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Email Update 7/13/02 Volume 3 Issue # 29
1. Elder Statesman Retires
2. Jags Looking to Scott?
3. James has a Difficult R(h)ode(s) to Recovery
4. Seahawks Make Weighty Decision
5. Fiedler to Miss Start of Training Camp
Greg Kellogg provides the update for today:
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Elder Statesman Retires
Clipped from the article at azcentral.com
Veteran offensive lineman Bruce Matthews officially will end his
NFL career after 19 seasons Monday at a news conference in the
offices of Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams in Texas.
The Houston Chronicle reported the retirement Friday night, but the
Titans would not comment on the report. Team spokesman Robbie
Bohren confirmed the Titans have scheduled a news conference for
Monday.
The announcement has been expected since the end of last season,
but the man who had played more NFL games (296) than anyone except
kickers had kept his options open.
Matthews, who will turn 41 on Aug. 8, never missed a game due to
injury in his career. Deciding to quit wasn't easy, but he told the
Chronicle he will devote himself to being a husband and to being a
father to his five sons and one daughter.
"During this off-season, I wavered a number of times. Going back
and forth so much was starting to take a toll," Matthews said.
"At times, I felt like I could have played another season, but at
other times, I felt like it was time to hang it up."
Matthews missed games only in 1983 and 1987 due to contract
disputes. He played every position on the line, and last year he
tied Merlin Olsen for most Pro Bowls in NFL history with 14,
including nine at guard and five at center.
Only he and guard Randall McDaniel, the former Avondale Agua Fria
and Arizona State star, appeared in every game in the 1990s.
Matthews spent the first 14 years of his career with the Houston
Oilers, who drafted him with the ninth pick overall in 1983. He
reluctantly moved with the team to Tennessee and played in the only
Super Bowl of his career in January 2000, when the Titans lost to
the St. Louis Rams 23-16.
"Even though I didn't want the team to move, it turned out to be a
blessing," Matthews said. "In Nashville, every Titans game is such
an event. The fans are so enthusiastic. Now that Houston's got the
Texans and Reliant Stadium, I think it's worked out well."
Matthews' decision means he will remain tied with his brother, Clay
Matthews Jr., with 19 seasons in the NFL. His brother played 278
games at linebacker for Cleveland and Atlanta from 1978-96, and
their father, Clay Sr., was a defensive lineman for the San
Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
This is not totally unexpected, though it will have a ripple effect
on the running and passing game of the Titans. A QB develops a
chemistry with his center and Steve McNair has rarely, if ever,
received the ball from anyone other than Bruce Matthews. Watch the
preseason closely to see if the Titans have troubles with the snap.
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Jags Looking to Scott?
Clipped from the article at Jacksonville.com
The Jaguars may be ready to enter the Darnay Scott derby.
Paul Vance, who negotiates contracts for the Jaguars, said
yesterday he has been in touch with Scott's agent, Rocky Arceneaux,
and said the team would be interested in having the veteran
receiver come in for a visit.
Scott was cut by the Bengals in a salary cap move earlier this
week, after they signed Michael Westbrook.
Arceneaux didn't return phone calls yesterday, but there is likely
to be a lot of interest in Scott on the free agent market. Scott
was in Atlanta Thursday and the San Diego Chargers also have
expressed interest in him.
Scott caught 57 passes last year after being sidelined the previous
year with a broken leg. He had a 14-inch rod inserted in the leg.
Scott also had some nagging leg problems during the offseason.
Whether the Jaguars are able to pursue Scott probably depends on
how high the bidding goes for him. They're still limited by the
salary cap, although they can use money they had planned to spend
on linebacker Keith Mitchell, who signed with the Houston Texans.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Scott signing with Jacksonville would be good news for both the
player and the team. Scott has shown he can be a marginal WR1 with
a poor QB - imagine what he could do as a WR2 with a good QB. The
situation in Jacksonville would have to be better for him than one
in either Atlanta or San Diego - but dollars will tell the tale.
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James has a Difficult R(h)ode(s) to Recovery
Clipped from the article at INDYSTAR.COM
Edgerrin James' attempt to rebound from reconstructive knee surgery
and regain the form that made him one of the NFL's most feared
running backs will intensify when the Indianapolis Colts open
training camp July 28 in Terre Haute.
NFL history shows that other star players have dealt with similar
comebacks, with varying degrees of success.
"He's got a chance, but it's not going to be easy," said Atlanta
coach Dan Reeves, who tore his ACL as a player with the Dallas
Cowboys and has watched two knee injuries hamper the career of
former Falcons running back Jamal Anderson.
Added Baltimore Ravens vice president of player personnel Ozzie
Newsome: "Whether (James) can get all the way back...I don't know.
"But I have to say Edgerrin James at 85 percent still is going to
be pretty good."
It's rare, though, for a player to suffer such a serious injury
and, following strenuous rehabilitation that generally stretches
between six and nine months, simply pick up where he left off.
Former Purdue University standout Rod Woodson might be an
exception. A six-time Pro Bowl selection with the Pittsburgh
Steelers prior to tearing his right ACL in the 1995 season opener,
his post-injury resume includes four more Pro Bowl appearances and
a starring role in Baltimore's defense-driven Super Bowl XXXV
championship.
But two of the NFL's premier running backs in the late 1990s --
Anderson and Denver's Terrell Davis -- haven't been the same since
sustaining major knee injuries. And Jamal Lewis, the offensive
workhorse for the Ravens during their title drive in 2000, is on
the road back after missing the 2001 season with a torn ACL.
Terry Allen has been voted to one Pro Bowl and rushed for at least
1,000 yards on four different occasions. How much more productive
might he have been had he not suffered two major knee injuries?
The Colts are confident James will be the versatile, vibrant player
he was prior to damaging his left ACL at Arrowhead Stadium, an
injury that required reconstructive surgery on Nov. 24.
However, it may take time for him to flash that same unique blend
of power, finesse, change of direction and acceleration.
"If everything goes as planned, I think he's going to be a very
good running back," said Dr. Sanford Kunkel, casting a glance at
the 2002 NFL regular season.
"For him to return to the level of excellence he's had in the past,
it probably won't happen this year. But it will happen."
Although individuals react differently to knee injuries, Kunkel
said a player could return to some level of competency within six
months of his surgery.
"With an isolated ACL, which is what I understand James had, what
you're looking at is not so much based on the calendar, but on how
the player is getting along," Kunkel said. "You're talking about
range of motion, strength, swelling, an ability to perform
functional tests.
"In theory, that could happen in six weeks."
In reality, most believe it takes a player between a year and 18
months to truly regain his game. The arduous physical
rehabilitation is replaced by gradual work on the practice field,
which finally leads to game-day carries.
But even after James completes his physical comeback, he must
confront a different type of demon: confidence.
"There is no question you get to the point where it becomes
mental," said Reeves. "Every time you feel the slightest twinge,
you think, 'Oh my, it's the knee.'
"It's just a difficult injury to come back from."
That's especially true for a running back of James' ilk, one whose
game is predicated on sudden stop-and-goes, quick lateral movement
and acceleration.
"What you have to remember is one of Edgerrin's biggest assets was
his ability to cut and get through the hole," said Newsome. "He
could stop on a dime and make a cut on a dime."
Newsome has witnessed the miracles of modern medicine where torn
ACLs are involved, and he's hoping for another.
"The experience we've had is it takes a year-and-a-half to really
get back."
Despite the advances made in treating ACL injuries, there are no
guarantees.
Anderson and Davis were irresistible forces in 1998 that converged
at Super Bowl XXXIII. Anderson carried an NFL-record 410 times for
1,846 yards and 14 touchdowns. Davis rushed 392 times for 2,008
yards and 21 touchdowns.
But each tore his right ACL early the next season; Anderson popped
his left ACL in 2001. Neither is the player he once was.
Kunkel insisted that if a torn ACL is properly reconstructed, the
ligament is no more likely to be re-injured than ligaments in the
other knee.
To repair James' left ACL, Uribe replaced the damaged ligament with
a portion of the patella tendon from James' left leg.
"That's considered our gold-standard in terms of procedures,"
Kunkel said.
Still, problems arise.
Reeves believes a player unconsciously places an inordinate strain
on another part of his body while nursing his repaired knee.
Noted Newsome: "Any injury makes you susceptible to another injury.
I know that from my own experience.'
James did not participate in any of the Colts' off-season workouts,
choosing to do his rehab work in south Florida. Barring any
physical setbacks, he's expected to see some degree of work when
training camp opens and be available for the regular-season opener
Sept. 8 at Jacksonville.
Polian is confident James will make a complete recovery, but
conceded it isn't likely to occur by the time the Colts step on the
field against the Jaguars.
"In my experience, it will take half the season for him to feel 100
percent comfortable," Polian said. "I'm talking about having
confidence and doing things instinctively."
James could not be reached for comment. But during a March
interview with the Indianapolis Star, he made it clear his plan was
to pick up where he left off prior to tearing his ACL.
"Unless somebody tells me something different, I plan on being like
I was," he said. "I don't see no reason why not."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
It has been our position all along that James is much too highly
rated this season. He injured the knee on Oct 25th and did not
undergo surgery until Nov 24th. Even assuming that James could be
close to 100% 12 months later means that he will miss half of this
season. And a more likely scenario has him splitting carries with
backup Dominic Rhodes or serving as Rhode's backup. If you feel
strongly about James, you should try and back him up with Rhodes.
As a second round pick, he is likely over-valued in many leagues this
year.
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Seahawks Make Weighty Decision
Clipped from the article at Tribnet.com
Levon Kirkland had talked about losing weight and improving his
conditioning.
The Seattle Seahawks didn't think the linebacker was making enough
progress, however, and so they released him in an unexpected move
Friday afternoon.
Kirkland started all 16 regular-season games at middle linebacker
last season and was credited with 101 tackles, third-best on the
team. He has started 123 consecutive NFL games, including 107 for
the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The move cleared $1.8 million in salary-cap room while leaving
former fourth-round choice Isaiah Kacyvenski as the favorite to
start at middle linebacker. The free-agent market is particularly
thin at linebacker.
"Levon filled an important role for this team and its development
last season," Seahawks coach and general manager Mike Holmgren said
in a statement released by the team. "He brought toughness and
leadership to the club while our young guys were growing and
maturing."
Kirkland could not be reached for comment, but his longtime agent,
Mason Ashe, said the 10-year NFL veteran was surprised and upset by
the move. Ashe also said Kirkland, who was recently married and has
a new home in Charlotte, N.C., hopes to sign with another team.
"The Seahawks were professional enough to call a couple days ago
and say it was a possibility, but even the possibility came out of
nowhere and shocked the heck out of me," Ashe said. "Levon was just
very disappointed because he felt like he had adjusted to Seattle
and really wanted to help this team."
Kirkland was popular among teammates and a frequent subject of
praise from Holmgren and the coaching staff, but his weight was
always an issue.
In his prime, Kirkland was the rarest of specimens, a fearsome
275-pounder with the speed of a much smaller man.
He could crunch a running back behind the line of scrimmage one
play and blanket a tight end in pass coverage on the next.
But as Kirkland began to slow in recent years, his weight nudged
past the 300-pound mark and he sometimes had difficulty
compensating. Weight was always a sensitive subject, but even
Kirkland conceded that it had become an issue last season.
"I think for myself next year, just getting in better shape,
shedding a little weight and being ready to help this team,"
Kirkland said of his goals during a January 8 interview.
Kirkland weighed 308 pounds at one point last season, a team source
said.
The Seahawks had asked Kirkland to lose the excess weight in time
for training camp, which opens in two weeks. Kirkland participated
recently in the famed weight-loss program at Duke University in
Durham, N.C., but the Seahawks were not swayed by the results.
"They drew the line," Ashe said. "They wanted him to be at a
certain weight and he wasn't at that weight.
"He was on his way and there's still two weeks before camp, though."
Kirkland had signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract that
included a signing bonus of $2.3 million and respective base
salaries of $1.4 million, $1.8 million and $2 million.
And while the Seahawks do not have to pay the remaining $3.8
million in base salaries, the signing bonus will count $766,666
against their salary caps in 2002 and 2003.
The $1.8 million in immediate cap savings could help Seattle sign
its draft choices.
The Seahawks are also hoping to strike a long-term deal with Pro
Bowl left tackle Walter Jones. Negotiations are scheduled to resume
Monday.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
He was surprised? Three hundred pounds at LB and counting over
$2.5 Million on the cap and he was surprised? If he was serious
he would have gotten down to weight a lot sooner. Kirkland will
hook on with someone else but it is unlikely anyone will give him
the $2.5 Mill he would have earned from Seattle had he stayed in
shape. Now the question becomes - "Who is this Kacyvenski kid?"
The middle is a premium fantasy position and this guy is someone
that you can steal late in your drafts. Note his name and watch
his progress in the preseason.
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Fiedler to Miss Start of Training Camp
Clipped from the ESPN article:
Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler will miss the start of
training camp following hip surgery Saturday.
Fiedler had surgery to repair a tear in his left hip joint, the
opposite hip he injured during the 2000 preseason.
The Dolphins expect Fiedler to make a full recovery. He will be re-
evaluated when training camp begins July 26 and a more definitive
date for his return will then be set.
"I felt some soreness in my hip recently and after looking at it, it
was felt that it should be addressed now so that it wouldn't cause
any potential problems during the season,'' Fiedler said. "I'm not
worried if I miss a little bit of time at the beginning of training
camp. I've been here the entire offseason and know what we're doing
with our new offense.
"The important thing is to make sure that this didn't become a
problem sometime during the regular season.''
Fiedler missed three preseason games following surgery on his right
hip Aug. 3, 2000, but returned to start the preseason finale three
weeks later. This is a similar injury.
"We hope Jay will be ready shortly after the start of training
camp,'' coach Dave Wannstedt said. "He has been working here since
March and is fully up to speed with the changes in our offense. That
preparation will especially be helpful if he's not completely
recovered when camp opens.''
[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]
This is never good news no matter how the player and coaches spin
it. One does not have hip surgery for the fun of it. This appears
to be a new ailment for Fiedler for those wondering why he would wait
until the middle of July before addressing it. Ray Lucas should get the
training camp snaps at QB while Fiedler recovers.
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Some training camps open this week with all starting up by the
26th! WhooooAhhh! That's it for today!
Greg Kellogg
Komments.com
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