Forget that image you have of Connor Shaw crumpled over on his knees after a crushing blow fractured his shoulder-blade in Nashville. Forget the fact Shaw couldn’t lift his arm over his head, much less throw a ball the next week. Forget the fact that Shaw, after sitting out a week, didn’t finish his last game because of the injury. Forget all of that, because he’s fine and is ready to play this week.
But, really, Steve Spurrier insists his starting quarterback is healthy enough to play.
“Doctors and trainers all cleared him,” Spurrier said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “…It’s an injury that takes time to heal, but doctors and trainers feel he cannot hurt it any worse and if he can play through a little pain, then that’s his decision. Obviously Connor loves to play and that’s his decision.”
Spurrier said Shaw “possibly” could have finished last week’s game, but they decided to play it safe. Shaw will start against Missouri Saturday and Spurrier doesn’t plan to alter the play calling to protect the junior quarterback’s tender shoulder.
“If he’s cleared 100 percent to play then he should have a few carries running it,” Spurrier said. “We are going to run our normal offense with him.”
Mizzou quarterback James Franklin is also nursing a shoulder injury this week, but he’s expected to play Saturday. Franklin made a few headlines when he declined pain killing medicine and decided not to play in last weekend’s game against Arizona.
Franklin said he doesn’t believe in taking painkillers. “I like to feel the pain, be my own doctor,” Franklin said in the Kansas City Star, “because I don’t want to hurt it more or do something where the next thing you know, I won’t be able to play for two weeks.”
Shaw doesn’t share this view and confirmed after the Vanderbilt game he had been given pain meds.
Both Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel Spurrier believe it is up to the player to decide if he wants the medicine and the doctors to decide if they can play.
“We don’t determine who plays, who’s healthy to play,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “The trainers and doctors clear the player to play. We never say, ‘well, he’s hurt coach, but if you need him go play him’ no, they don’t say that. As coaches we say, ‘can he play and does he want to play?’ and then you go from there.”
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Steve Spurrier on Shaw’s health [3:01]
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But, really, Steve Spurrier insists his starting quarterback is healthy enough to play.
“Doctors and trainers all cleared him,” Spurrier said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “…It’s an injury that takes time to heal, but doctors and trainers feel he cannot hurt it any worse and if he can play through a little pain, then that’s his decision. Obviously Connor loves to play and that’s his decision.”
Spurrier said Shaw “possibly” could have finished last week’s game, but they decided to play it safe. Shaw will start against Missouri Saturday and Spurrier doesn’t plan to alter the play calling to protect the junior quarterback’s tender shoulder.
“If he’s cleared 100 percent to play then he should have a few carries running it,” Spurrier said. “We are going to run our normal offense with him.”
Mizzou quarterback James Franklin is also nursing a shoulder injury this week, but he’s expected to play Saturday. Franklin made a few headlines when he declined pain killing medicine and decided not to play in last weekend’s game against Arizona.
Franklin said he doesn’t believe in taking painkillers. “I like to feel the pain, be my own doctor,” Franklin said in the Kansas City Star, “because I don’t want to hurt it more or do something where the next thing you know, I won’t be able to play for two weeks.”
Shaw doesn’t share this view and confirmed after the Vanderbilt game he had been given pain meds.
Both Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel Spurrier believe it is up to the player to decide if he wants the medicine and the doctors to decide if they can play.
“We don’t determine who plays, who’s healthy to play,” Spurrier said Tuesday. “The trainers and doctors clear the player to play. We never say, ‘well, he’s hurt coach, but if you need him go play him’ no, they don’t say that. As coaches we say, ‘can he play and does he want to play?’ and then you go from there.”
Download
0:00
Steve Spurrier on Shaw’s health [3:01]
link: http://sportstalkgol...od-to-go-audio/
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