John Abraham

I don't have a problem with Abraham's concerns of being injured. But, some things are better off not being said. Just as in Smoot's case. Sure, you're a hot commodity free agent. By all means try to sign the most lucrative contract out there, but don't be so obvious about it while trying to fool the fans on how much of a 'team' player you are.

That's the view I have, I'm sure there are plenty of guys in the league that think the same exact thing, difference is they usually keep stuff like this to themselves.

If he's hurt then he's hurt, but if he's not badly injured and he is able to play and he's choosing to sit on the bench to collect on his fat payday and in the process hurting his team's chances to advance, I have a real problem with that.

One important thing to keep in mind is there anre no guaranteed contracts in the nfl so when a player can cash a huge check he'd better do it.

Its easy for people that wont be facing the loss of their big payday to bust on a guy that is trying to protect himself so that he can get his. I dont blame these players one bit for protecting themselves and getting as much $ as they can because one wrong step or one play can mean an end to it all.

I agree it's his decision, and no one but him knows how hurt he really is. Me, I'd rather have a guy like Tom Nutten, the o-lineman for the Rams who is playing with a torn knee ligament.

Abraham can and will do as he pleases. The comment about him paying his rent is a bit over the top, because he's pulled down about 10 mil in his playing career already so I don't think rent is an issue. I think Abraham knows he's probably not coming back to the Jets next year, so his loyalty is to himself and not to this season. Tomorrow isn't promised, and while it's a bottom line business I'm sure that attitude isn't adding any money to his next contract, it's bound to cost him because he's establishing himself as a me first guy.

I think the one thing that Gibbs brought to this team was a toughness and a sense of team. We had a ton of guys playing hurt, LaVar came back when he could have easily said "No thanks, I don't want to risk next year." My opinion is probably worth about five cents less than the paper its printed on, but I don't see Abraham exhibiting any of the traits that Gibbs looks for in Redskins. Irish is right, it's his body, his career and his choice. But you only get so many shots to get to the Super Bowl, so to me for Abraham to sit out on this chance tells me that his goal is about him and not the team.

My only point is this, what if we were in the playoffs and one of our top guys (Portis, LaVar, Washington) sat out because he was worried about injuring himself and missing his free agent payday? Would we be so accepting and say it's his decision? And does Abraham play this week, or does he sit for fear of risking further injury?

If one of our guys was doing this to us I really don't think we would have the same take on the issue.

I can't see us saying well, it's his career and his livelihood, he needs to pay his rent, etc., LOL.

I think our heads would be exploding with anger!

When you have John Abraham on your team, you take the whole package. He's a great pass rusher, and he's going to sit to protect himself when injured, rather than taking the "hero" route and risking his career. I don't judge him for doing that, because that is the system that exists (free agency). He didn't make the system. He's not breaking any rules.

If he were on the Redskins, with such a strong team first culture, he very well may have made a different choice.

Just because the guy is cleared to play doesn't mean he is actually okay enough to play. There is no evidence, that I know of, to suggest he's holding his self out because of money. What if he is, though?

All I have to say is so what? Do you all think that Matt Leinart should stay in school? Anyone who says no and think that Abraham is out of line is a hypocrite. If he can play, do I think he should be playing? Yes. However, he runs the risk of ruining that knee and possibly missing out completely on the rest of his career. I heard Golic say on NFL Live that often times when you're cleared to play it doesn't mean you physically can, especially not in the playoffs.

How many guys do you think are playing right now in the playoffs that wouldn't be playing if this was the regular season?

Probably more than a few.

Just look at Moss last week, the guy could barely run and he's out there battling.

Maybe Abraham is really hurt, who knows. Is he a guy I'd want to go to war with on my team? Probably not.

I would love to see what people would say if this was LaVar instead of Abraham.

If I were a Jets fan it would probably more than irritate because he was quitting (possibly) on my team. However, like I said, we don't know the whole story. There's probably plenty of players that are playing hurt, how many of them are in a contract year.

I have to go back to a college player debating about whether or not to come out. I do understand, also, that it is a little different being the NFL because he is getting paid to play and not just breaking his word.

Let me say this about Abraham. I don't approve of what he is doing, but I'm not offended by it. I don't know of any team that will want to sign this guy if he is sitting out because he wants his money. However, we don't know all of the facts and I don't think it is fair to crucify him when we really don't have any idea. As for being cleared to play, Moss was earlier in the season, did he look like he should be playing?

I don't really care about the Abraham situation because I'm tired of hearing about it. I have had a lot of time to look at it and I have to think that you need to take a look at what would happen if the shoe was on your foot. It's easy to criticize as long as you never have to risk ending your career that's just about to become very profitable. Like I said before, think about a college athlete. I think Adrian Peterson should have been able to leave Oklahoma if he wanted because what if he gets hurt? McGahee is a different story because was in perfect health till he got his knee destoryed.

I'm not saying that sitting out to cash in is okay, just that I could understand it. I think if he is able to play, he damn well better be suiting up. Maybe he's had indications from the team that they don't want him back. Maybe he doesn't want to give it all for a team that won't resign him. Before you all shout that down, remember, this whole thread is based on speculation. He may not be able to go.

i read where parcells is looking at going after abraham for the cowboys next season. maybe he will have better luck than he had with wiley whom they signed this past offseason. abraham can be terrific, but he has been injured a lot in his career. also, based upon his actions recently i do not think he is the kind of player who would lay it all on the line for the team every game.
he is not a gibbs type player in that regard.
he will cost a mint to sign and will be extremely high risk for whoever signs him because if he is injured and cannot play or the team wants to cut it's losses, it will experience a major cap hit.

let parcells have him..