The first scene were Rocco is seen limping is when he is galumphing down Celemnzas driveway ' in the wooden bumpa's scene ', is when he is given the Carlo hit. Any one in the family has to know that there would be a time either when sent on a hit or just walking around the neighborhood that they have a chance of getting whacked either by a rival family or the cops or when you double cross your boss. I feel that Rocco was sent on this mission was that he was not as valuable to Mike as Neri was. Neri didn't report to anybody but Mike, unlike every other button, who had to go through someone else to report info to Mike. Neri's importance, closeness, reliability and trust by MIke can be seen in all 3 movies. Mike has Neri take care of business were Mike knows there is no room for error. By that I dont mean that all of the business undertaken ( no pun intended ) has any room for error, but the business that Mike has every one but Neri take care of, surely Mike knows that there is some room for error. Neri's former job as a cop made him more cautious and calculating, which Mike used and knew how to put to work. Neri was truely Mike's right hand man. Mike gave Neri the most important jobs where there was no room for error. Probably the only reason that Mike took the ancient button to Cuba to whack Ola and (attempting whacking ) of Roth is that Mike knew that that trip would be one way for his bodyguard. Neri was to valuable to have something happen to him, Mike had plans for Neri. The only time in the 3 movies that Mike gets mad at Neri is when Vince is given the nod by Neri and Connie to whack Zasa. Mike knows by giving Neri the look ( and the tone of voice that he uses ) that he gives him after learning of the hit is that Mike knows deep down that it was done with good intention, but also that neither Neri or Connie knew that Mike needed and wanted more information from Zasa - who was pulling his strings and his intentions.