I worked for a medical claims company for 17.5 years. I know all about medical claims. That is different than malpractice claims. Completely different animals. Medical insurance and its claims are all about holding down costs and protecting the patient and/or employer. Malpractice insurance and its claims are all about protecting the hospital/doctor from lawsuits.

Surgery also opens up risk to things such as infection and nerve damage. No reputable surgeon would encourage surgery until all other options had been addressed. That is not how things work in the medical arena.

But, in Unger's case it was properly managed and surgery was done within a time frame that would return him to the field in time for the regular season.