FReepmail me to get on or off
Posted on 08/06/2005 6:38:52 AM PDT by WinOne4TheGipper
OXNARD, Calif. - The Cowboys breathed a huge sigh of relief Friday afternoon when owner and general manager Jerry Jones announced the preliminary results on Marcus Spears' knee injury were not as bad as initially feared.
Spears is expected to miss as much as four weeks with a mid-grade sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his right knee, Jones said. Spears, taken to a local hospital for an MRI and X-rays, also suffered a high-ankle sprain and a strained calf muscle Friday morning.
"There's a chance he'll be back for the opening game of the season (at San Diego, Sept. 11)," Jones said. "Our doctors haven't confirmed it yet. That's just what the doctors there at the hospital said."
The news comes as a mild surprise since Jones stated earlier Friday that Spears' injury "wasn't good," and the early indications seemed to suggest a knee injury that would sideline Spears for the entire season.
Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells seemed significantly worried following the morning practice, but was hesitant to say much before receiving the officials results of the MRI.
"I just don't know," Parcells said. "I just don't like to see people get hurt. He has good potential, but he needs a lot of work."
The rookie defensive end was in obvious pain while being carted off the field after injuring his leg in three places on a run play during team drills midway through Friday morning's practice.
Spears got caught up in a pile while trying to chase down running back Anthony Thomas, and had his right knee buckle after a player rolled up on him. Spears was initially unable to put any pressure on his right leg when attempting to get up on his own, needing help from two teammates to walk him to the sideline. Spears seemed uncomfortable putting any pressure on the leg as he got into the trainers cart to head to the locker room.
But as it stands now, the Cowboys medical staff and trainers will work hard to have Spears ready for the opener, which still is five weeks away.
Spears, who practiced with the first team during the May mini-camp, has been working with the second team behind Kenyon Coleman at left end but was a projected opening-day starter for the Cowboys. Parcells said he purposely has avoided playing all his potential starters together until after the second preseason game against Seattle.
Spears, the 20th player taken in the draft, is expected to help anchor the Cowboys' line and was considered a key component in allowing the team's switch to the 3-4 defense this season. At 294 pounds, Spears has the power to hold his ground against offensive tackles, especially against the run. He also has the size to move inside and play tackle at times. And while Spears lacks raw speed, he has enough quickness to penetrate, recording nine sacks and six quarterback pressures his senior season at LSU.
But his primary responsibility in the 3-4 would have been maintaining his ground and freeing up space for the linebackers to make plays.
While Spears, like the rest of the rookie draft picks, had not moved onto the first team, he has quietly been demonstrating his ability. Spears seemed disruptive, especially in one-on-one drills, pushing offensive linemen backward.
Several players' roles along the line will significantly change in the next several weeks with Spears out, especially for Coleman, Jay Ratliff and Chris Canty.
The injury highlights Coleman's dramatic ascent up the roster this past week. Coleman seemed to be on the outside looking in before camp began, the Cowboys drafting four players with experience at defensive end in college. But the four-year veteran began camp working with the first team, and has not moved. Now, Coleman seems to be the front-runner to start at left end until Spears' return. And even when Spears does return, it may take a while to ease into an eventual starting role.
Parcells has praised Coleman several times the last few days, pointing out how comfortable he looks in the 3-4. Coleman, described by Parcells as a "slugger," is one of the stronger players on the team and can utilize that strength at end in the 3-4 since there is so much one-on-one work. Since Coleman is stronger than he is quick, he struggled at times in the 4-3 because he lacked the ability to angle and move laterally.
Spears' injury also increases potential playing time for rookie defensive end Chris Canty and the likelihood of Jay Ratliff making the team. Ratliff, a seventh-round pick, moved onto the second team Friday in Spears' absence after previously practicing with the third team. Ratliff, who has also lined up at tackle in camp, started all 13 games at Auburn last season after moving from defensive end to defensive tackle as a senior.
Canty got his most extensive work in camp on Friday, lining up at end in a three-man front and later as a down tackle in a two-minute drill. Canty, who is primarily a right end, can play nearly every position along the line and has lined up at end on both sides in camp. Parcells said Canty will start off working at right end behind Greg Ellis.
The fourth-round draft choice returned to limited practice on Tuesday and is scheduled to begin practicing on a fulltime basis Monday after recently receiving clearance from the eye doctor. Canty had suffered a detached retina in his left eye earlier this year while recovering from a knee injury he suffered his senior season at Virginia.
Spears' setback comes nearly a week after ending a one-day holdout, agreeing six days ago to a five-year, $9.35 million deal with $6.7 million in guarantees. Fellow first-round pick Demarcus Ware ended his holdout on the same day, signing a five-year, $13 million deal that guarantees $10 million.
The Cowboys had considered taking Spears with the 11th pick last April, but instead went with Ware because he was the rarer prospect and more essential in improving the team's pass rush. The Cowboys did not pass on Spears a second time around, jumping at the opportunity to take him at 20, knowing they needed a big, physical presence at left end if they were to even think of playing the 3-4.
The Cowboys have been snake bit with high draft picks the last few seasons. Running back Julius Jones missed eight games as a rookie last year after fracturing his scapula against Cleveland on Sept. 19. Last year's third-round pick Stephen Peterman also missed the entire season after suffering a torn ACL in the final preseason game. Center Al Johnson, a second-round pick in 2003, missed his entire rookie season after undergoing microfracture surgery to repair knee cartilage suffered during a training-camp practice against Houston. Willie Blade, a former third-round pick in 2001, did not play as a rookie because of a wrist injury.
Ping.
The headline had me shook up; I thought it was Brittany Spears for a second there.
Cowboys all the way!
Ha! I thought the same thing ... for a second there, I forgot I was on the NFL ping list. The headline had me thinking: "Britney's only going to be out a month after she has her baby?!"
Close call, but yay.
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