O'Brien - Staying or Going?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

I think McNair is being merciful. By keeping Smith, he allows the family to stay on the team's insurance during a very difficult and expensive time. Fighting cancer is not cheap. Once Smith is ready to deal with football again, then McNair can decide Rick's future.

I think Rick did the right thing in making this year totally about getting his wife better and McNair did the right thing making sure Rick would not have to go through the anxiety of paying bills and hunting for a new job during all of that. There's a time and a place for everything and both men are doing the right thing.

I completely disagree. There are plenty of ways for a billionaire to cover a guys medical expenses that don't include holding Smith's return over any GM you hire. And Smith spoke up today that he's not done and he will come back. If McNair just wanted to cover his expenses there are 100 easier ways to do it.

[HPF Bob]

McNair is leaving his options open, I suppose or letting Smith's fate twist in the wind for a year without knowing what his fate will be. Cancer battles changes people's focus and perhaps Smith won't have the will to go back to the job 12 months from now. You can't say.

As a cancer patient himself, maybe McNair just didn't have the nerve to kick Smith out the door at such a vulnerable time in his life.