Bates fractured ankle

Paaper said today that the kid who made the ill advised hit WAS a rookie trying to make the team

IIssreal and Brown are NOT A bates. This is goind to hurt us very badly unless we find another "return man".

An Old Coot saying after reviewing the play sevefal time, he should be fined heavily. Bates was already going down. No reason for him to hit Bates.

 

Bottom line is that there's no way that tackling a player you're supposed to be blocking is "unintentional". There's no way that "by accident" a second player comes in and folds you in half when the first one grabs you by the legs.

The play was illegal, and this injury should never have happened.

 

[/QUOTE]If that's the way they want to play, it all comes in cycles,'' said Carolina receiver Steve Smith. "We'll see them again.''

 

This was in today's Gaston Gazette:

"At this point, the Panthers have not placed Bates on injured reserve and have no plans to fill his roster spot."

Any thoughts on what this could mean? Why would they hold Bate's spot open when he suppose to be out for the year? Makes no sense unless they want him to retire a panther to put his name next to Sam Mills and (eventually) Wesley Walls. Thoughts?

 

>>Any thoughts on what this could mean?

Could mean they're not ready to make a move on him yet - they want to wait for roster cutdowns. They could do this for various reasons - hope that he might be able to contribute, not being certain that he's done for the year. I would expect that if he's unambiguously done for the season, the way it's being reported, he would eventually go on IR.

>>Why would they hold Bate's spot open when he suppose to be out for the year?

Might not be final that he's out for the year. If they want him this year, and he might be out until week ten, then it's a good gamble to put him on the PUP and have him ride it out until he can practice week 8.

>>Makes no sense unless they want him to retire a panther to put his name next to Sam Mills and (eventually) Wesley Walls.

Doesn't make sense for that reason either. He'd still be a free agent after the year, he'd still have no further tie to the team as an injured player throughout the year instead of being on IR. It's not like we'd be cutting him.

 

Ron Rivers broke his ankle in the early season a few years ago...he came back and played that year. I don't know the specifics, but it is possible he could be back by week 12....if they don't put him on the IR.