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Let the healing begin, Part 3

Curtis Martin rushed for a career-low 1,094 yards in 2002 after being hampered by an ankle injury. Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com

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

Miami Dolphins

Fiedler suffered a fractured right thumb after the Dolphins opened the season 5-1. By the time he returned as a starter, the Dolphins were 7-5 with receiver Oronde Gadsden (wrist) on injured reserve, projected replacement Cris Carter (kidneys) a non-factor and Chris Chambers still affected by a concussion suffered in mid-October.

Fiedler hopes being able to complete a full offseason workout program will help him avoid physical problems that have marred his three seasons as a Dolphins starter.

“The good thing right now is that I came out of the season the healthiest I've felt in a while,” said Fiedler, who began his offseason workouts last Thursday. “I'm looking forward to building my strength and conditioning throughout the offseason. The past two years, it's been a shoulder injury or elbow tendinitis that kept me out of the weight room and from doing a lot of things to get myself in shape. I'm hoping this year I can do all the things to get me in the best shape that I've been in for the past five years.”

It remains to be seen if either Gadsden or Carter will return to the team this year.

Gadsden, who opted to have season-ending surgery on his injured wrist back in October after team officials declined his requests for a contract extension, will be available as a free agent. Carter has yet to decide whether he'll try to play again in 2003 or not.

In an article published Thursday, Miami Herald staff writer Jason Cole reported that Ricky Williams will undergo minor shoulder surgery, but he is not expected to miss any offseason workouts.

''It's no big deal, it's something I should have had done a year ago,'' said Williams. Williams will have the surgery performed by team physician Dr. George Caldwell within the next few weeks. The procedure was delayed to accommodate a trip Williams is taking to Costa Rica.

According to Cole, Williams complained early in the season of pain in the shoulder, but the problem was never significant enough for him to miss playing time.

Minnesota Vikings

Reserve running back Doug Chapman, who spent some time in the intensive care unit of a local hospital following the team's Oct. 20 game against the Jets, finished the season on IR. Chapman is among six Vikings eligible to become restricted free agents next month. Team officials reportedly won't extend a tender offer to the former Marshall standout.

Kickoff specialist Hayden Epstein underwent knee surgery early last month and his status for training camp this summer remains uncertain The sprained knee that kept Randy Moss from taking part in last Sunday's Pro Bowl won't be a factor.

New England Patriots

However, Felger added that the former Michigan star is clearly is champing at the bit to get back in the weight room to improve his arm strength and speed, and he once again figures to be a leader in the Pats' spring program regardless of how his shoulder feels.

Brady told reporters last week that the ability of quarterbacks like Donovan McNabb and Steve McNair to shed tacklers in the pocket is something he wants to develop. He also said that improving his arm strength and his accuracy on deep throws is something he will work on, although it's not at the top of his list.

Rookie tight end Daniel Graham caught 15 passes for 150 yards while starting in only six of the 12 games he played in. However, he struggled to overcome rib and shoulder injuries down the stretch and finished the 2002 season on IR.

The Pats are looking for Graham to rebound nicely and improve greatly in 2003 after improving his strength and conditioning this offseason.

New Orleans Saints

Brooks injured his shoulder against Tampa Bay on Dec. 1 and left the game late in the fourth quarter. The next week against Baltimore, Brooks sat out all but one series of the second half with a sore arm.

Brooks played the final three games, all of which the Saints lost. The team did not score a touchdown in the final seven quarters.

Brooks and coach Jim Haslett said the injury did not hurt his ability to throw. For the year, Brooks completed 283 of 528 passes for 3,572 yards and a club-record 27 touchdown passes.

Team officials have said they expect Brooks to be ready for the team's first mini-camp on May 4-5.

I'll also note that second-year halfback Deuce McAllister went into last week's Pro Bowl at full speed after getting a full month to rest an ankle he originally sprained against the Falcons on Nov. 17.

The injury limited his mobility and forced him to play with a lot of pain.

It also prompted Haslett to make the a surprise, last-second scratch prior to the team's Nov. 24 loss to the Browns, a move that caught Fantasy owners hoping for a big game from McAllister considerable distress.

Of course, McAllister wonders what could have happened had he not been injured.

“It probably took away from the big-play ability and made us a one-dimensional type offense,” he recently told reporters. “I put up good numbers, but I wasn't the home-run threat after I got hurt.

“If I stay healthy, next year will be even better. This was like my rookie year. I had a pretty good understanding of the offense. Now, there won't be any hesitation.”

New York Giants

“I cherish my relationships with the Giants,” Hilliard told Sullivan from his home Miami, where he's rehabbing his shoulder. “My [wide receivers] coach Jimmy Robinson is a cool guy. I love playing with Amani [Toomer], Tiki [Barber], [Ron] Dayne, [Michael] Strahan -- I could keep going with all the guys in the locker room. I've been there my entire career so far and it's hard to think of uprooting family or learning a new system.”

Head coach Jim Fassel has been vocal about his desire to have Hilliard back as the starter alongside Toomer, and Giants sources indicate that possibility is much more likely than it seemed early last season.

“I very much want Ike back,” Fassel said. “He's always a player and a competitor and I want to have him back.”

Sullivan went on to note that even though team officials still aren't sure whether Hilliard is capable of making it through a full season, they were unable to nail down any reliable replacements in his absence.

Ron Dixon played well but injured his knee and ended up suspended by Fassel for missing doctors' appointments and team meetings. Rookie Tim Carter barely played last season before going on injured reserve with a torn Achilles' tendon, which means a difficult road to recovery.

For the record, Hilliard claims to be at “about 70 percent” physically as a result of his five-days-a-week therapy sessions. He also has been running every other day -- “jogging, not sprinting because I can't open up all the way” -- putting him at about 203 pounds. He played this past season between 206 and 210 pounds, more than at any other point in his pro career, but he envisions entering the 2003 season at about 195.

I'll go ahead and point out that Hilliard will have plenty of suitors -- including his hometown Dolphins -- in addition to the Giants.

One last note. According to New York Newsday staffer Neil Best, team officials won't rush Carter's return. If the second-year speedster isn't ready to go full speed this summer, he could easily wind up spending the 2003 season on IR.

New York Jets

And according to New York Daily News reporter Rich Cimini, there's apparently some concern among team officials whether Martin will be 100 percent by training camp.

Cimini went on to note that Martin admittedly will need a full offseason of rehabilitation due to a high-ankle sprain, which hampered him throughout the entire season. Even when the season was over, Martin said he still was in pain.

I'll keep a close eye on this one and bring you word on the veteran halfback's progress later this spring.

Oakland Raiders

According to Contra Costa Times beat man Steve Corkran, those injuries clearly cut into Williams' effectiveness as a receiver, especially after the catch, but he still excelled as a blocker.

The former Ram is expected back at full strength for training camp, but that doesn't guarantee him a starting job.

Corkran went on to point out that even though rookie Doug Jolley impressed as a receiver and improved as a blocker, Williams is still likely to return for another year in Oakland at a reduced salary -- and in a reduced role.

It's also worth noting that receiver Jerry Porter -- a rising star in the Fantasy world -- suffered a partial tear of a posterior cruciate ligament during last month's Super Bowl loss. Fortunately, the injury does not require surgery and should heal on its own in about six weeks.

It remains to be seen if running back/special teams whiz Terry Kirby, who finished the year on IR, will return for the 2003 season or not. Given the team's need to clear approximately $45 million or so in player salaries off their books before the beginning of free agency on March 4, Kirby's return will almost certainly depend on his willingness to help them in that endeavor.

Philadelphia Eagles

The good news, however, is that as of late last year, Buckhalter showed no signs of a limp and was confident he would return to action as good as new next year.

According to Eckel, Buckhalter needs to become a better receiver and a better blocker in order to play extensively in head coach Andy Reid's offense. But he does boast sufficient speed to serve as the team's No. 1 back or at least split time with Duce Staley given a complete recovery.

Next week: I’ll close out the series by reviewing any injury situations of interest in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Washington.

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

 

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