McCoy was cleared but decided not to play

[Redleg68]

6 knee surgeries (played basketball into college, poorly) here: 2 ACL-only tears, 1 ACL/LCL, 1 ACL/LCL/PCL/Dent In Bone where femur is/Dislocated Kneecap, and 2 subsequent arthroscopic cleanups. Various techniques used as these all happened over an 12 year span starting at age 13.

My non-clinically certified but experienced opinion: I would describe being medically cleared as your joint being structurally sound; but that’s not the same as being capable of producing (and receiving or handling) max effort lifting or explosion. Planting and rotating on a joint post-surgery is a whole new ballgame. Having confidence in a joint post-surgery and not second guessing yourself in real time, takes time.

I don’t have a problem with JM saying he wasn’t ready. Hope he will be for the NFL and has a killer career.

Agree, unless you have experienced a major lower extremity injury , you don't understand the mental aspect of it. It takes a long time to trust the healing process enough to go full speed on it.

 

[swampfoxfan]

Was it just your ACL, or did you have extensive damage to the meniscus and another ligament as well? Did you have scar tissue form? And by "full duty," did that involve having to run exactly as fast as you did prior to the injury?

Thank you for your service, but trying to equate your experience to that of a D1 football player and possible first round NFL draft pick is just not reality.

Meniscus removed, some damagetomed collateral ligament. Still had to qualify to USMC standards, perform all duties at sea. Still ran a 22 min 3 mile.

You're welcome

If he plays or not is his concern not mine. I still maintain he should not have collected NIL if he chooses not to play after being cleared.

 

[newyorkvol]

I was back and forth during the season on this. I felt that if he were coming back, it would’ve been around the Arkansas game. I’ve been doing ACL surgery for 20 years and do about 80/year. I won’t “clear” an athlete for cutting/pivoting activities until 9 months after surgery. But that doesn’t mean the athlete miraculously returns to pre-injury levels just because I say they can try. Straight line (just running) happens more reliably than pivoting/cutting.

Study from 2022 looked at NFL players with ACL injuries from 2013-2018. 56% returned to play. Only 28% played 3 years or more. The poorest prognosis was among receivers and defensive backs.

anyway, I hope the best for him and will never forget the Bama and Vandy picks.

 

[vol94]

Maybe he did maybe he didn't. My issue is still accepting the $$$. But McCoy didn't invent the "it's not my fault but I still deserve something for not doing anything" generation. The NBA is loaded with players playing 45 regular season games or less

Agree 100%

 

[cgrish]

Many teams are getting hung out to dry these days before of Transfer portal.

McCoy along with Hood at DB could have a huge difference on that defense.

At the same time the kid was thinking about his future and just wanted to feel healthy.

Did he still get paid while not playing when he could have played?

 

[NEO]

The mental hurdle has got to be tough with an injury like that.

Or maybe just maybe he was saving himself for the draft and was completely mentally ready.

A lot of kids these days are soft.

Yes, I grew up with guys who cut their fingers off and went right back in because winning was everything and I’m old school and ancient and times have changed and now players take entire games off to manage work load.

But maybe just maybe he just chose not to play.

 

[Behr]

Hate to see that. Maybe McCoy coming back could have helped Banks save his job..

 

[SubVet676]

Are there any veterinarians on VN that can step in here and pronounce this horse dead?

Asking for a friend…

 

[GVF]

The mental hurdle has got to be tough with an injury like that.

And physical. Son's close friend was TE. 19 D1 offers. Began at ND. Tore ACL. Healed up. BK left for LSU. He wasn't Freemans guy and slid down the starters pole when he was able to come back. Tranferred to Coastal. Tore again in spring practice after arriving. Out again for over a year. Finally got a years playing time. Then start of final season after coming off his first and only healthy season playing/starting, tore a 3rd time on other knee. 6'3" 240. Stout kid. Had never been injured till a freak first time at ND getting his playing time on special teams as a freshman. That's all it took. Went from #1 TE recruit in country to a kid no one ever heard of cause of ACL's. These are not injuries to take lightly when trying to come back.

 

[GVF]

Before NIL and pay for play, I might have had a different reaction, but he was paid to play, was cleared, and he chose not to play. That's tough to swallow. And I don't understand people being okay with Tennessee getting hung out to dry.

I would never hold anything against a player taking precautions and extra time cming back from ACL's. Brutal injury. There's no guaruntee he will ever be 100% again.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

And physical. Son's close friend was TE. 19 D1 offers. Began at ND. Tore ACL. Healed up. BK left for LSU. He wasn't Freemans guy and slid down the starters pole when he was able to come back. Tranferred to Coastal. Tore again in spring practice after arriving. Out again for over a year. Finally got a years playing time. Then start of final season after coming off his first and only healthy season playing/starting, tore a 3rd time on other knee. 6'3" 240. Stout kid. Had never been injured till a freak first time at ND getting his playing time on special teams as a freshman. That's all it took. Went from #1 TE recruit in country to a kid no one ever heard of cause of ACL's. These are not injuries to take lightly when trying to come back.

From the "bad old days," a guy I knew went to play for Bear at Alabama and tore up his knee. Frankenstein scars on leg, it was the 70s, but he tried to come back and did come back but his legs were targets, even to guys on his team trying to get a spot.

As I said, the bad old days when going for the legs was normal, you know..... not soft like today. He was hurt again and basically told it was over.

Long story short, Bear basically said to him, "I don't care what you do, son, you no longer play for Alabama. I've got work to do....."

I miss the good old days when players weren't soft and could be discarded like trash when the sport damn near crippled them.

 

[GVF]

From the "bad old days," a guy I knew went to play for Bear at Alabama and tore up his knee. Frankenstein scars on leg, it was the 70s, but he tried to come back and did come back but his legs were targets, even to guys on his team trying to get a spot.

As I said, the bad old days when going for the legs was normal, you know..... not soft like today. He was hurt again and basically told it was over.

Long story short, Bear basically said to him, "I don't care what you do, son, you no longer play for Alabama. I've got work to do....."

I miss the good old days when players weren't soft and could be discarded like trash when the sport damn near crippled them.

Yep. There was a reason pro careers averaged 5 or less back then. If you made it out of college on two good legs and no crossed eyes.

I remember watching pro ball as a kid and seeing those receivers go up on those 40" verticals to snag a high pass and get flipped like a coin toss. Most took a few to even move much less start getting up. Bear was brutal though. They were useless to him if they weren't 100%. He had 'em lined up waiting and had no tolerance for someone needing to heal. Throw away garbage to him and a few others.

 

[NCFisher]

McCoy was injured while practicing; ‘on the job’ as detractors like to frame it. Anybody here who didn’t still get paid after a work injury? Anyone here pay back your employer for wages and bennies while not working? Anyone’s employment agreement stipulate those terms?

Employers carry insurance to indemnify themselves against loss. The same applies to NIL entities; you want to make a loss claim, then insure yourself and make the basis for the claim.

The simple fact is that NIL is use of name, image, and likeness to promote products and services - period. By NCAA and schools‘ design, it is not an employer relationship because it is a financial advantage for the NCAA and schools. This is why Duke settled with their former QB, rather than let it become legal precedent.

While schools and the NCAA wink/nod knowing the system is pay for play, it cannot be enforced contractually and that is solely the fault of the NCAA/schools who neuter the ability of NIL parties to have enforceable contracts by refusing to collectively bargain.

NIL entities can only pursue clawbacks - or exercise nonpayment - related to willful dereliction of contracted endorsement activities; if Nico doesn’t show at Walmart to film him walking out and chewing on some brand of nutritive treat, for example. Can anyone name any example of McCoy neglecting endorsement appearances when able, and not doing so? If not, McCoy doesn’t owe anyone a thin dime.

And jealous, crying man-babies can stop being that, having become informed.
You’re welcome.

 

[NCFisher]

From the "bad old days," a guy I knew went to play for Bear at Alabama and tore up his knee. Frankenstein scars on leg, it was the 70s, but he tried to come back and did come back but his legs were targets, even to guys on his team trying to get a spot.

As I said, the bad old days when going for the legs was normal, you know..... not soft like today. He was hurt again and basically told it was over.

Long story short, Bear basically said to him, "I don't care what you do, son, you no longer play for Alabama. I've got work to do....."

I miss the good old days when players weren't soft and could be discarded like trash when the sport damn near crippled them.

But that guy was a TFL, Tider for Life.
What higher purpose could a person possibly serve?

 

[GVF]

From the "bad old days," a guy I knew went to play for Bear at Alabama and tore up his knee. Frankenstein scars on leg, it was the 70s, but he tried to come back and did come back but his legs were targets, even to guys on his team trying to get a spot.

As I said, the bad old days when going for the legs was normal, you know..... not soft like today. He was hurt again and basically told it was over.

Long story short, Bear basically said to him, "I don't care what you do, son, you no longer play for Alabama. I've got work to do....."

I miss the good old days when players weren't soft and could be discarded like trash when the sport damn near crippled them.

I remember a late 70's guy from Jasper that went to play for Bear. Only knew of him cause close friends of ours in Jasper oldest son was QB at Walker County when Lenny Patrick was there. We were from GA so we didn't knoe of him. Quite possibly the fastest receiver in football, ever. Period. He was a dope head in college so the career was short, but when he had the ball it was over and done. No one could ever even get in his rear view mirror. He was not human. But, Bear tossed him instead of helping him. We were there for one of those Walker county games. 25K just to watch one HS kid. 1980 maybe was that season over there. He was prob done at Bama by '82.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Yep. There was a reason pro careers averaged 5 or less back then. If you made it out of college on two good legs and no crossed eyes.

I remember watching pro ball as a kid and seeing those receivers go up on those 40" verticals to snag a high pass and get flipped like a coin toss. Most took a few to even move much less start getting up. Bear was brutal though. They were useless to him if they weren't 100%. He had 'em lined up waiting and had no tolerance for someone needing to heal. Throw away garbage to him and a few others.

People want to look at "the old days" like the players were tough and cared but the school held all the cards and would replace you in a half of a heartbeat. That led to guys "being tough" and making awful decisions for their body.

The school still discarded them like they never heard of them if they couldn't perform and that was that. Everyone accepted it because the players were as expendable as a broken pencil to the school.

If a guy makes a business decision or a health decision now that's good for him and not as good for the school, good for him. Schools did that for years and a little taste of how it feels is what karma tastes like.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

I remember a late 70's guy from Jasper that went to play for Bear. Only knew of him cause close friends of ours in Jasper oldest son was QB at Walker County when Lenny Patrick was there. We were from GA so we didn't knoe of him. Quite possibly the fastest receiver in football, ever. Period. He was a dope head in college so the career was short, but when he had the ball it was over and done. No one could ever even get in his rear view mirror. He was not human. But, Bear tossed him instead of helping him. We were there for one of those Walker county games. 25K just to watch one HS kid. 1980 maybe was that season over there. He was prob done at Bama by '82.

I had a teammate from school who went the same way but some of it was due to painkillers being "Here kid, we need you to be ready...." for guys who really shouldn't have been given drugs so easily.

The school "needed them" and they were "all in for the school" and consequences be damned until that crap has you in its grip.

Lots of stories but all I hear from the young guys is how soft guys are....... yeah, soft enough to stand up for themselves. College football isn't the Marine Corps. Fighting for your college isn't fighting for your country.

 

[GVF]

People want to look at "the old days" like the players were tough and cared but the school held all the cards and would replace you in a half of a heartbeat. That led to guys "being tough" and making awful decisions for their body.

The school still discarded them like they never heard of them if they couldn't perform and that was that. Everyone accepted it because the players were as expendable as a broken pencil to the school.

If a guy makes a business decision or a health decision now that's good for him and not as good for the school, good for him. Schools did that for years and a little taste of how it feels is what karma tastes like.

Lot of lives have been lived with little, cause of how injured players got done and lost their means to finish a degree. A lot of what is going on now is a long incubated revolt of the players. This NIL stuff and portal stuff just didn't appear out of thin air or greed. THe wheels for this were set in motion 3 and 4 decades ago. The eventual decline of that good ole school fight spirit we miss was slow killed by many a coach and AD.

 

[GVF]

I had a teammate from school who went the same way but some of it was due to painkillers being "Here kid, we need you to be ready...." for guys who really shouldn't have been given drugs so easily.

The school "needed them" and they were "all in for the school" and consequences be damned until that crap has you in its grip.

Lots of stories but all I hear from the young guys is how soft guys are....... yeah, soft enough to stand up for themselves. College football isn't the Marine Corps. Fighting for your college isn't fighting for your country.

You wouldn't have thought that at my HS. Playing for Lloyd Bohannon at Griffin High, or trying to, might as well have been Marine boot camp. Brutal is not the word. If you weren't a Gault, a Tuggle, or a Treadway it was he**.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

You wouldn't have thought that at my HS. Playing for Lloyd Bohannon at Griffin High, or trying to, might as well have been Marine boot camp. Brutal is not the word. If you weren't a Gault, a Tuggle, or a Treadway it was he**.

I try to remember the bonds of shared brutality within the bounds of the era.

There ARE helicopter parents who never want little Johnny to sweat "too much" or "run so much that his legs burn so bad." I get it. I hate it. It's soft.

Pushing yourself hard is good. Throwing yourself off a cliff physically for a sport is dumb (unless the sport is base jumping, I suppose...... wait, that's still dumb, IMO.)

Seriously, if McCoy made a business decision not to play, I get it. I may not like that he wasn't out there, but I have seen enough to respect his position.

 

[Orangecrush#27]

Like many I was roasted for stating the opinion McCoy was cleared to play @ some point last season, but he decided not to play. I don’t blame him but would’ve loved to seen him return.


- Jermod McCoy told reporters in Indianapolis on Thursday that he was cleared to return to with Tennessee


football last season, but opted not to because he "didn't feel ready."


McCoy didn't play for the Vols last season, but did return to practice while coming back from a torn ACL suffered in January 2025.

~EDIT


Go Vols!

I mean he was Ina bad spot. Imagine being him and having that doubt if ur knee will hold up if you do comeback and ur trying to make it to the nfl so you don’t wanna blow ur knee out or come back before your rdy. He got the acl in December I knew we wouldn’t see him the whole season.

 

[GVF]

I try to remember the bonds of shared brutality within the bounds of the era.

There ARE helicopter parents who never want little Johnny to sweat "too much" or "run so much that his legs burn so bad." I get it. I hate it. It's soft.

Pushing yourself hard is good. Throwing yourself off a cliff physically for a sport is dumb (unless the sport is base jumping, I suppose...... wait, that's still dumb, IMO.)

Seriously, if McCoy made a business decision not to play, I get it. I may not like that he wasn't out there, but I have seen enough to respect his position.

Well it was Griffin High School. Top 40-45 in the country for producing NFL players. One of only two Ga HS on that list in Top 100. Lord only knows how many college players at all levels, not just D1. Prob sliding down the list though. As time passed they added a county HS and split it up. What would be one Class7or8 HS has been two Class 3 & 4 HS for a few decades now so Griffin faded off as a state power. Track was big time for sprinters there too. Fastest man in GA twice in 4 years. Both set state records in the 100 yard. WE didn't do meters back then state side. Though they had a resurgence and good run for maybe 10 years a while back with the coach they had and went to hte final 4 for several years running. But, they ain't what they were. We prob had about 5 or 6 go to UT 1980-mid 90's.

For all the state titles Valdosta has, they just never had them end up in the pros much.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Well it was Griffin High School. Top 40-45 in the country for producing NFL players. One of only two Ga HS on that list in Top 100. Lord only knows how many college players at all levels, not just D1. Prob sliding down the list though. As time passed they added a county HS and split it up. What would be one Class7or8 HS has been two Class 3 & 4 HS for a few decades now so Griffin faded off as a state power. Track was big time for sprinters there too. Fastest man in GA twice in 4 years. Both set state records in the 100 yard. WE didn't do meters back then state side. Though they had a resurgence and good run for maybe 10 years a while back with the coach they had and went to hte final 4 for several years running. But, they ain't what they were. We prob had about 5 or 6 go to UT 1980-mid 90's.

For all the state titles Valdosta has, they just never had them end up in the pros much.

Moreso now than back then, though it occurred, a good coach and program "just happened" to have elite guys come into the district or school.

Look at Marshall Manning coming thousands of miles to play in TN and countless guys and gals who've "just happened" to move into a favorable school district or get an "academic scholarship" to a private school with a strong program.

In some ways I appreciate that Archie and Cooper left their kids at whatever that little school is in NOLA, which I'm sure is a fine school but not trying to be a powerhouse. Peyton has taken a different route with Marshall and that's fine also I guess.

In the old days that coach at Griffin might've been getting his own hundred dollar handshakes to put in a word to parents or arrange an undisclosed private meeting or whatever...... and good for him. 'crutin' has been a thing for a long time.

These days listening to guys who like to rewrite history of the good old days is like going to the HS reunion and seeing that the "backseat queen" has married a Pastor and wears at least 5 crosses every day. Good for you, honey, but I knew you back when.

 

[Shirleyudontmeanthat]

He knew he was a first rounder , he would have been a fool to come back to play and his agents / counsel should have been sued for malpractice

 

[volfan2024]

I guess I could compare him to AJ Brown of titans and eagles. It seems like he was hurt a lot when with the titans I wonder now if McCoy comes in to nfl and signs a huge contract or will coaches hear about him deliberately not playing while well might be a deterrent .