I'm very close to this discussion. Believe me, the bitterness doesn't settle in till you start missing dates that the medical staff says you should be at or near after your procedure.
I kept my mouth shut during the whole process, but I wish more athletes would pressure the staff into keeping hurt individuals on the bench where they belong without fear of losing their jobs. This staff is very hostile toward injured players IMO. People disappear into the depth chart when they break the man code.
In reality, these kids should be able to tell the truth to the trainers when they cant go. It all starts at the top IMO.