Reasoning

Just heard it on Comcast Sports, Gibbs said that Coles dislocated his middle finger in the 1st quater

Now that I think about it did anyone else catch a quick glimpse of Coles shaking his hand after one play? It looked like he was pulling on one of his fingers, I'll have to go back and look but I'm almost positive I saw that.

I guess he popped it back himself and didn't tell the coaches.

Here's basically what Gibbs said about that. He was asked by a reporter about Lavernues Coles and why he thought that LC had such a poor performance. Then, Joe Gibbs says to him that he wanted to talk a little bit about the stuff that happened behind the scenes to explain this one.
He said that when LC was catching that one ball that came straight to him (which he dropped), he dislocated his middle finger. LC didn't say anything to anyone (except I think one person who helped pop it back in), he just took off his glove with that dislocated finger hanging out, popped it into place, didn't say anything to Bubba Tyer or anyone else and he just went back out on the field to play.

I must say that I have a massive amount of respect for this guy. He gets an injury like this and he doesn't complain about it or even make any excuses about it, he just goes in and plays his heart out. I think he is really kind of an example for some other guys out there to show what toughness and dedication is. He did not (and probably would not) have said anything about the injury, only because Gibbs told us in the press conference do we know. This guy is what I call a Redskin!

The thing about LC's finger as well as a lot of other good stuff was said in the Skin's press conference at www.redskins.com
If you haven't heard it yet, I really suggest that you listen to it. Joe Gibbs says a lot of things that really need to be said and he sounds likes he's actually comfortable again.
:httr: and let's buck up and get ready for Cleveland :thumb:

I did see him do that.

I was on Coles last night during the game, I mean who wasent? But I have more respect for that guy than anyone else on the team.

a dislocated finger- there's a logical explanation for everything... i knew there was something wrong with LC.

must say that I have a massive amount of respect for this guy. He gets an injury like this and he doesn't complain about it or even make any excuses about it, he just goes in and plays his heart out.

He hurt the team by not telling anyone. I understand he's trying to be a tough guy and not be annoying. However, he's much more valuable to us if we can get him healthy.

Now that I think about it did anyone else catch a quick glimpse of Coles shaking his hand after one play? It looked like he was pulling on one of his fingers, I'll have to go back and look but I'm almost positive I saw that.

I guess he popped it back himself and didn't tell the coaches.
Yes, I saw him do that, too. Was hoping he had just jammed it or something, and when nothing was said on air, figured it was nothing.

He hurt the team by not telling anyone. I understand he's trying to be a tough guy and not be annoying. However, he's much more valuable to us if we can get him healthy.

I can agree w/ the fact that he may not be able to do quite as much with a finger that was just dislocated, but I still think he did a pretty good job later in the game utilizing his blazing speed and sick moves while picking up yards on screen passes.

I think one thing that he really contributed in this sort of situation though is that sometimes you just have to go back into a game, suck things up, and do everything you possibly can for the team. Other people are going to get some similar injuries to this, but when you have an example like this, a guy that doesn't even complain, it makes you think differently about what you can and can't do.

People say that players aren't as tough as they used to be, but I think that LC really proved last night that some people are still willing to go out there as long as their bodies will allow them to do so.

Bottomline: LC maybe shouldn't have been in there as long as he was, but I think the message his actions send out are louder than any words that may be said against them.
:httr:

I'm a little unclear here. When did Gibbs know about the dislocated finger?

Beacause here's what I'm thinking. If Gibbs knows Coles has a dislocated finger he keeps him out on the field anyway so that the Cowboys are still forced to respect at least the threat of Coles but you use him as a decoy and shift the offense to Gardner and Thrash who are not facing top coverage since all the attention is on Coles.

But I could be wrong