Post-surgery complications jeopardize Redskins QB Smith’s career
News and views from around the NFL with Week 14 underway:
1.
Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith remains hospitalized since breaking both the tibia and fibula in his lower right leg on Nov. 18.
NEWS: Reports Thursday said Smith is dealing with a potential career-ending complication from the compound double leg-bone break after an infection set in following numerous surgeries.
The Redskins in a statement refused to confirm such details, but said “although this is a serious injury, Alex and his family remain strong. We would ask that everyone please honour the Smith family’s request for privacy at this time.”
VIEW: Smith’s plight offers us sobering reminders that some injuries are so serious that sometimes even the world’s best medical practitioners cannot prevent serious complications, and the more gruesome the injury, the higher the possibility that there could serious complications, some even life threatening.
Best wishes to Smith for a full and speedy recovery.
2.
Can all these rival pro football leagues survive?
NEWS: Yet another, the Freedom Football League, was announced Thursday. That’s now three winter/spring/summer American pro football leagues soon to launch.
The FFL is created by some 50 former NFL players, including Terrell Owens, Jeff Garcia and Ricky Williams. At least 10 teams were announced to play in a spring-to-summer timeline: the San Diego Warriors, Oklahoma City Power, Portland Progress, Texas Revolution, Ohio Players, Florida Strong, Birmingham Kings, St. Louis Independence, Connecticut Underground and Oakland Panthers. The FFL didn’t announce an exact startup date.
The Alliance of American Football is scheduled to begin play Feb. 9 with eight teams: Atlanta Legends, Birmingham Iron, Memphis Express, Orlando Apollos, Arizona Hotshots, Salt Lake Stallions, San Antonio Commanders and San Diego Fleet.
Its championship game is slated for the April 26-28 weekend.
Vince McMahon’s reprise of the XFL, meantime, is scheduled to begin play in early 2020. There will be eight teams in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa and Washington.
VIEW: Somebody, please, get all these folks into one room and figure out one league.
The NFL desperately needs a feeder pro league to develop players at all positions.
3.
New England is on the verge of clinching yet another AFC East division title.
NEWS: Entering the last week of September, we all thought this really might be the year the Patriots’ remarkable run of consecutive division titles finally ended at nine. Since then, the Patriots are 8-1 and the Dolphins are 3-6.
VIEW: Bill Belichick’s Patriots are 9-3 with games left at Miami, at Pittsburgh, versus Buffalo and the Jets. You have to think they’ll win at least two, if not three.
The Patriots now need just one win or tie to clinch their 10th straight AFC East title. Not only has no NFL team won its division 10 straight years, no NFL team has reached the playoffs in 10 straight seasons. Ever.