The Vikings might have suffered a loss far greater than their 16-13 preseason setback against Oakland on Monday night at the Metrodome.

 

Rookie linebacker Chad Greenway, the Vikings' first-round pick in the NFL draft, left the game in the first quarter because of an injury to his left knee. Greenway will have an MRI this morning, and indications Monday night were that it could be a season-ending tear to his anterior cruciate ligament.

 

Coach Brad Childress said the Vikings will "reserve judgment" until the results of the MRI come back.

 

Greenway wore a brace on his knee and had an obvious limp as he left the Vikings locker room. He said he wasn't sure he had a torn ligament.

 

"I haven't had anything done," he said. "I just know the coaches brought me off just to get me off the field. Right now it's up to the trainers, and hopefully I get back on the field as soon as possible. I don't know what it is right now."

 

Greenway was injured covering a kickoff with 4 minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter. He appeared to twist his knee awkwardly as an Oakland player blocked him.

 

Greenway hobbled off the field and was examined on the sideline before walking to the Vikings locker room. Many times an injured player will return to the sideline, but Greenway never reappeared.

 

"I just planted, and something kind of just happened where I twisted me knee," Greenway said. "I don't know exactly what happened."

 

Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin did not want to speculate on the injury. "We'll hold our breath until the morning and let the tests [occur]," he said.

 

Greenway, whose parents were scheduled to be at the Metrodome on Monday night, said Sunday he expected to see extensive playing time with the second-team defense. But because of the injury he ended up getting only one play on defense, being used in a four-linebacker set with the first team.

 

"It's very disappointing," Greenway said. "It's something you can't control. It's just part of the game. It's something that happens, but we'll get something figured out tomorrow and see what happens."

 

Said Tomlin: "It's disappointing for him, but that's part of football. We go into it with our eyes open."

 

Greenway, a star at Iowa, was the 17th pick in the draft and has spent training camp as the backup weak-side linebacker behind E.J. Henderson. Childress said last week that Greenway would remain in the backup role for now, but clearly the hope was he would move into a starting role sooner rather than later. Greenway had seen action with the first team, albeit limited, in a 4-4-3 set designed for short-yardage situations.

 

Second-year linebacker Heath Farwell saw more time than expected Monday because of the injury to Greenway and finished with a game-high nine tackles.

 

"I talked to Chad in the locker room and just hope for the best," Farwell said. "It's a tough deal."

http://www.startribune.com/510/story/614644.html

 

I hate the pre-season.

...though it probably ends up preventing more injuries than it actually gives.

Good reason why preseason is useless and not needed. For god sakes, a back judge got taken out last night in the MNF game. I hope Goodell fixes things.

Good reason why preseason is useless and not needed. For god sakes, a back judge got taken out last night in the MNF game. I hope Goodell fixes things.

 

Again, preseason probably prevents more injuries than it creates.

Should be shortened.

 

 

Poor chad.. such a class act and a nice guy.

god i hate baseball and football games that are played indoor...astro turf is more dangerous for the knees than the denver broncos offensive line

Good reason why preseason is useless and not needed. For god sakes, a back judge got taken out last night in the MNF game. I hope Goodell fixes things.

 

Again, preseason probably prevents more injuries than it creates.

No it doesn't.

 

The only reasons that the preseason exists are to a.) evaluate backups and b.) line the owner's pockets with more money.

 

I honestly believe that point A could be solved by having scrimmages and such, but that won't happen. Point B demonstrates why 4 preseason games are here to stay. Unless people stop showing up altogether that is.

Good reason why preseason is useless and not needed. For god sakes, a back judge got taken out last night in the MNF game. I hope Goodell fixes things.

 

Again, preseason probably prevents more injuries than it creates.

No it doesn't.

 

The only reasons that the preseason exists are to a.) evaluate backups and b.) line the owner's pockets with more money.

 

I honestly believe that point A could be solved by having scrimmages and such, but that won't happen. Point B demonstrates why 4 preseason games are here to stay. Unless people stop showing up altogether that is.

If I thought teams would practice full out in scrimmage, I'd agree. But since the only way to prepare your players through a gradual process is to play against other teams, I think preseason is very necessary.

 

Otherwise you'd have teams going straight from practices to week 1 full contact, no holds bar.

Obviously there would be a transition period other than an all out preseason game. College players don't have preseason games, and there aren't any excessive injuries compared to the NFL.

 

Saying that playing a game as rough as professional football helps prevent injuries in any way is kinda funny.

Obviously there would be a transition period other than an all out preseason game. College players don't have preseason games, and there aren't any excessive injuries compared to the NFL.

 

Saying that playing a game as rough as professional football helps prevent injuries in any way is kinda funny.

 

Ok, then let there be a transition period. But what will it be?

 

And it's not kinda funny...it's balls out hilarious...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but true.

Practice regimens, just like college. College players do fine.

 

Getting hit by John Lynch or Ed Reed sure as hell doesn't prevent injuries.

Practice regimens, just like college. College players do fine.

 

Getting hit by John Lynch or Ed Reed sure as hell doesn't prevent injuries.

 

Alright call the league and tell them about the regimens. I look forward to it.

Practice regimens, just like college. College players do fine.

 

Getting hit by John Lynch or Ed Reed sure as hell doesn't prevent injuries.

 

Alright call the league and tell them about the regimens. I look forward to it.

 

LMAO!

 

Great post bud!

I don't really think the college teams are ready that first game out. Most programs schedule a tune up game or two. Those that don't usually look bad. How else to explain the last awfulness of the last two UM-FSU games?

 

Anyway, if they do away with preseason, they're just gonna add more regular season games...and my guess is the injury rate is a bit higher in the regular season, so I'm not sure what difference it would make.

I totally agree that college teams aren't really ready their first game...but I don't think you see much more injuries in the first week of college football as you do the NFL - outside of say, the high number of cramps you saw in the first UM-FSU game last season.

 

Football is such a rough sport, you're going to have injuries no matter what. The NFL pre-season is for talent evaluation purposes and money-making.

Practice regimens, just like college. College players do fine.

 

Getting hit by John Lynch or Ed Reed sure as hell doesn't prevent injuries.

 

Alright call the league and tell them about the regimens. I look forward to it.

Wow.

 

:plain

I don't think 4 preseason games are needed. 2 would do just fine.

 

It's pretty simple if you are a coach though. You don't want your main players getting hurt, don't play them.

just throwing an idea out...but ok...i would be in favor of shortening the preseason to two games...but why lengthen the regular season when you can add more playoff games...that would make the nfl more money and make it so that you didnt have to absolutely win your division to make the playoffs(which it seems like)

poor kid, amazing talent too.

My problem is why coaches feel the need to play anybody important for the first two or three...the mere fact that they do tells me that they think it is important.

sucks for the Vik's, he wouldve had a good year.

Injuries will happen no matter what. You ramp up practice regimens and guys will still get hurt -- just ask LeCharles Bentley. Shortening the preseason does nothing but make the players rusty

 

And I'm sorry but when you have your first round pick out there as a wedge-buster you're asking for trouble. What a ridiculous thing for Childress to do. You have 50 throw away guys in camp who could do the same thing -- have the guys you're looking at for the practice squad out there as wedge busters, not Chad Greenway. Simply ridiculous.

 

And owners will never ever agree to getting rid of any pre season games. They make way too much money to even consider it.