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Football: Wednesday night update
By Jonathan Okanes
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 9:47 pm in Football, Mid-week.
I must admit I was mildly surprised at today’s announcement that Jahvid Best will not play in the Poinsettia Bowl. Just the fact that an announcement was scheduled made me think he was coming back — he was already out, why make an announcement of something that keeps it status quo? That, combined with the fact that he was starting to run and do conditioning with the trainers, made me feel like he was on the path to returning.
And he may have well came back had the Bears qualifed for a bowl game a little later on the calendar. Had Cal beaten Washington and been selected by the Sun Bowl, it would have given the Bears eight extra days before playing. That may have been enough for Best to get right in time. Rumors were that the Sun Bowl was going to pick Stanford even had Cal won, so the Bears might have wound up in the Emerald Bowl anyway. That would have given Cal three more days; don’t know if that would have made a difference, but it couldn’t have hurt.
It seems as though Best and the trainers were trying to get him back in time until it became apparent, likely by the weekend, that he just wouldn’t be ready.
Best appears to be fully recovered fron his concussion and back, but he’s just nowhere near close to being in football shape. Both Best and coach Jeff Tedford said a week simply isn’t enough time to get him ready.
“I’m close but I can’t get in football shape to play a game in seven days,” Best said, adding that “it would have been a lot more likely” if it were the Sun Bowl. “It’s a little disappointing. I just have too much rehab to do and not enough time.”
The question now becomes whether Best has played his last game at Cal. Best said he has submitted the paperwork to be evaluted by the NFL draft advisory committee, which provides feedback to early-entry candidates. Basically, Best will be told a best guess of what round or range of rounds he would be drafted. He then has until Jan. 15 to make himself eligible for the draft.
“After the bowl game I’ll sit down with my family and coaches and make a decision,” Best said. “As of now I’m completely on top of the fence.”
Tedford said Best will still join the team in San Diego.
Other notes from tonight:
- Left guard Matt Summers-Gavin, who missed the Washington game with a concussion, still isn’t practicing. Tedford said Summers-Gavin is day to day and doesn’t know when he will return to practice.
- Tedford met with all the juniors to provide information about seeking NFL draft feedback. As of Wednesday, he said he doesn’t know of any other juniors besides Best who have submitted the paperwork. There aren’t any other obvious candidates. Defensive end Cameron Jordan probably has the best “measurables” to be considered an early-entry candidate, but based on conversations I’ve had with him I would doubt he would consider leaving early. Then again, after the Cameron Morrah situation last year, nothing would surprise me.
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December 17th, 2009 at 12:06 am
Sounds like Best is gone.
JO, I was looking at Utah’s roster and the name Kameron Yancy #6 DB jumped out at me. Is that the same JC guy from a year ago who signed with CAL but didn’t qualify? He qualified at Utah?
December 17th, 2009 at 6:44 am
J.O. do the Bears have different concussion protocols than other schools, or do they actually follow them while others may be more “lax?”
Seems like players on the Bear team miss much time compared to someone like, Kevin Prince, at ucla who is back and practicing after multiple concussions and a broken jaw etc…
Not knocking Bear players at all!!!! Just curious.
December 17th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I had been doubting for quite a few weeks that Jahvid was going to come back and play. Nothing they said (that I heard) made it sound like he was anxious to rejoin the team. Instead, everything was calm and mellow and just trying to stretch it out as long as possible. Something made me think that the plan was to just put on the brakes and wait for the NFL combine. And it seems that’s what has happened. It’s a bit sad. Jahvid had the ability to go down in history as the absolute best back of all time – and now he’ll just be remembered as one of the good ones – that and NFL millions. I suppose that’s good enough, as it’s a hell of a lot more than I got. Still, I’m sure his draft status has fallen after the odd injuries he’s suffered, and the ginger pace of his recovery. I also suspect there was some sort of injury (in addition to the “concussion”) that Jahvid experienced in that fall. I don’t know what – but it wasn’t your standard concussion, for he was later saying the residual was back pain. So, what else was bothering him? Did I miss something? Oh well, best of luck, Jahvid. It was great while we knew ya, but now I’m looking forward to seeing how this Yarnway kid does!
Gee, isn’t that the horrible, fickle nature of fans? – that’s why players should forget us and go for the green. In other words, in the end, I support Jahvid not playing – why should he?
December 17th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Per Robert’s post, I have no problem with Cal have more stringent requirements around players coming back after concussions. However, I hope Jahvid gets the information he needs from the NFL and decides to come back to Berkeley for one more year – it would be great to watch him and Vereen together next year. If not, best of luck to him after some great moments here at Cal.
The most pressing news in this update is that we may not have Summers-Gavin for the game next week – in my mind, he is absolutely crucial to our offense running efficiently. Get better MSG!
December 17th, 2009 at 10:58 am
without msg, we have little chance of winning this game. part of me wants to say just sit out regardless, and get healthy for next year, but it seems like every time he plays one game, he has to sit out at least 2, so maybe he’s just suck it up an play.