Martin Mayhew Hopeful Jahvid Best Will Return To Lions Next Season

by Sean Yuille on Jan 15, 2012 3:31 AM EST in Detroit Lions News

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 10: Jahvid Best #44 of the Detroit Lions celebrates his third quarter touchdown while playing the Chicago Bears at Ford Field on October 10, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 24-13. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

There has been a lot of talk as of late about the future of Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best, who missed the final 11 games of the season (if you count the playoffs) after suffering his second concussion in a span of a couple months. He has had a history of concussions, and that's never good news for any player, let alone a running back.

I suppose the one positive right now is that everybody is optimistic about Best's chances of returning. Best himself has said he will "definitely be back," and Jim Schwartz is optimistic that Best will return in 2012. Lions general manager Martin Mayhew echoed their thoughts earlier this week.

"I think, at some point, Jahvid and a doctor or a group of doctors will say he can come back," Mayhew said. "And at that point, we’ll be glad to have him."

"He’s still being evaluated by people, but we’re very optimistic with the preliminary reports we have," Mayhew said.

With concussions, there is never a sure thing. Just look at Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, who has had the last year of his career taken away from him because of a concussion. He did return in November, but he lasted only two weeks before the symptoms came back, and he hasn't played since then.

For Best, even if he comes back, there will be a risk of suffering another concussion, but that really goes for any player no matter what their history is. The one good thing now is that most people close to the situation feel that Best will return in 2012. There isn't much talk of him retiring or anything like that, nor is there talk that he hasn't even gotten to the point where he can work out. I think Best is progressing, and although he may have a ways to go before being able to take hits, the good news is everything appears to be on the right track as of right now.

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Comments

this is an unfortunate situation for the lions

concussions are a serious thing that shouldn’t be taken lightly. but on the other hand we really need best back. leshoure is in the same boat. depending on the severity of the achillies injury, that is something to not be taken lightly and may have him out longer than were hoping for. i mean I’m confident with best, leshoure, and k smith in the backfield but we really don’t know who were gonna have. it’ll be interesting to see if the lions go and get another rb if these two guys can’t prove they are 100 percent by the time the draft rolls around.

by Jared F on Jan 15, 2012 4:00 AM EST reply actions

The RB situation for the Lions really is a tragedy when compared to how it could be

To think of how things could have been this year if Best and LeShoure had been as healthy as was reasonably expected. We’re talking one of the more explosive offenses even that much more potent. The luck they’ve had with these 2 backs is nothing less than awful. It could be worse and both were dead or at least out of the game for good. Then again, there’s no guarantee either will ever be back at this point.

The ever hidden optimist does get goose bumps when thinking about how great it would be if both come back healthy and tear it up next year tho!

Individuals should protect themselves. Governments can't protect individuals from themselves, it's just impossible, otherwise they become a tyranical state. -Ron Paul

by Ee Oulo on Jan 15, 2012 4:05 AM EST reply actions

He will return and he will be concussed again.

Honestly, he’s a hell of a talent but it’s not worth the long term risks. He’s too susceptible and it’s only a matter of time before the next one, he has had too many already. Sadly, JB is our Brian Westbrook.

What's so funny 2011 Lions? Gordon Bombay doesn't think losing is funny.
Leshoure = 2012 Beastmode

Draft Konz!!

by Dtrain81 on Jan 15, 2012 6:57 AM EST reply actions

There is hope that we are wrong

as I and many others agree with you. I read an interview with Jahvid that said he is doing some unconventional treatment to “increase his tolerance” and he said it is going well. I can’t remember where I read it, but it is at least hope that when he comes back he won’t be as easily concussed.

by Lionsickness on Jan 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

As someone who has studied neurology. I can tell you it won't make much of a difference.

What's so funny 2011 Lions? Gordon Bombay doesn't think losing is funny.
Leshoure = 2012 Beastmode

Draft Konz!!

by Dtrain81 on Jan 15, 2012 6:42 PM EST up reply actions

As someone who studies wholeistic health care

including standard medicine and neurology, I choose to keep my hope. But thanks for your opinion.

by Lionsickness on Jan 16, 2012 1:44 PM EST up reply actions

Tech

In todays world of high tech I find it amazing that we can’t come up with better helmet protection. Nascar has come up with some very inovative sollutions to protect their drivers and while I know they are totally different than the NFL players, it appears that a much better design could be engineered for NFL players.

by LarryLive on Jan 15, 2012 9:16 AM EST reply actions

not meant to belittle...

God gave us one hell of a helmet called a skull…the problem isnt the direct hits but the impact…in nascar the driver isnt moving so he can be stabilized…tough to do in football…its the whipping of the head that causes the brain to rattle against the skull…the bigger/heavier the helmet, the increase to neck injuries too because of the lesser mobility with the neck area..

.Im not wanting to sound insensitive to this issue as I coach myself, but the bottom line is this:

Football is a gladiator sport…the rewards these players seek comes with a rather large risk…and no rules/protective gear will fix this…people want their cake and eat it too, but this isnt the case always…I dont understand how nightly in ufc/boxing 50% of fights end in concussions but no one says anything…it sounds mean but people need to be aware of this issue but at the same time let the players make their own choices…

by Jason Bell on Jan 15, 2012 10:57 AM EST up reply actions

Hate to say this but you have it wrong.

Any direct impact to the head carries the danger of concussion. The brain is a sloshy thing and when a runner hits an object the skull may stop but the brain will still slosh around inside and it doesn’t matter if the neck is whipping or not.

The key to making a better helmet is to design it to absorb most of the shock of impact before the skull hits a hard surface. It’s not about making the helmet heavier. There are better helmets on the market but some players don’t like the way it looks and the NFL won’t make anybody adopt better equipment. Hell, the NFL won’t even punish players for not wearing leg pads.

No slogans. Just win!!!

by drgarnett on Jan 15, 2012 12:08 PM EST up reply actions

i agree with what you say but i was just saying

that the instability of 2 football players in various positions upon contact is very different from a strapped in car driver who they know will be in the same position even when upside down has to allow for a better design model for a helmet…also my point about the helmets…the safer designs are bulkier and lead to neck injuries so ive been told…the brain sloshes in the skull anyway making it more about the whip of the head or speed of the impact…again nothing much can be done there…I think players should always have the final say…personal choice…risk reward…

by Jason Bell on Jan 15, 2012 8:30 PM EST up reply actions

Schwartz said in his opening press conference the day he was hired

“You build teams to run the football and to stop the run. I know that Ford Field is a great place to play, but I think that when you start a team, particularly in the NFC North, you’ve got to be built for January football, December football, and you’ve got to be big and strong and be able to run and stop the run. You’re going to play an important game in Green Bay in December, or you’re going to play an important game in Chicago in January or in the Meadowlands. I think you need to be built that way.”

That is the two elements this team is still lacking “running and stopping the run”

Mayhew has made the commitment trying to provide the pieces using high draft choices to select Jahvid and Mikel and I believe he’ll continue plugging away until they achieve their objective,possibly using a 3rd or 4th round pick on another speed back as a contengency plan.

I wouldn’t mind if Jahvid started the year on IR save some wear and tear and be a dominant force to reckon with as we make our playoff push and throughout the playoffs.

We came! We saw! We lost to the Saints
The 2012 Lions will conquer

by Wayne Fontes on Jan 15, 2012 10:54 AM EST reply actions

I would

crack a nut if we draft Doug Martin in the 3rd round. He is like a genetic splice between Leshore and Best and he is really fun to watch. I doubt he will slip that far, but I am hoping.

by Lionsickness on Jan 15, 2012 11:21 AM EST up reply actions

I think that Schwartz has changed his tune as far as the run goes.

Based on what Mayhew and Schwartz have done in Detroit over the last few years with the offence, and how the NFL game is being played these days, the Lions will be an elite passing team with a complementary running game.

The same seems to be true with the defence. They need to stop the other teams passing offence first and force them to run the ball.

"I’m sorry for all the people who want us to run the ball 40 times a game, but we’re going to put the ball in No. 9’s hands and he’s going to make plays for us like he did today," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. Amen to that Jim!

by NorthLeft12 on Jan 16, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

benson/bush

Any chance we get a bush or benson on the cheap? Might be a HUGE insurance policy over morris or williams…dont see bensn or bush getting top $$$ in free agency either…

by Jason Bell on Jan 15, 2012 10:59 AM EST reply actions

reggie bush?

he will not be cheap

by Joel Korson on Jan 15, 2012 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

I think he's talking about Michael Bush from Oakland

Formerly WestSideLionsFan. Fan of all Detroit sports teams.

by WalterM on Jan 15, 2012 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

michael

yeah…i think him or benson go for 3-4 mil and provide 10-12 quality carries…especially short yardage…

by Jason Bell on Jan 15, 2012 8:31 PM EST up reply actions

Bummer

I just read Jeff Demps running back/returner from Florida is trading in his football cleats for sprinters spikes. That’s a bummer because I was hoping the Lions could pick him up in the 5th or 6th round for a returner and to replace Best if he can’t play anymore because he’s a very similar type of player, just a tick or two faster.

by Jeff Lamphere on Jan 15, 2012 12:32 PM EST reply actions

More bad news for the Lions...

As much as I hate being a stick in the mud… I recently read an article on Achilles injuries and professional athletes and it doesn’t bode well for Mikel Leshoure. Not only is there going to be a risk as to IF he will be able to perform like he did in college, but the athletic life expectancy (if you will) is approximately 3.6 years on average for a professional player that has suffered an Achilles injury. I sincerely hope that the Lions take that into consideration in April’s draft, or in free agency because our running back situation is an enormous question mark at this point for the Lions.

by Jeff Lamphere on Jan 15, 2012 1:08 PM EST reply actions

To be fair..

The average NFL career is only 3 years regardless of injuries. So I kind of doubt that the correlation that the article you read was finding correlation between injury and career time but really re-found the average NFL career. Stafford came back from 3 major injuries so Leshoure can at least come back from 1 as a 2nd or 3rd stringer.

by Lionsfan012 on Jan 15, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

To be accurate...

True that is the average, but that is taking into consideration how many lower draft picks don’t pan out in the NFL. For a first or second round draft pick the average is more like nine years so I don’t put much credence in the NFL average because it isn’t a fair gauge of real-world NFL players longevity, especially when you consider where our latest two running backs were drafted at.

by Jeff Lamphere on Jan 15, 2012 2:37 PM EST up reply actions