Brady’s 2009 May Be In Jeopardy

Photo Courtesy Boston Globe

Tom Curran, formerly of the Providence Journal, and currently of MSNBC, reports an NFL league source tells him Tom Brady is far from ready to rehab his knee.

The NFL All-Injured Team

Everyone knows injury happen in sports everyday. Whether it’s a pulled hammy in a backyard wiffleball game, or a torn ACL on the professional field…nobody is immune(well, maybe Brett Favre). However, injuries are most notable in the NFL.

The other major sports have their share of bumps, bruises, surgeries, and concussions, but it doesn’t compare to the NFL. The league loses a score of marquee players every season, with no end in sight.

Is it the nature of the game? Sure. It is extremely violent, and with a short season, it’s difficult to rehab in time to make it back. But, you can’t help but wonder if there is more the NFL can do to protect the players. Maybe they already are…with more personal fouls and fines coming from gruesome hits, but still we have had a season with numerous season ending injuries.

I don’t believe the league should wear a “collective skirt”…but maybe it’s time for players to start looking out for one another a little bit.

Anyway, here is a list of players, who have either been on the injured reserve all year, or have been placed on it this season. This team could be a serious contender for the Super Bowl.

Let’s also not forget that the NFL can’t be too happy when superstars are out of the spotlight. I’m sure Tom Brady jersey sales are a bit down this season.

note…not all injuries were induced by legal or late hits.

QB: Tom Brady, New England: Last Year’s MVP…enough said.
QB: Brady Quinn, Cleveland: He finally got his chance, and it lasted three weeks before
going down.
QB: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati: A long year in the ‘Nati has been even longer without him.
Honorable Mention: Brodie Croyle, Derek Anderson, Jon Kitna

RB: Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay: Averaging over 4 yards per carry before the injury
RB: Laurence Maroney, New England: Hasn’t been the same since rushing for 300 yards in the playoffs last year.
Honorable Mention: The Denver Broncos

FB: Brian Leonard, St Louis: The Rams lost nearly 500 all-purpose yards from 2007 when Leonard went down.

WR: Nate Burleson, Seattle: Coming off a 50 catch year, only played in one game.
WR: Greg Camarillo, Miami: Don’t laugh…he was leading the Dolphins in receptions before going down.
WR: Javon Walker, Oakland: Tried to make a bit of a comeback…still talented…now injured.
Honorable Mention: Joe Jurivicous, Mike Furrey, David Tyree

TE: Randy McMichael, St. Louis: Just another target missing this season for Marc Bulger.

OL: The Jacksonville Jaguars
OL: Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh

DL: Kelly Greg, Baltimore
DL: Robaire Smith, Cleveland
DL: Osi Umenyiora, NY Giants

LB: Angelo Crowell, Buffalo: Knee surgery has kept him and his 100+ tackles off the field all season.
LB: EJ Henderson, Minnesota: The Vikings possibly lost 100+ tackles when EJ went down.
LB: Keith Rivers, Cincinnati: Was projected to have over 100 tackles in his first season before Hines Ward jacked him.
LB: Zach Diles, Houston: Had 66 tackles in just games before his injury.
LB: Shawne Merriman, San Diego: They played well while he was suspended…not so much while he has been injured.

CB: Chris McCallister, Baltimore: Still one of the better corners in the league…had 3 picks before going down.
CB: Rasheen Mathis, Jacksonville: Was one of the high points this season for the Jags.
Honorable Mention: Marlin Jackson and Nathan Vasher

S: Rodney Harrison, New England: He may have slowed down, but the Pats lost his intimidation and toughness.
S: Roy Williams, Dallas: Like the Pats, the Boys lose toughness
Honorable Mention: Sammy Knight,

K: Martin Gramatica, New Orleans: 6/10 on field goals and perfect on PAT’s before a groin injury sidelined him

P: Mat McBriar, Dallas: Was averaging 49 yard per punt before the injury

KR: Felix Jones, Dallas

Update on Tom Brady

Bad news on the ACL heard round the world go pop. The Boston Herald is reporting that Brady has had 3 surgeries to clean out an infection in his surigically repaired knee, and doctors are now concerned that the graft used to replace the ACL could become compromised. This would result in a second reconstruction and delay his return.

Here is the Herald’s story.

In unrelated news, anyone wanna swap me a Cassel jersey for my Brady jersey?

Fitzy…You Da Man!

Most of you CMSB readers are well aware of Paul “Fitzy” Fitzgerald, those who are not, go here or here and laugh your a** off. Well I had some free time this morning and I found that the Shredd and Ragan Show on a radio station up in Buffalo had started a classless promotion to see who could make the best Bernard Pollard Bust..yes the same Bernard Pollard that ruined Tom Brady’s season. Anyway, an email campaign was waged and even before I could enlist the CMSB readers, we got the contest pulled! YEAH! Feel free to go to Shredd and Ragan’s site and rant away at how tasteless a promotion that was..I sure have. Anyway, thanks to Fitzy for giving us a shoutout and Fitzy…please feel free to join us on the Sports Vortex anytime, we would love to have you.

Just in case you people still don’t know who Fitzy is, here is a classic for those of you that remember the Britney Spears lover Chris Crocker, who ranted on YouTube…well here is Fitzy’s take on a subject we are all to familiar with…

Wednesday Morning Quick Hitters

The Red Sox went from elation in the Bottom of the 8th inning with Jason Bay’s HR to go ahead to deflation when Jonathan Paplebon coughed up the win, allowing Tampa to score 2 runs in the Top of the 9th. The Rays win 5 – 4. The Rays go back up in the AL East by 1 1/2 games.

The Minnesota Twins moved a game closer in the AL Central and the Wild Card standings as they beat the KC Royals 7 – 2.

The Chicago White Sox drop a pair to Toronto as the Blue Jays extend their winning streak to 9 games..can you say 2008 version of the 2007 Colorado Rockies?

The Florida Marlins played HR Derby beating the Philadelphia Phillies 10 – 8.

Carlos Delgado continues his 2nd half power surge, slamming the New York Mets to 10 – 8 win over the Washington Nationals. The Mets are 2 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies in the AL East.

The NL Central stays the same again as both the Cubs and Brewers lose again. The Chicago Cubs lose to the St Louis 4 – 3. The Milwaukee Brewers lose to the Reds in extra innings again 5 – 4. The Brewers stay 4 1/2 games back of the Cubbies.

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to roll now that they are in 1st place, beating the San Diego Padres 6 – 2.

Arizona loses late to the hapless San Francisco Giants 5 – 4. The Diamondbacks have lost 5 straight and are now 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West.

Shawne Merriman decides to do the right thing and opts for surgery.

The NFL Network is reporting that Chris Simms has signed with the Titans.

Doc Rivers signs extension with the Boston Celtics.

Mo Cheeks and the 76ers agree to terms.

Monta Ellis admits to lying about his injury.

Kobe Bryant will not have surgery on his finger. So many jokes so…so little space..

Jim Tressel says that Wells will play for The Ohio State in their contest with USC.

Former Patriots Offensive Coordinator and current Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis finally explains his comments about Michigan at a ND Booster conference last spring.

Tuesday Morning Quick Hitters

Jon Lester pitches a gem as the Boston Red Sox move 1/2 game back of the Tampa Bay Rays, beating the Rays 3 – 0 at Fenway.

The Philadelphia Phillies moved 1/2 game closer to the New York Mets Monday by beating the Florida Marlins 8 – 6.

The Cincinnati Reds seem to have the Milwaukee Brewers late inning number of late, rallying for 3 9th inning runs to beat the Brew Crew 5 – 4. The brewers still hold a 3 game lead over the Phillies in the Wild Card.

The NL West stayed the same as the LA Dodgers lost to the San Diego Padres 4 – 0 and the Arizona Diamondbacks lost to the lowly San Francisco Giants 6 – 2. The Dodgers are 1 1/2 games up on the D-Backs.

The Oakland Raiders futility continued, as the Denver Broncos stomped all over the Black Hole 42 – 14.

In the early game, the Aaron Rodgers Era started on a high note for the Green Bay Packers by beating division rival Minnesota Vikings 24 – 19.

Obviously, Tom Brady was placed on IR yesterday. Tom Curran of MSNBC got an email from Tom Brady yesterday.