or any player) want that info disclosed?

I realise we do sometimes get that information but if we do, it's because the player doesn't mind (or it possibly leaked from somewhere due the wide medical record disclosures). Teams cannot routinely give out detailed medical conditions for players. But even if they could, why would they? And who is to say that info is accurate? There's nothing stopping an agent telling reporters it's a minor MCL tear when it's a much more serious injury.

I had a look back at major Cards injuries and the reporting is all over the place which aligns with players being behind the decision. Kyler was disclosed as an ACL by the team, as was Maxx Williams, Justin Pugh and Zach Ertz's partial tear. Last year Starling Thomas was reported as an ACL, Zay Jones was reported by the team as a left achilles and Garrett Williams was reported as an achilles.

Then there are cases where the team was more vague. DeAndre Hopkins was a "knee injury" that was later reported as an MCL injury. JJ Watt was reported as a "shoulder injury". In both cases outside reporting got specific later. Beej was a knee injury for a while, before eventually reported as an ACL tear. Same with Will Hernandez who was a "knee injury" before later reported as an ACL.

If you just look at last season alone there are several injuries the team were very specific on (listed above) but a bunch where they were not. SMB was reported by the team, and Nolen, Blount, and Nichols were all generic body parts. James Conner was reported only as right ankle/foot, not the specifics as far as I can see. The team has only reported Benson as a knee, but outside reporting says it was "arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus".

So in a whole bunch of cases they are specific, in a bunch more they are not. Often within the same week.

 

[Stout]

Yeah it's really dumb. You could have TWO MAJOR ISSUES and not be 100%. I'm (un)fortunate that I have a lot of issues, but none too major other than PTSD.

They upped my GERD from 0% to 10%, then my VSO had to inform me I would get no extra monetary benefit. Only if I get ANOTHER 10% would I then get the 20%. Absolutely nonsensical.

Hope you're doing well, brother.

 

[Krangodnzr]

They upped my GERD from 0% to 10%, then my VSO had to inform me I would get no extra monetary benefit. Only if I get ANOTHER 10% would I then get the 20%. Absolutely nonsensical.

Hope you're doing well, brother.

I am for the most part. I don't sleep well and I did therapy for my PTSD which really helped. I didn't even realize the extent of the mental trauma until I was out and all of a sudden I was on edge all of the time. I would wake up at 2 am thinking my house was getting invaded. I would lock my bedroom door and every sound, I thought was an intruder. I've mostly gotten over that, but I still carry my 9mm every where I go.

What's really bothering me now is my shoulder impingement that has taken forever to heal. I'm not rated for that at all I lift five days a week and I'm stronger than I've ever been before, but my shoulder constantly hurts.

 

[CFLredzoned]

I tore my meniscus 26 years while refereeing soccer and had surgery on it. Continued to ref after the surgery and coach years after that and twenty six years later still no problem with it. If Benson is still rehabbing months after surgery, you can bet there is something else wrong or they found something else while in there.

Thanks. That's good to hear. It's definitely the healing part that I've had questions about. For me not Benson. I said last year we were screwed if Conner went down. It's weird. I never even heard of a meniscus until a few months ago when I started having problems. Now it seems like every other day, I turn on a random podcast and I hear someone talking about their town meniscus. Did it just go in one ear and out the other?

 

[Stout]

I am for the most part. I don't sleep well and I did therapy for my PTSD which really helped. I didn't even realize the extent of the mental trauma until I was out and all of a sudden I was on edge all of the time. I would wake up at 2 am thinking my house was getting invaded. I would lock my bedroom door and every sound, I thought was an intruder. I've mostly gotten over that, but I still carry my 9mm every where I go.

What's really bothering me now is my shoulder impingement that has taken forever to heal. I'm not rated for that at all I lift five days a week and I'm stronger than I've ever been before, but my shoulder constantly hurts.

Sorry to hear it about your shoulder. Is that something you can get rated for? Even if it doesn't increase your monetary compensation, you can get free care (such that it is). My shoulder is jacked and I get pain all the way down the ribcage to my sternum and they can't figure out what it is. I am physically broken in so many ways lol

I'm so glad you got treatment for your PTSD and that it really helped. I used to give therapy through CPT for PTSD and was thrilled when it really came across well to veterans. Even when it was minimally helpful, it changed their lives for the better. I was happy to give back to my fellow vets. It's the whole reason I became a social worker and the VA.

 

[oaken1]

I go to the surgeon tomorrow to talk about my torn meniscus. I did alot of research on it, watching the surgery, interviews with surgeons. My big takeaway is that it's something that takes a long time to heal, if ever completely, because it's basically cartilage that gets almost no blood flow. I think most people (non-athletes probably) don't get surgery and eventually after several months, the symptoms get better. If you're young and the tissue isn't too brittle, they can stitch it. Or if you have a parrot beak situation, they can snip off that hanging bit. That's what I'm going to ask about.

The best advice I got on helping with the healing is to avoid any kind of twisting action. Walk like a robot. Forward and back. That's it. Pick up your feet to grab something in the kitchen instead of twisting. That has helped me. But I can't imagine being a football player and dealing with this. I'll never feel real confident about doing any kind of twisting and planting off this knee.

I had a bucket tear..side to side across the front of my meniscus...after about 6 years my knee stopped dislocating on its own...and while I could feel the loose part moving around in there it had been ground up enough to be soft.
I decided to go ahead with surgery because I had great insurance and feeling it moving in there was irritating. So I had the surgery and they snipped off the damaged cartilage.
it took about 10 days before I was walking normally...about three months before I could get on my hands and knees to play with my son...and it was about 8 months before I hit the basketball court again..
it really is just a matter of pain tolerance. the knee is about as stable as its going to get about three days after surgery...but you gotta live life without eating Percocet like skittles.

however...about 5 years after surgery.. arthritis...very bad arthritis..cartilage continued to degrade...12 years after surgery and there was no cartilage left..a cyst on the top of my shin bone is the only padding I have left in my right knee...doctor wants to replace it..but I aint quite 60, and I was way too heavy...still need to drop about 20 pounds or so to get light enough to be confident in the robo knee.

would the arthritis and deterioration have happened without the surgery?? I dont know... but I remember feeling like it happened awful fast after the procedure...looking back...I consider the surgery a mistake,...as at that point the tear wasnt giving me any issues...I poked a sleeping bear, lol.

they say dont go looking for trouble...and I feel like thats exactly what I did in having the surgery.
but every knee is different.

 

[oaken1]

I wonder if PRP shots would help, then? I mean, for us they're expensive because insurance doesn't cover it.

I tried PRP and it did nothing

 

[oaken1]

I am for the most part. I don't sleep well and I did therapy for my PTSD which really helped. I didn't even realize the extent of the mental trauma until I was out and all of a sudden I was on edge all of the time. I would wake up at 2 am thinking my house was getting invaded. I would lock my bedroom door and every sound, I thought was an intruder. I've mostly gotten over that, but I still carry my 9mm every where I go.

What's really bothering me now is my shoulder impingement that has taken forever to heal. I'm not rated for that at all I lift five days a week and I'm stronger than I've ever been before, but my shoulder constantly hurts.

lmao...dude, sounds like you grew up in my neighborhood...that aint PTSD...thats life.

 

[Cardiac]

Had my left knee scoped about 30 years ago. I guess it was a bucket tear as my knee would lock up and it hurt like a bi.... Knee locked up for good sliding into 2nd base playing slow pitch softball. Got hurt more in that sport then I did playing HS football.

About 10 years ago is when I felt the arthritis start to bother me. There are days when it really bothers me and feels unstable. Getting older and fatter doesn't help but Doctors don't want to replace my knee yet. I know several people who have had knee replacements and as long as you do the physical therapy it's almost as good as new.

 

[CFLredzoned]

I had a bucket tear..side to side across the front of my meniscus...after about 6 years my knee stopped dislocating on its own...and while I could feel the loose part moving around in there it had been ground up enough to be soft.
I decided to go ahead with surgery because I had great insurance and feeling it moving in there was irritating. So I had the surgery and they snipped off the damaged cartilage.
it took about 10 days before I was walking normally...about three months before I could get on my hands and knees to play with my son...and it was about 8 months before I hit the basketball court again..
it really is just a matter of pain tolerance. the knee is about as stable as its going to get about three days after surgery...but you gotta live life without eating Percocet like skittles.

however...about 5 years after surgery.. arthritis...very bad arthritis..cartilage continued to degrade...12 years after surgery and there was no cartilage left..a cyst on the top of my shin bone is the only padding I have left in my right knee...doctor wants to replace it..but I aint quite 60, and I was way too heavy...still need to drop about 20 pounds or so to get light enough to be confident in the robo knee.

would the arthritis and deterioration have happened without the surgery?? I dont know... but I remember feeling like it happened awful fast after the procedure...looking back...I consider the surgery a mistake,...as at that point the tear wasnt giving me any issues...I poked a sleeping bear, lol.

they say dont go looking for trouble...and I feel like thats exactly what I did in having the surgery.
but every knee is different.

Dam that sucks. I heard that it's kind of a new thing that they only snip 5-10% at most. But in the past, they would remove alot and it would cause some bone on bone. I also see there's studies that show getting alot of steroid injections will deteriorate cartilage over time I haven't read those. But I'm still turning down the knee injections. It sounds like a deal with the devil.

My ortho is in favor of me waiting it out for now. I don't have a bucket tear or parrot beak and my function is fine. The pain only happens if I tweak it wrong. It's just been bugging me several months now. It was getting better, then a couple months ago I got cute doing a pistol squat or something stupid like that. Then I went back to square one.

Thanks!

 

[outcent13]

I am for the most part. I don't sleep well and I did therapy for my PTSD which really helped. I didn't even realize the extent of the mental trauma until I was out and all of a sudden I was on edge all of the time. I would wake up at 2 am thinking my house was getting invaded. I would lock my bedroom door and every sound, I thought was an intruder. I've mostly gotten over that, but I still carry my 9mm every where I go.

What's really bothering me now is my shoulder impingement that has taken forever to heal. I'm not rated for that at all I lift five days a week and I'm stronger than I've ever been before, but my shoulder constantly hurts.

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest issues I’ve had in dealing with PTSD. It seems to just make everything else worse. Self medication with alcohol and weed helped for a season but then other issues pop up from that. I know for me talking about all that crap we went through and witnessed with someone has been a big help. All that to say is if you don’t have someone to talk to, message me and I’ll be that guy if you need it.

 

[oaken1]

Dam that sucks. I heard that it's kind of a new thing that they only snip 5-10% at most. But in the past, they would remove alot and it would cause some bone on bone. I also see there's studies that show getting alot of steroid injections will deteriorate cartilage over time I haven't read those. But I'm still turning down the knee injections. It sounds like a deal with the devil.

My ortho is in favor of me waiting it out for now. I don't have a bucket tear or parrot beak and my function is fine. The pain only happens if I tweak it wrong. It's just been bugging me several months now. It was getting better, then a couple months ago I got cute doing a pistol squat or something stupid like that. Then I went back to square one.

Thanks!

Dude..when your knee dislocates Saturday night around 3am...it really puts a stinker on an otherwise great date.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Lack of sleep is one of the biggest issues I’ve had in dealing with PTSD. It seems to just make everything else worse. Self medication with alcohol and weed helped for a season but then other issues pop up from that. I know for me talking about all that crap we went through and witnessed with someone has been a big help. All that to say is if you don’t have someone to talk to, message me and I’ll be that guy if you need it.

I got some counseling, and it worked wonders. The hyper-vigilance is mostly gone, and now I'm just a jerk LOL. I tried weed when I got out, but found it just made me extremely anxious, and I only moderately drink because of congenital liver issues.

I appreciate the support brother. I was actually quite shocked how hard the PTSD hit me once I was out, but I've pulled it together now with the help of a good therapist.

 

[some dumb guy]

Dude..when your knee dislocates Saturday night around 3am...it really puts a stinker on an otherwise great date.

What a great response....Who the hell is up at 3am, except to pee? LOL

 

[oaken1]

What a great response....Who the hell is up at 3am, except to pee? LOL

Yeah,to ...uh...pee!
Exactly!!

 

[oaken1]

I got some counseling, and it worked wonders. The hyper-vigilance is mostly gone, and now I'm just a jerk LOL. I tried weed when I got out, but found it just made me extremely anxious, and I only moderately drink because of congenital liver issues.

I appreciate the support brother. I was actually quite shocked how hard the PTSD hit me once I was out, but I've pulled it together now with the help of a good therapist.

Glad you got some help if you felt you needed it Krang.
I been out nearly 40 years now..even now, I can be sound asleep with my TV blaring and a party going on in my living room...but if a twig snaps out back...or the hinge on my shed creeks...4 seconds later my and my .40 are standing quietly in the dark waiting for my night vision to acclimate.
But I consider it a benefit and a main reason people go in the military in the first place. I have lived mostly in the country...or in challenged neighborhoods...so situational awareness and operational readiness are valuable life skills.
But I understand that I live a different life than most and some folks would rather just sleep through the night and find the mower gone tomorrow, lol.

 

[some dumb guy]

Ok, you guys have helped me out before, so I'm asking if someone can post a side by side comparison of MLF and Mikey Day as Butt-Head from SNL. Because if this upcoming season goes off the rails...it could be his new avatar...LOL
or even an AI MLF as Butt-Head

 

[some dumb guy]

I get the "oof" K9, but looking at the picture from MLF's presser...just add some eff'd up teeth and there ya go!

 

[some dumb guy]

xc_hide_links_from_guests_guests_error_hide_media

come on, look at him, they're at least related