If you pay any attention to sports and the NFL, the big debate right now if over Jay Cutler and if he could have returned to play against the Packers on Sunday in the NFC Championship game after injuring his knee. During the game, very little information was given out about the severity of the injury, causing many current NFL players and those in the media to question Cutler's toughness and desire. Yesterday, a MRI revealed that Cutler had a Grade II sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of his left knee. A while back, I blogged about MCL injuries and more specifically, Troy Polamalu's MCL sprain. With a grade II MCL sprain, there is some tearing of the fibers of the ligament, which would result in a great deal of pain and loss of stability to the medial side of the knee. Since it was Cutler's left knee, and he is right handed, it would be exposed when he is throwing the ball and susceptible to further injury. The knee was also examined by the team's athletic trainers and doctors, and they determined he did not need to play. In my professional opinion, it would be very difficult for a quarterback to play after immediately sustaining a grade II MCL sprain. Some stories have come out that Drew Brees played this season with an injured MCL. One, we do not know the severity of the injury, and two, I am sure Brees received extensive treatment during the week before Sunday and was properly taped and braced for the games. I think many people do not like Jay Cutler, and they just wanted to pile on him. I have no personal like or dislike towards Cutler, but it would be difficult for any player, especially a quarterback, to play immediately after suffering a grade II MCL sprain.
