Respectfully, is it time for Chad to walk away?

I was thinking about the impending battle between Josh, JJ and Mendes. Thinking about how they are fighting for the one spot next to Chad. You know when Chad comes back in a month or so.

I have a refrain at the games "Chad Marshall owns Everything." I use it whenever he wins a ball. I'm sure my wife, kids and the folks around me are sick of it. The guy has been such a rock for us for so long now.

So yeah, in a month or so when Chad comes back, right? But these knocks add up. We don't want another story like Ross P. If he left now there would be no shame in it what-so-ever. His name has a place of honor with our Club.

Once in an infamous moment we showered a coach with pink slips. Is there a way we call tell a beloved player that it's ok if he needs to call it a career?

`The power to let go is tough for MANY in our fan circles at times. But for the sake of his mental and physical health, not to mention his kin, it wouldn't offend me one bit if he hung it up. In fact, it would be the honorable thing to do, also teaching a lesson of self-humility and shunning away of self-pride (especially seeing he refuses to wear the protective headgear seen on other C-named players like Cech, Calen Carr, Chivu, etc.)

It seems that extreme caution has been displayed whenever he's even hinted at having a head injury, so credit there to where it's due. But if he's one knock away from serious damage, I wouldn't begrudge him a bit if he decided to retire from the game. But do any of us really know what the situation is? If not, how are we to know if it's time to step away?

I tweeted it last month that he should be smart and retire. It's club over country but in matters of health, it's man over club. Like mentioned before, we already had one case; do we really want to see someone else go through this?

On the plus side it seems like they are being careful with the injury. It looks like they are giving him almost 2 months to evaluate and heal. That is a very good sign. There does not seem to be any public push for him to return.
I would support the guy no matter what happened. He has been my favorite Crew player for years. That also means if he decides to come back because he feels that he has healed, I trust he is making the best decision for himself.

This.

It is very had to walk away from a $300k/yr job into an uncertain future. I would hope he has his health placed first but am not sure it is that easy. Guys making $60k with a college degree aren't going to retire and be unable to make that much at some other job. But when you start getting up at the top end of the MLS salary scale that is much harder to do. It is not like the NFL where if you are smart with your money and play for 5 years you can live comfortably for the rest of your life.

He is a Crew legend, that is for sure. I've said before that I would opt for his to be the first jersey number retired and I don't know that I would change that if he had to hang them up now.

I hope he is able to make the best decision for his all around well being and wish him the best with that decision.

I hate cringing in the stands every time he goes down though. I just hate it.

When he takes the field with his underpants on the outside of his shorts, then folks should intervene. Outside of that, he is a grown ass man that can make his own decisions.

True--but at the same time I wish he would go talk to Ross Paule.

It isn't like discussions about concussions (check my flow, there!) don't dominate sports media these days.

He's a Crew legend whatever he decides. I'd love to have him back. If he hangs them up, there is no doubt that The Marshall Mathered at CB.

As much as I hate to say it or think about it, he may be one head knock away from permanent, unreversable damage. His style of play is what makes him great, but it is also what has caused this problem. Regardless of what happens next, he has been a true Crew legend.

I don't understand why, especially given recent revelations about head injuries in the NFL, why Chad doesn't wear something like the Full 90 headgear that a few players wear these days? It's not like he's still getting incredible service from GBS anymore and it would mess up accuracy on headed shots, and it may well help prolong his career. Of course, if it is too late for that, then for his health, he should hang it up.

Crew Cat

I hope we never start retiring numbers.

There is a lot of merit to this argument.

Damage occurs every time you experience a head injury. It is the cumulative effect of multiple head injuries and not a single instance that causes the problems.

Unless Victoria Secret buys the stadium rights and it is part of our new uniform.

If this happens and Crewzer Emily is not rehired, I will personally beat up McCullers.

As far as Chad, I would rather he walk away than suffer something permanent. One of my all time favorites for sure.

I have posted on this before, and I agree that Marshall should be seriously considering retirement at this point. Not that I want to see him go - but this is about more than football.

I'm also still puzzled as to why he has never worn headgear like Petr Cech or Christian Chivu. He should have been.

He's not a doctor - and most sports doctors are giving players bad advice these days because they are under pressure from leagues and clubs who care very little for the health of their retired former employees.

Proper recovery from a concussion may take up to 6 months. There isn't a single professional sport in the world that gives an athlete more than a couple weeks off for concussion, unless the symptoms contiune. But the absence of symptoms does not mean the absence of damage.

Calen Carr

Right, based on the cumulative effect of all of the previous shots he has taken, one major, new blow to the head could mean serious trouble.

With the players attempting to sue the NFL for not protecting them better, you better believe they are taking every precaution with head injuries. I can foresee forced retirements just to avoid litigation.

Even a minor blow is going to cause damage. Any blow is going to cause damage. It isn't a singleton event where one says, "Oh, it was that one on June 20th, 2012 which turned him into a vegetable."

That isn't my quote. Weird.

It was mine. Not sure what happened. Editing probably broke the html.

I stand by what I said. If he plays every minute of his pro career with us, then his should be the first # retired. Obvious inclusion in ring of honor as well.

Yeah, strange. Sorry.

Respectively speaking, only Chad and his doctors can answer that. Everyone that's saying he should retire is simply speaking beyond their place.