Why Risk It????

Jeff Sims
Wednesday July 21, 2010

Watching Chicago Rush QB Russ Michna walk off the field after the last offensive series for the team just before halftime made me and just about every Rush fan in the Allstate Arena cringe. He had been driven hard into the carpet while being sacked by Dallas Vigilantes defensive lineman Justin Warren. After staying on the ground for a couple of minutes, he got up to finish the series that ended in him fumbling after scrambling out of the pocket and being hit again. He was able to walk off on his own, but appeared to have been concussed and in severe pain.

After some preliminary x-rays taken at the arena, it was determined to be a rib injury with the extent being unknown (it has since been found that Michna has a broken rib and will be lost for the rest of the season).

While most fans would be angry because they are losing their starting quarterback and feel that their teams’ performance will suffer with their back-up at the helm, I am thinking about this much differently. I am not concerned with the team’s quarterback position as JJ Raterink has proved that he can step in and win games as he did against Milwaukee last month.

My reason for cringing goes a little bit further than that. I cringe because Russ Michna NEVER should have been put in this position.

Here is a guy who has the opportunity to possibly become the next quarterback out of the Arena Football League to make a name for himself at a higher level. Next month, Michna is scheduled to attend training camp with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL). Not only is he attending camp, he is scheduled to be the back-up to projected starter and veteran journeyman Tim Rattay (JP Losman was on this team but has since moved back to the NFL with the Oakland Raiders). He was not going to be a practice squad player; he was not going to be a third string quarterback as he was last year for the Locomotives; he is slated to be the team’s second QB.

Last month after he attended the team’s mandatory mini-camp, the plug should have been pulled on Russ Michna being the quarterback for the Chicago Rush, for his own good.  It was known that he was going back to the UFL at some point. It just was not known when that time would be. It was believed by the Rush coaching staff that he could have been pulled out at any time. Prior to his injury on Saturday night, the team wasn’t even sure if he would be available for the playoffs.

The Rush staff was thankful to Locomotives head coach Jim Fassel for allowing Michna to continue to play with them since the mini-camp ended. But why they allowed Michna to continue to play and jeopardize his opportunity baffles me.

Note that players in the UFL will make approximately $50,000 - $60,000 for the season as compared to the measly $400 - $1000 per game paid out by the AFL.  The competition is at a higher level, as former and budding NFL stars are playing in this league. Knowing that, why would a player risk his future, and even more so, why would his coaching staff allow him to do it? They have placated to some of his greatest weaknesses all at the expense of a possible AFL championship.

1.Michna is a devoted teammate – He was the first player that signed with the team when it was announced that the league was returning. He ultimately did not want to disappoint the fans and his team. He felt like they had the chance to contend for an AFL championship.

2.He is loyal to the Rush coaching staff and owners for giving him the chance to play in the AFL again. He also has a great repoire with head coach Mike Hohensee, who is known to help develop quarterbacks in this league.

3.His love for the game - Michna has said that he wants to play as much as possible to help develop his game and be the best that he can be.

 There is no doubt that Russ Michna gives the Chicago Rush the “best chance to win.” Prior to him leaving the game on Saturday, he was leading the league in completion percentage (68.5%) and was second in the league in quarterback rating (126.0).

In just 13.5 games this season, Michna broke the Rush’s single season passing record by throwing for 3,860 yards (the previous mark was held by Matt D’Orazio during their air-defying 2007 season who threw for 3,787 yards). 

Other key Chicago Rush team members have left the team to pursue other opportunities. Fullback Robert Boss left the team to become the offensive line coach at his alma mater, Northern Michigan University.

Even on a more equal level, wide receiver Samie Parker left the team one week after the same mini-camp that Michna attended to prepare for the upcoming UFL season. Why didn’t he stick around and finish out the AFL season? Because he did not want to risk the upcoming opportunity that he has.

Knowing that an injury could possibly hurt his chances of playing a higher level of football, someone else should have helped Russ Michna make the same decision.

Now with a broken rib, he will be unable to play football for at least six weeks. While I understand that it would look good to have an AFL championship on his resume, at this point you have to ask; was it worth it to risk the opportunity?

Other Team Notes

The Rush lost a heartbreaker to the now 2-12 Dallas Vigilantes 65 – 52 in overtime. Raterink had a pass tipped at the line, intercepted, and returned for a touchdown to end the game in overtime.

Raterink had a solid game completing 13 of 19 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns.

Shawn McMackin, who had moved to fullback from the offensive line after the departure of Robert Boss, suffered a dislocated kneecap and will be lost for the rest of the season.

Wide Receiver Kenny Higgins reinjured his foot in practice and is also out for the rest of the season.

Kicker Chris Gould broke the team single season record for most successful PAT attempts. He now has 107 PATs on the season, breaking the previous record held by Dan Frantz, who had 104 successful PATs in 2007.