Post Staff Writer Tuesday, January 8, 2008; Page E03
Washington Redskins second-year linebacker Rocky McIntosh underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee last week and is expected to be ready for start of the 2008 season, Coach Joe Gibbs said yesterday at Redskins Park. McIntosh, in his first full season as a starter at weak-side linebacker, had surgery Friday to repair damage he suffered Dec. 16. McIntosh finished the season with 105 tackles, including 70 solo, and three sacks.
Bubba Tyer, director of sports medicine, "feels like Rocky [will] be back and be ready for the start of the season," Gibbs said.
With Washington's season finished after a 35-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC first-round playoff game, several key players are expected to have "some type of surgery," Gibbs said. Versatile rookie lineman Lorenzo Alexander (right ankle) and rookie linebacker H.B. Blades (left knee) will have arthroscopic surgery. "I appreciate H.B. going all year [with] that thing swelling up and everything," Gibbs said. "He did not come off the field."
Safety Vernon Fox (left knee), defensive lineman Cornelius Griffin (right knee) and tight end Todd Yoder (right knee) also plan to have arthroscopic procedures.
How can they say to expect him back by next season already? He just underwent surgery. You just have to monitor his progress over time. He might be walking and running by next year but will he be as explosive?
I underwent reconstructive surgery on my right knee in 2001. I can say that it takes about two years to get back to the same athletic peak previously attained. Advances in medicine and surgical procedures have improved dramitically but its all about how his body heals. Some heal fast , some dont.
So I hope he will be back. To put a timetable on when he will be back is just speculation.
cooleyfan47 wrote:no offense buddy but ur not Rocky McIntosh.
No offense taken.
Nobody comes back from reconstructive surgery right away and lights it up.
Mcnabb just came back from reconstructive surgery and he didnt come around until late in the season. Guess what? Rockys injury was worse. Rocky tore his ACL and his MCL. Mcnabb just tore his ACL.
Many others who have torn there ACL have had the same result. Sure they come back but arent the same player until later on.
I do not doubt Rocky will be back. He just wont be as explosive until some time later.
Maybe when they got in there they saw that it wasn't as bad as they expected? Maybe due to the location of the injury they didn't have as invasive of a procedure as they initially thought? Or maybe its like you said, he will play but he won't have the same speed and explsion til 2009.
HEROHAMO wrote:How can they say to expect him back by next season already? He just underwent surgery. You just have to monitor his progress over time. He might be walking and running by next year but will he be as explosive?
I underwent reconstructive surgery on my right knee in 2001. I can say that it takes about two years to get back to the same athletic peak previously attained. Advances in medicine and surgical procedures have improved dramitically but its all about how his body heals. Some heal fast , some dont. So I hope he will be back. To put a timetable on when he will be back is just speculation.
jazzskins wrote:Maybe when they got in there they saw that it wasn't as bad as they expected? Maybe due to the location of the injury they didn't have as invasive of a procedure as they initially thought? Or maybe its like you said, he will play but he won't have the same speed and explsion til 2009.
Those were my first thought as well. Many, many times, players are capable of "coming back" much faster than doctors and trainers predict. I'm not saying this will be the case with Rocky, but as jazzskins mentioned, once they got in there, they may have found that it wasn't as bad as originally thought.
Regardless of how they've determined this, the news is great and positive. Rocky was in excellent physical shape and trains hard. A positive mental approach to healing can help greatly as well, and I think Rocky is that type of guy. Will he be 85% - 95% - 100% by the start of next season? Who knows. But I'll bet he is back much quicker than many of you think. Rocky is that type of guy with strong determination.
This is good news, we possibly don't have all the details regarding his newfound optimism. What I believe will happen is that he won't start practicing until the start of the 2008 season, so I'd imagine a mid season return.
HEROHAMO wrote:How can they say to expect him back by next season already? He just underwent surgery. You just have to monitor his progress over time. He might be walking and running by next year but will he be as explosive?
I underwent reconstructive surgery on my right knee in 2001. I can say that it takes about two years to get back to the same athletic peak previously attained. Advances in medicine and surgical procedures have improved dramitically but its all about how his body heals. Some heal fast , some dont. So I hope he will be back. To put a timetable on when he will be back is just speculation.
Why Dont you just chit right on our good news!
Your news is not reality! That is why dude. Why lie to yourself.
Having had 4 surgeries to my left knee, all reconstructive I know a thing or two about rehab. Its going to take 2 years. Hell, it took me 3 and I'm young and in shape, but no pro athlete. The biggest hurdle for him to get over will be the mental aspect and comfort of knowing what his abilities are as well as what his limitations should be. He needs to learn how to play at 100% with out risking himself.
I am glad to hear some positive news about Rocky. I hope he doesn't try to rush back too soon and do even more damage. He's young enough to still have plenty of good years ahead of him.
