Gaither Still Hasn't Practiced (Merged)

**Paintballguy** · 08-09-2012, 10:54 AM

What's the over/under on how many pages this thread will go?

**Haloti92** · 08-09-2012, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by Ravens420

Funny how Gaither played with one arm in 08 and got carted in 09 (with a neck/back injury) and yet people still insist on insulting him. Most people accused him of faking injury, even though there was ZERO LOGICAL REASON for him to do so. People who doubt others injuries are funny. I remember folks claiming Gaither's doctor who recommended that he rest was a quack, but its the same guy peyton manning trusted to cut on his neck. What a shitty group of fans we have at times.

No one generally questions Gaither's gameday work ethic.

And that you simply ignore the reasoning given regarding 2010 does not mean it hasn't been given.

Also, your point about the doctor makes no sense, as no one claimed the doctor negligently misdiagnosed Gaither.

There is nothing shitty about discussing issues. And I would say, in terms of the "quality" of fans, the guy who blindly supports a single, dubious player over the organization itself is a "shittier" fan than the reverse (though I wouldn't ever call either "shitty").

**JAB1985** · 08-09-2012, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

How so? People "fake injuries" to get out of practicing. There is more than one reason why players do/would not want to practice. Laziness is one, as is pouting about your contract or position change, etc.

I am a bit shocked that people are so naive as to think there does not exist a subset of professional athletes who do not like or want to practice. And likewise, within that subset, there are those that will loaf at practice and/or fake injuries. This subset includes average, 3rd stringers as well as superstars (who feel they don't "need" practice).

there is a facet of people that think he "faked" his injury because he was unhappy to play RT and/or wanted a contract extension, those are the ones im saying are wrong. hes the unquestioned LT and he just got paid, although below what hes capable if 100% healthy and devoted. As far as being lazy im not arguing that case, i think there is more than enough evidence that hes lazy and that does lead to injuries, which is why i feel we did the right thing in letting him go than continuing to try and motivate him. same with mckinnie after this year, i highly doubt we bring him back even at a discount just to keep having to try and motivate him.

Injuries also do just happen and in this case you have a guy with a previous back injury having back spasms which are a side effect of said back injury commonly. I think his laziness is causing the injuries more so than his bad character is lying about them, to me that just makes more sense.

**Haloti92** · 08-09-2012, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

there is a facet of people that think he "faked" his injury because he was unhappy to play RT and/or wanted a contract extension, those are the ones im saying are wrong. hes the unquestioned LT and he just got paid, although below what hes capable if 100% healthy and devoted. As far as being lazy im not arguing that case, i think there is more than enough evidence that hes lazy and that does lead to injuries, which is why i feel we did the right thing in letting him go than continuing to try and motivate him. same with mckinnie after this year, i highly doubt we bring him back even at a discount just to keep having to try and motivate him.

I still am missing how you are concluding people are "wrong" based on this new information. I see nothing about this news that undermines the previous claims/theories.

**Raveninwoodlawn** · 08-09-2012, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by Paintballguy

What's the over/under on how many pages this thread will go?

5 minimum...

**JAB1985** · 08-09-2012, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

I still am missing how you are concluding people are "wrong" based on this new information. I see nothing about this news that undermines the previous claims/theories.

what dont you understand about if he faked an injury because he wanted paid and wanted to play LT but wasnt, now is paid and playing LT but still injured throws out that argument? if he was only unhappy because he wasnt getting those things, and now is getting those things but still is hurt that argument is pretty much non existent at that point.

**The Excellector** · 08-09-2012, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Raveninwoodlawn

5 minimum...

Fifty five, hundred.

**Ravenswintitle** · 08-09-2012, 11:18 AM

the fact that there is still so much emotion towards Gaither on this board tells me many people have already made up their minds and can't let go of their opinions. he's been gone for a while, why care?

**bmorecareful** · 08-09-2012, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

...Also, your point about the doctor makes no sense, as no one claimed the doctor negligently misdiagnosed Gaither...

He was widely derided as a "quack," which implies the doctor either lacks skill or doesn't adhere to the generally accepted standards of practice The "conspiracy" crowd claim that nothing was "really" wrong with Gaither, it was all some sort of elaborate conspiracy, one that Gaither, his agent, and his doctor were all in on. I think the tinfoil hat folks would claim Gaither's doctor was either 1) just plain wrong, or 2) (more likely) lying about the diagnosis for some unknown reason.

I'm not sure what would lead Dr. Robert Watkins, one of the most respected orthopedic surgeons IN THE WORLD, to diagnose Gaither with a condition he didn't really have. Doctors are wrong sometimes, but Gaither's presentation is completely consistent with the diagnosis he was given and the evidence supports that. But evidence, logic, and reason don't matter to the tinfoil hat crowd. All they want are rumors, feelings, and suppositions.

Gaither's back is jacked up. It was jacked up then and it's jacked up now. He may have caused it with his poor conditioning, he may have been born with a propensity for a thoracic disc tear, or it may have been a totally freak incident. Or it could be neither of those 3 things or a combination of them. That's something we don't know and can't really know.

But the bottom line is that if you think Gaither and his people were all engaged in an elaborate conspiracy to avoid practicing, complain about being moved to RT, make a statement about his contract, blah blah blah... you need to take a deep breath and look at a simpler explanation. The simpler explanation is usually the correct one.

**Haloti92** · 08-09-2012, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

what dont you understand about if he faked an injury because he wanted paid and wanted to play LT but wasnt, now is paid and playing LT but still injured throws out that argument? if he was only unhappy because he wasnt getting those things, and now is but still is hurt that argument is pretty much non existent at that point.

What don't you understand about the fact that those two situations are by no means mutually exclusive?

Start with the premise that if practicing were truly optional, Gaither would always opt out (would rather just play the games). Then tell me why, assuming at one point he was angry at his team and decided not to practice by saying he was hurt, it is not possible that he is currently saying he is hurt because he just doesn't want to practice (would rather just play the games). I don't see how you are concluding the second situation is impossible due to the first.

**HoustonRaven** · 08-09-2012, 11:23 AM

Like I said ...

Some believe the injury is legit, some don't.

Can we move on? Because nobody is going to change their minds.

**The Excellector** · 08-09-2012, 11:26 AM

My position, for the record, has always been this:

The injury was real, but that it, along with some of his other injuries, could have been avoided if he showed more professionalism toward his physical shape and conditioning. Since he did not, we were, never again, going to get the Gaither of 2009. He was going to break down and that is what happened.

So, in short, the injuries were real, but largely occurred due to his laziness away from the field.

**festivus** · 08-09-2012, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

Like I said ...

Some believe the injury is legit, some don't.

Can we move on? Because nobody is going to change their minds.

I don't think I'll change JAB's mind, but we do have a certain standard to uphold on this board. I do not want lurkers to think poorly of us.

I think Excellector pretty much nailed it, though, so I'm done.

**JAB1985** · 08-09-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Haloti92

What don't you understand about the fact that those two situations are by no means mutually exclusive?

Start with the premise that if practicing were truly optional, Gaither would always opt out (would rather just play the games). Then tell me why, assuming at one point he was angry at his team and decided not to practice by saying he was hurt, it is not possible that he is currently saying he is hurt because he just doesn't want to practice (would rather just play the games). I don't see how you are concluding the second situation is impossible due to the first.

thats two different arguments though. one youre saying hes lazy... which is fine and valid by most accounts, the other is saying he was unhappy with playing RT and/or his contract, those are proven wrong because neither are the case currently (hes the starting LT and he just signed his contract). whether the injury is real or fake it doesnt matter in this case. I still think more evidence points to it being real, whether you do or dont is your opinion. i really think youre arguing something im not disagreeing with.

**JAB1985** · 08-09-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

My position, for the record, has always been this:

The injury was real, but that it, along with some of his other injuries, could have been avoided if he showed more professionalism toward his physical shape and conditioning. Since he did not, we were, never again, going to get the Gaither of 2009. He was going to break down and that is what happened.

So, in short, the injuries were real, but largely occurred due to his laziness away from the field.

agreed and you can add that is also why it was time to move on from him.

Originally Posted by festivus

I don't think I'll change JAB's mind, but we do have a certain standard to uphold on this board. I do not want lurkers to think poorly of us.

I think Excellector pretty much nailed it, though, so I'm done.

my opinion is the same as excellectors so im not sure what youd want to change if you agree?

**HoustonRaven** · 08-09-2012, 11:35 AM

I'm going to try something new and outside the box.

I'm applying the three strikes rule.

Thread will be left open on the assumption it will stay civil (lofty, I know). But if three members wish it trashed, it will go the way of the other 100 or so Gaither threads and sent to the trash heap.

**The Excellector** · 08-09-2012, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

I'm going to try something new and outside the box.

I'm applying the three strikes rule.

Thread will be left open on the assumption it will stay civil (lofty, I know). But if three members wish it trashed, it will go the way of the other 100 or so Gaither threads and sent to the trash heap.

Who would want the thread trashed? The guy is an enigma. We can't get enough of him. Plus, the Ravens haven't played their first preseason game yet.

**Sirdowski** · 08-09-2012, 11:40 AM

For the record I was being sarcastic. Did not mean to resurrect the idiocy associated with the Gaither saga. My intention was to mock it. Obviously fairly effectively.

**HoustonRaven** · 08-09-2012, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

Who would want the thread trashed? The guy is an enigma. We can't get enough of him. Plus, the Ravens haven't played their first preseason game yet.

These Gaither threads have a sorted history on these boards, often devolving into tedious circular arguments or insult-fests.

Like I said, assuming it stays civil, it stays open.

You're welcome to peruse the trash heap and see for yourself.

**festivus** · 08-09-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

my opinion is the same as excellectors so im not sure what youd want to change if you agree?

Ok, then I misunderstood you.

Originally Posted by HoustonRaven

These Gaither threads have a sorted history on these boards, often devolving into tedious circular arguments or insult-fests.

Like I said, assuming it stays civil, it stays open.

That's "sordid," you semi-literate buffoon.