I never really understood "Don't get your hopes up". I suppose I'm not as susceptable to mood-swings as most mere mortals--and maybe deep down I actually comprehend that we have young people dying in Iraq and stuff, and keep football in perspective. It's a luxury, see?
So if the Browns get slaughtered, I'm not going to participate in a riot. I only get really, really angry when I lost MONEY on the game. Level two outrage is when it's because Braylon Edwards dropped TWO critical passes. Thermonuclear is when the referees have obviously, OBVIOUSLY FIXED the game.
And yes, they do. Including the guys in the replay booth, who sometimes tell us that all the millions who SEE what happened on tape from several angles are hallucinating, and the homies are screwed again.
But I digress. I always indulge in optimism whenever there is reason to do so. Onto the topic:
When he told Warren about his progress in mid-June, the doctor deemed it remarkable. "He told me to call him in a couple of weeks and that if everything looked good, he'd pass me on my physical," Bentley said.
Bub, why so skeptical (I mean besides the fact that this is Cleveland)? This is is the same Doctor who told him he'd never play again. If he passes Bentley on his physical, he is declaring him fit to play football. That's what this means. (By the way hit me with your OBR handle again so I can check you out. You and Eman are almost as smart as my brilliant Da Vinci-like humble self, which is why we concur so much.)
No, I give LeCharles at least a 50/50 shot. We can bet, but I want 3-2, see?
The "timid" thing is a good point you made, but this guy is a pro, and more importantly an offensive lineman. People don't chop or cut-block him, and he's in no more danger being aggressive than he is being hesitant.
Although he did endure the ravages of the staph infection and subsequent surgeries to clean it out, the original surgery was many moons ago, and has substantially healed. While the patellar is important...ok hold on I'll do some research....
The patellar descends from the kneecap (patella) and pulls the foot foreward to straighten the leg. It is not fibrous or flexible; it's like a cable. It's torn off the kneecap, where it's normally rooted, and the corrective surgery is a matter of suturing the tendon back to where it belongs. There, with the leg immobilized, it will take root again.
"Post-operatively, patients will be placed in a brace to cast to protect the healing tendon. Depending on the strength of the repair, some motion is usually started within a few weeks, and gradually progressed over time. Complete healing of the tendon will take 8 to 12 weeks."
This is a lot different than an ACL injury. This 8-12 week recovery time is probably for normal people. For a pro football player, they need to resume lifting and running to regain lost strength, and while immobilized get out of shape. Still, original optimistic reports had him trying to return late in the same season. (Which I dismissed, since it would have been dumb. Give it MORE time, and play when it might mean something, ya know?)
It was the staph infection (like the one that almost killed Jerry Sherk) that threw that out the window. Staph is a fungal infection resistant to all antibiotics, and once they knew he had it, the prognosis went way south. As soon as I heard "staph" I personally wrote him off for at least another season, and maybe for good.
But now we have a different situation. The infection was actually purged before it could do profound damage. That's unusual, and I tip my hat to that surgeon. Staph reproduces through spores, and if you leave ANY of these microscopic bastards, it comes back. But that's not the case here--this surgeon seems to have really done an almost miraculous job.
His earlier advice to Bentley about retirement was based on his expectation of this infection lingering and coming back over and over again. His more recent statements are based on that no longer being the case.
I myself am concerned about the last surgery: Some of the tendon itself had to be cut away. However, this is the very doctor who did that surgery saying that if nothing bad happens, he'll clear him to play football, so I'll defer to the expert.
Nuts and bolts: An offensive lineman of course contracts the tendon as he fires foreward, and subjects it to further stress as he is duking it out with defenders. The bulk of this drive comes from the quadricepts--the patellar has little to do with the real force involved (I think). It rather positions the foot, and holds the position so that the quadricepts (thigh) can exert proper leverage and transmit the force into the ground. Otherwise, it's much more important for walking, running, and kicking.
If LeCharles can do poundage in his weight-room squats that are acceptable, and eventually comparable to those he was doing before the injury, they'll know he can play, and play he will.
Now, do you feel better, Bub? Just call me Ray Sunshine (and not late for dinner).
Much is made about his late arrival. Look: Bentley was an experienced veteran. There would certainly be some early miscommunication, but always, always we go overboard here. Another mountainous mole-hill in Cleveland. Just stop it, ok? Big deal!
Ooo...how cool would that be with Thomas/Steinbach/Bentley comprising the left 3/5ths of the offensive line! Mein Gott! Then you've got to figure out which two starters you have to bench at right guard and right tackle. Wow!
This one bit of long overdue good fortune would convert this offensive line into one of the best and deepest in the NFL.
They're trying to get something in a trade for Kevin Shaffer, but evidently Thomas's gun and ski-mask are messing that up. It could be that Thomas and his agent force Shaffer's retention, along with guaranteeing that Thomas will not be ready to start. Hey Joe--call your agent and tell him to get his head out. Don't be a dumbass.
More on ramifications later.
You stand corrected.
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