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Let the healing begin, Part 2

Edgerrin James rushed for 989 yards this season but scored only two touchdowns. Al Bello/Getty Images

By Bob Harris, Special to CNNSI.com

This is the second in a four-part series reviewing significant injuries suffered by key offensive skill players in 2002 and how those injuries might impact those players next season.

Dallas Cowboys

Although the former Notre Dame star brings a strong work ethic, positive locker room presence and big-play speed to the table, new head coach Bill Parcells has yet to discuss his plans for Ismail.

With a 2003 salary cap figure of $4.9 million, the 33-year old Ismail would almost certainly have to take a pay cut to return -- something he's expressed a willingness to do.

Denver Broncos

Nonetheless, Davis isn't ready to say his career is over.

"I just want to get healthy and see where I am," the former sixth-round draft pick told reporters on Jan. 22. "It might not happen again. If it doesn't, oh, well. If everything works out, I would like to." Drafted in 1995, Davis opened his career with four stellar seasons in which he racked up 6,143 rushing yards and scored 61 touchdowns. But Davis has only appeared in 17 games over the last three seasons -- none in 2002 -- due to a series of knee injuries.

Davis, who underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee Sept. 21, said the usual recovery time is eight to 10 months.

Asked specifically if he'll play in 2003, Davis admitted: "That's ambitious. I just want to get healthy and see where I am. I'm not even running yet. I am rehabbing, I am getting better."

Asked if he'd like to play for Denver if he does return, the former Georgia star said: "I haven't spoken with them; I would give them first shot. If they're not interested, there are 31 other teams. I'm sure I could find a home."

Davis is under contract four more years with the Broncos, but he's owed no guaranteed money.

I'll go ahead and remind you that microfracture surgery doesn't necessarily have a high success rate.

As noted last week, former Panthers Patrick Jeffers, Chuck Smith and Eric Swann are examples of NFL stars unable to play effectively upon their return from the controversial procedure.

Detroit Lions

This after doctors inserted a catheter into Harrington's heart on Dec. 16 and used heat to destroy the tissue causing the abnormal heartbeat. Harrington chose to undergo the procedure rather than take lifelong medication for the ailment.

"For all practical circumstances, Joey is healed," Dr. Claudio Schuger, director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Henry Ford Hospital, told reporters at the time.

Schuger went on to say Harrington would need anywhere from three to six weeks to heal, but would be able to resume normal practice and training after that.

According to Booth Newspapers staffer Tom Kowalski, wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, who suffered a season-ending dislocated hip on Nov. 17, continues to rehab a hip injury and all signs are positive. However, Kowalski added that team officials aren't necessarily counting on his return.

Also according to Kowalski, running back Luke Staley, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, has fully recovered. If he's able to avoid further injury, he could compete for a reserve role.

Veteran halfback Lamont Warren's future with the club is in serious doubt after he was placed on injured reserve last September with a shoulder injury.

Green Bay Packers

Green, who missed two regular season games in 2002, re-injured his knee in the team's playoff loss to the Falcons. Team officials insist the decision not to let the former Cornhusker star play in Hawaii this week is merely a precautionary measure to avoid the risk of further damage.

Rookie halfback Najeh Davenport finished the season on the injured reserve list after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his eye socket, an injury sustained when he was poked in the eye in the team's Nov. 17 loss to Minnesota.

Look for the promising Davenport to return as the No. 2 man behind Green in 2003.

Houston Texans

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, team officials fully expect the former Packer to recover in plenty to participate fully in spring mini-camps.

Although tight end Rod Rutledge should be ready to return from the foot injury that ended his season following the team's Nov. 24 win over the Giants, the former Patriot will have a very hard time regaining the starting job from Billy Miller, who emerged as one of rookie QB David Carr's favorite targets.

Indianapolis Colts

According to Indianapolis Star News beat writer Mike Chappell, the Colts recently made what amounts to a “good faith” gesture by agreeing to pay James $1.375 million in bonuses he failed to achieve during the regular season if he meets unspecified obligations during the upcoming offseason.

It's likely he will have to spend at least a portion of the offseason in Indianapolis, perhaps during the voluntary summer school.

As Chappell correctly noted, the former Hurricane's return to pre-injury form is critical to the offense regaining its potency.

In an article published Jan. 20, Pro Football Weekly reported fellow halfback Dominic Rhodes, who missed the entire 2002 season after tearing his ACL last summer, hopes to be running again next month before participating fully in the team's spring mini-camps.

Also according to Chappell, wide receiver Qadry Ismail's future is uncertain. He sustained a concussion during the team's Dec. 22 loss to the Giants and was placed on injured reserve after an MRI revealed a bulging disk in his neck. Apparently the injury could keep him out next season, which would force team officials to find a replacement via free agency.

I'll also go ahead and speculate that Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy will quickly recover from any hurt feelings they might have in the wake of a verbal assault perpetrated on them by place-kicker Mike Vanderjagt during an appearance on Canadian TV earlier this week.

Vanderjagt used the appearance as a forum to inform fans that Indy's star signal caller needs to show more emotion and that Dungy is too nice.

Vanderjagt added the Colts' offense desperately needs more intense leadership.

"We need somebody who is going to get in people's face and yell and scream," said the former CFL star, who joined the Colts in 1998. "I've gone over there to the offense and said, 'Come on.'

"They're just like, `Mike, go sit down. You're the kicker.' I have more emotion probably than anybody. I want to win, I want to win bad. When I miss a field goal I bang my helmet because I hate being imperfect and I can't tolerate watching 11 guys just walk off the field after you get stuffed and really show that you don't care. That is frustrating to me."

Vanderjagt went on to say: "Coach Dungy, he's just a mild-mannered guy. He doesn't get too excited, he doesn't get too down and I don't think that works either.

"I think you need a motivator, I think you need a guy that is going to get in somebody's face when they're not performing well enough. Peyton and Tony are basically the same guy. They work hard, they mark their X's and O's and go out and execute. If it doesn't happen, there's nothing we can do about it."

Pretty tough talk from a guy coming off a less-than-stellar performance of his own.

In case you missed it, after missing only 16 of 130 field-goal attempts in his first four seasons, Vanderjagt missed eight of 31 attempts in 2002.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Even when healthy, the former Raven struggled to get open and demonstrated considerable difficulty holding onto the ball on those rare occasions he was able to shake his defender.

Kansas City Chiefs

"Priest is fine," quarterback Trent Green told Whitlock during pre-Super Bowl festivities in San Diego last weekend. "There's no reason for him to play in the Pro Bowl."

Defensive tackle Derrick Ransom told Whitlock: "I've talked to Priest, and I've seen Priest. He's in good health."

However, other teammates, speaking on the condition of anonymity, contradicted those more positive assessments.

"Priest is still in a lot of pain," one player told Whitlock. "It's not healing nearly as fast as he thought. It's a concern."

Whitlock went on to note that a second source confirmed that Holmes' hip is healing significantly slower than anticipated. Holmes, who injured his right hip against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 15, was supposed to be recovered in time to play in Sunday's Pro Bowl. He announced last week that he would skip the game.

"He's lifting with his upper body," a source said. "But he's limited to the pool for legwork. He can get up and down stairs."

Stay tuned. This one could get interesting.

Team officials expect Tony Richardson (shoulder) and place-kicker Morten Andersen (knee) -- both placed on IR in mid-December, to recover in plenty of time to get in full training camps this summer.

However, Star beat writer Adam Teicher recently noted that even though Andersen's knee isn't expected to be a problem, it remains to be seen whether the Chiefs will actually re-sign the 42-year old kicker this year.

Also according to Teicher, the jury is still out on a pair of young receivers -- Marvin "Snoop" Minnis and Sylvester Morris.

Minnis returned to action late this year after recovering from a broken foot; Morris spent the year on IR after failing to recover sufficiently from reconstructive knee surgery performed the year before and hasn’t hit the field since his rookie season in 2000.

Next week: We'll review injury situations of interest for the Dolphins, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets, Raiders and Eagles.

Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.

 

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