[Goose]

This season, Love has shown a remarkable willingness and ability to play with pain, putting the team's interests above his personal interests.

Indeed he has. It is amazing to see what he has accomplished "on one leg" as Shaw has repeatedly stated. I must admit that sometimes I wanted to say "Don't go out there" after seeing the obvious pain he was in. Yet he would go back out there and make the great play on the next series.

I think this demonstration of toughness might neutralize some concerns about his ankle's durability.

Afraid I can't agree. I don't think the pro scouts would worry that he would be unable to play, or unwilling to play with pain. He has demonstrated that would not happen. However, what is unquestionably true is that pain affects your ability to play. You may recall that during the CCG the commentators were theorizing that Love was fumbling more lately because he was in pain. When you are at 75% as a running back, you take hits that you wouldn't take if you were 100%. Those hits lead to other injuries. We have seen Love be less able to protect himself since the ankle got hurt. He can't cut as quickly and he is a bit slower. Playing on the ankle may not risk further injury to the ankle directly, but not being able to avoid an onrushing linebacker can be hazardous to your health. The NFL guys will have to decide "Are the ankle injuries chronic?". Two years in a row would make one think they could be. It might be part of his running style that leads to the problem. I certainly don't know if the "ankle problem" is chronic, but it will be a question that will be asked a lot more if Love is hurt next year. That is one reason why I don't think staying at Stanford to improve his draft stock is a good idea. The risk is too great.

[Goose]

This season, Love has shown a remarkable willingness and ability to play with pain, putting the team's interests above his personal interests.

Indeed he has. It is amazing to see what he has accomplished "on one leg" as Shaw has repeatedly stated. I must admit that sometimes I wanted to say "Don't go out there" after seeing the obvious pain he was in. Yet he would go back out there and make the great play on the next series.

I think this demonstration of toughness might neutralize some concerns about his ankle's durability.

Afraid I can't agree. I don't think the pro scouts would worry that he would be unable to play, or unwilling to play with pain. He has demonstrated that would not happen. However, what is unquestionably true is that pain affects your ability to play. You may recall that during the CCG the commentators were theorizing that Love was fumbling more lately because he was in pain. When you are at 75% as a running back, you take hits that you wouldn't take if you were 100%. Those hits lead to other injuries. We have seen Love be less able to protect himself since the ankle got hurt. He can't cut as quickly and he is a bit slower. Playing on the ankle may not risk further injury to the ankle directly, but not being able to avoid an onrushing linebacker can be hazardous to your health. The NFL guys will have to decide "Are the ankle injuries chronic?". Two years in a row would make one think they could be. It might be part of his running style that leads to the problem. I certainly don't know if the "ankle problem" is chronic, but it will be a question that will be asked a lot more if Love is hurt next year. That is one reason why I don't think staying at Stanford to improve his draft stock is a good idea. The risk is too great.