MMMD: Bradford is not injury prone

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iced

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http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Monday-Morning-MD-3766.html

Sam Bradford is not injury prone: ACL re-tears are more common in the first year back. Dr. David Chao

AUGUST 25, 2014, 11:45 AM EST

The Rams held great optimism for the post-ACL return of quarterback Sam Bradford this season. After their starting signal-caller exited the third preseason game and was examined, initial reports indicated his ACL was not torn. Unfortunately, that expectation disappeared after an MRI, as it turns out Bradford re-tore his ACLand will miss all of the 2014 season.

ACL re-tears happen and this does not make Bradford injury prone. The Rams may have been shocked to discover they lost their quarterback again, but medically speaking, a re-tear is more likely in the first year post-injury. Usually teams are not surprised by MRI results as the medical staff can easily diagnose ACL tears with physical examination. Typically, initial examination prior to the knee swelling and guarding is even more accurate than MRI.

Some of the initial optimism stemmed from the fact that Bradford didn’t feel a pop and wasn’t in significant pain. However, this is not unusual in early re-tear as the graft still has no nerves in it. Bradford also was walking around fine in the locker room without crutches or a limp, leading to more of a false sense of security. Not only does the graft not have nerves, it also doesn’t have a blood supply yet. So when it tears, there is not the usual level of swelling that leads to a limp.

Bradford3-7220.jpg
ICONBradford's injury likely signals the end of his time in St. Louis.

Football fans have been lulled into a false sense of security after Vikings running back Adrian Peterson’s much publicized ACL recovery several years ago. Despite medical advances, ACL recovery is not without peril. There is a higher risk for ACL graft tear in the first 12 months of recovery as the ligamentization process is not yet complete.

Even when an athlete returns to sports early, full ACL recovery takes a minimum of 18 months. All the rehabilitation in the world can’t speed up the biology of graft incorporation where donor tissue becomes a ligament. Once the graft is fully ligamentized, the rate of re-tear can drop to half that of the other side native ACL tearing.

I am not criticizing St. Louis doctors or Bradford’s surgeon. Early return has become the industry standard. In a perfect world, an athlete would sit out two seasons before playing, but this is simply not practical.

Looking at the video, the hyperextension mechanism did not seem severe. The initial hope was for scar tissue or bone contusion. Bradford’s brace may have stabilized the knee enough that the shift was not seen on replay.

Quarterbacks often wear a prophylactic brace on their lead leg. Although it did not save Bradford from graft tear, the brace still likely prevented additional cartilage damage. Typically, a brace can decrease the severity of injury by a degree and, hopefully in this case, helps his injury remain an isolated tear.

The statistics show Bradford has an uphill battle ahead of him. 95 percent of athletes return to the same level of play after their first ACL injury. That rate of return drops considerably after a second same-knee ACL tear. Given this injury is likely isolated, I believe Bradford still has an excellent chance to return despite the longer odds.

Patella tendon is the most common graft choice in the NFL. Since the middle third of Bradford’s kneecap tendon was used ten months ago, it cannot be reused. Bradford’s surgeon will likely choose the hamstring tendon as the graft. Other options include quad tendon or patella tendon from the other knee. A cadaver is usually the last option, as it has higher failure rates.

Once we examine the medical facts and increased frequency of early ACL re-tear, it would be unfair to label Sam Bradford injury prone. More accurately, it is the desire for quick return accompanied by bad luck.

MMMD 1: Regular season game conditions lead to more injuries

Most preseason games look nothing like a regular season game. However, the third preseason game traditionally features starters playing against starters for the first half. This brings regular season intensity and, unfortunately, injuries increase as a result.

Whenever competition heats up, inevitably more injuries occur. It is no coincidence that there are fewer injuries in the fourth quarter of a blowout and more injuries in a hard fought divisional game.

Although there has been much talk of limiting preseason contests, this phenomenon may not go away. Even if the NFL cuts back on these dress rehearsals, that would only push up the timing. The second-to-last contest will always be the high intensity contest with higher injury risk.

MMMD 2: Cam Newton rib fracture is not necessarily bad news

No one wants to sustain a fracture of any kind. However, if you have to suffer one, a hairline rib fracture like the one Panthers quarterback Cam Newton recently sustained is the best one to have.

Newton12-1548.jpg
Newton should be fine for the Panthers' season opener.

In general, rib fractures heal very quickly and never require surgery or casting. A hairline fracture is non-displaced and offers the quickest of healing. Based on my NFL team physician experience, it is better to have this type of rib fracture than an intercostal or oblique muscle strain. It is likely that Newton will miss less time with his fracture than Drew Brees did with his oblique muscle strain suffered this preseason.

Newton continued to play into the second half despite the injury. I fully expect the Panthers to have their starting quarterback for the regular season opener. In fact, there should be more worry about residual effects from his ankle surgery (or rust from that recovery) than about this rib fracture.

MMMD 3: Pattern of concussions may bode poorly for Wes Welker

The Denver wide receiver suffered his third concussion in the last calendar year. Welker’s first concussion last season was in Week 11 and he returned after one week. The second was suffered in Week 14 and he missed a month before returning for the playoffs with an oversized helmet for extra protection.

There is a lot we still don’t know about concussions, but we do know severity and proximity create bigger problems. The magnitude of the head injury and the closer they occur together, the more problematic for a player.

I have no knowledge of Welker’s symptoms after this third concussion in 10 months, but it could lead to a prolonged absence. Certainly, a fourth head injury would lead to one. You can bet that the Broncos will at the very least sit their star receiver for the final preseason game.

MMMD 4: Chiefs may be without their big offseason acquisition

Linebacker Joe Mays recently underwent wrist surgery to repair ligament damage. Often times an NFL linebacker plays through a fractured wrist with a cast, but a ligament tear resulting in bone instability is a different story.

Mays’ ligament tear was significant enough to require surgery. Typically, this means a minimum recovery of eight to twelve weeks. If the doctors were able to stabilize with pins during surgery, Mays might be able to return to play earlier with a cast.

Most times, NFL athletes play through wrist injuries. This one might be severe enough to land Mays on IR or IR designated for return.

MMMD 5: Giants offensive line takes another hit

Guard Geoff Schwart, a big offseason acquisition, exited the third preseason game on a cart. Initial media reports incorrectly surmised that a dislocated toe would not be a big deal.

Although I had not examined Schwartz, based on my NFL experience, I immediately indicated on twitter that the Giants had a big problem as he likely dislocated his first metatarsal phalangeal joint. By video, the Giants team doctor pulled the toe and easily reduced the dislocation on the field. An easy reduction is not a good sign as it means that much capsular tissue was torn.

The big toe is vital for push off and this is not a benign injury. One could consider this to be a very severe turf toe injury.

Schwartz is now headed to see a foot specialist. The best case scenario is conservative care in a boot and a six-week absence. My expectation is that he will need season-ending foot surgery with an outside chance of injured reserve designated for return. I hope I am wrong.

MMMD 6: Jets will likely start season without star cornerback

First-round draft pick Dee Milliner was recently confirmed to have suffered a high ankle sprain. Traditional low ankle sprains swell more, but heal more quickly. High ankle sprains swell less but need more time.

Because Milliner was reported with significant swelling, his high ankle sprain is likely at least moderate in nature. Based on my experience, a cornerback with such an injury typically needs four to six weeks to recovery from his August 10th injury putting the opener in jeopardy.

In this case, the next man up can’t be Dexter McDougle, as he tore his ACL at the same practice that Milliner injured his ankle.

MMMD 7: Unique training camp injury

jc4.jpg
Fantasy owners were likely worried about Charles' freak injury.

Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles suited up but did not play as a result of his training camp foot injury. He suffered the injury while carrying boxes during his move out of the dorms.

Kansas City’s star running back has since returned back to practice. Being held out of the game was likely precautionary and there is no reason to believe he won’t be 100 percent for the season opener. However, next time Charles might want to tip an intern to get some help moving.

MMMD extra: ACL recovery series – Week 32

The eight-month mark has arrived for the ACL reconstructions of Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and Broncos linebacker Von Miller. The topic for this week will be re-injury scare.

Most athletes are understandably tentative and worried about their knee upon return to action. I usually forewarn players that until they survive an injury scare, they won’t regain full confidence. Until they go down and clutch their knee thinking the worst, then dust themselves off and realize their knee is fine, the mental healing process is not complete.

Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin had just such a re-injury scare last week when he went down with a non-contact mechanism. In the end, Maclin checked out just fine. Hopefully this is what he needed to cross his recovery threshold.

Unfortunately, Sam Bradford’s knee did not survive the injury scare that most athletes go through to return to 100 percent.

I am not sure if Gronk or Miller have had their moment yet, but they will likely need to survive a scare on the road to becoming the great players they are again.
 

DR RAM

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It's a well written article, and sometimes people are just unlucky. I'm sure a few of us here can attest to that. That being said, I think it was in the majority that we all wanted a young man to groom, if something tragic were to strike our QB1 again. Our team is deeper, and better, at almost, if not, every position this year, and that will continue. We will climb the mountain, and we will stay on top for a long while.
 

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It's time to face facts. Sam's NFL career is a massive BUST. There are 50 shades of gray in this matter, I could list all of the reason's for Sam's struggles, and they are valid. But we CAN'T continue gambling on him. It's time to draft his replacement in 2015. We should offer him a much reduced contract to be a back up, and he won't get that big of a contract/renegotiation deal with anyone else, either..It's just whether he could accept his diminished role with the Rams.
 

Irish

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I guess the season ending shoulder surgery in his junior year at OU doesn't count
 

-X-

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He's no more *prone* to injury than any other player. Prone, to me, means he keeps getting injured in the same way/spot.
That's just not the case. Unlucky as hell is a more apt description, IMO.
 

junkman

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It's time to face facts. Sam's NFL career is a massive BUST. There are 50 shades of gray in this matter, I could list all of the reason's for Sam's struggles, and they are valid. But we CAN'T continue gambling on him. It's time to draft his replacement in 2015. We should offer him a much reduced contract to be a back up, and he won't get that big of a contract/renegotiation deal with anyone else, either..It's just whether he could accept his diminished role with the Rams.

I think we'll all be shocked at how much somebody else will pay for Bradford.

2015 off-season, we can be pretty sure the Rams will do something. Depending on what happens 2014, I seriously doubt we wait until the 6th round to pick someone. Mariotta, Winston, Hundley... surely one of them will be available when the Rams pick. S#!t, I hate it that I was just looking at a 2015 mock!

That said, if the Rams keep Bradford for 2015, he'll probably be given a chance to compete for the starting job. But the 2015 pick, 2015 off-season pickups, the incumbent at the end of 2014... all will be given just as good of a chance.
 

Ken

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I think Bradford should wait until the 2016 season to try a come back IMO. Make sure the ACL is 100% completely recovered.
 

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I think Bradford should wait until the 2016 season to try a come back IMO. Make sure the ACL is 100% completely recovered.
Agree, but that scar tissue thing can be a sonofabitch. When it tears, it feels like you busted your leg all over again.
 

Elmgrovegnome

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He's no more *prone* to injury than any other player. Prone, to me, means he keeps getting injured in the same way/spot.
That's just not the case. Unlucky as hell is a more apt description, IMO.

Or prone could mean that he is more likely to get any general injury. Matt Daniels seems to be injury prone. Saffold does too. Some guys never seem to get injured. It could have something to do with the strength of the joints, ligaments, or whatever. Some people have small or narrow joints. That can be a good thing for bodybuilders because it makes their muscles look bigger, but it can be a hindrance while lifting. The book 'Power Factor' addresses this and suggest that their way of lifting weights will strengthen the joints and ligaments and such.

I do agree with the article though that this was a case of being hit too early. Knowing what I know now I wish the team would have shelved Sam for a full 12 months. Maybe they do too. 20/20
 

Elmgrovegnome

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I think we'll all be shocked at how much somebody else will pay for Bradford.

2015 off-season, we can be pretty sure the Rams will do something. Depending on what happens 2014, I seriously doubt we wait until the 6th round to pick someone. Mariotta, Winston, Hundley... surely one of them will be available when the Rams pick. S#!t, I hate it that I was just looking at a 2015 mock!

That said, if the Rams keep Bradford for 2015, he'll probably be given a chance to compete for the starting job. But the 2015 pick, 2015 off-season pickups, the incumbent at the end of 2014... all will be given just as good of a chance.

My Brother is a Cowboys fan and he is licking his chops. He said he would love it if they signed him even if he didnt play for a full year or two.
 

RamzFanz

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I think we'll all be shocked at how much somebody else will pay for Bradford.

2015 off-season, we can be pretty sure the Rams will do something. Depending on what happens 2014, I seriously doubt we wait until the 6th round to pick someone. Mariotta, Winston, Hundley... surely one of them will be available when the Rams pick. S#!t, I hate it that I was just looking at a 2015 mock!

That said, if the Rams keep Bradford for 2015, he'll probably be given a chance to compete for the starting job. But the 2015 pick, 2015 off-season pickups, the incumbent at the end of 2014... all will be given just as good of a chance.

You think the Rams will keep Bradford who may not even be ready to play by the start of 2015?

I don't. Too many contracts coming up for players the Rams MUST keep.

The Rams are now in the spot the Seahawks were. They've built the trenches. They have the skill players. Time to grab the QB of the future and groom and protect him.

If a coach paid SB big to come be their starter, it would be a desperation move. A coach on the rocks with no QB prospects. Bradford got Bulgered, and you usually don't come back from that.

My ONLY hope for him to stay is if he does a major contract restructuring, plays backup in 2015, and competes for the starting job.
 

junkman

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You think the Rams will keep Bradford who may not even be ready to play by the start of 2015?

I don't. Too many contracts coming up for players the Rams MUST keep.

The Rams are now in the spot the Seahawks were. They've built the trenches. They have the skill players. Time to grab the QB of the future and groom and protect him.

If a coach paid SB big to come be their starter, it would be a desperation move. A coach on the rocks with no QB prospects. Bradford got Bulgered, and you usually don't come back from that.

My ONLY hope for him to stay is if he does a major contract restructuring, plays backup in 2015, and competes for the starting job.

I'm 50/50 on whether Bradford is a Ram next year. A lot depends on what happens in 2014 without him.

If the Rams found a Wilson in the 3rd in 2015 ala Seahawks (smart, mobile, durable?, mistake-free), freed up a ton of money from the QB position to keep all their RGIII bounty players... too good to be true.

The real key point that we both seem to agree... that we want Bradford to be COMPETING for in 2015 for a spot.
 

AZRamsFan93

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It's a well written article, and sometimes people are just unlucky. I'm sure a few of us here can attest to that. That being said, I think it was in the majority that we all wanted a young man to groom, if something tragic were to strike our QB1 again. Our team is deeper, and better, at almost, if not, every position this year, and that will continue. We will climb the mountain, and we will stay on top for a long while.
I guess it depends on how one would define injury prone.

Me? I define it fairly simply: "experiences significant injuries too often".

By my definition, Sam is injury prone.
 

RamzFanz

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I'm 50/50 on whether Bradford is a Ram next year. A lot depends on what happens in 2014 without him.

If the Rams found a Wilson in the 3rd in 2015 ala Seahawks (smart, mobile, durable?, mistake-free), freed up a ton of money from the QB position to keep all their RGIII bounty players... too good to be true.

The real key point that we both seem to agree... that we want Bradford to be COMPETING for in 2015 for a spot.

I would be more than happy to see Sam step up and do what he had to to be a Ram. I have to believe that would be a massive reduction in hs contract and a play-for-pay clause.

I would never let him be the starter again without the QB of the future and a staunchy vet like SH behind him though.

I'm 2/98 on Bradford being a Ram next season. Paying him full price to sit on the bench and then maybe not even have him as a backup next season at full price again? Not gonna happen IMHO and I would be pissed if they did.

You'll notice there has not been a peep from Snisher about "Sam is our guy" since the injury. They aren't going to get suckered into that kind of payout.
 

cracengl

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Injury prone, unlucky, hated by the Gods. I dunno. Whatever it is, the guy is not on the field. And I think he has all the talent in the world. I wish the Rams could wait it out and know that he'd be all world when he comes back and he'd be over the injury bug or unlucky streak. But that's an even bigger gamble on him than what has already been made. The rest of our division is not going to take it easy on us waiting around for our good intentions to bear fruit. I think they should focus on finding a suitable guy for the future--whether that is developing Davis or Gilbert, or drafting a new guy high--regardless of what happens to Sam. If they can get him at a reasonable extension or whatever and IF he is able to perform and stay on the field, that's a bonus at this point. A cap friendly extension or resigning combined with a cap friendly rookie deal for a new guy makes it possible to bank on the best performer and eventually the ability to trade one of them away. But if history serves as a guide, that's not going to be an issue--whether Sam proves injury prone or just unlucky once more.

Or maybe we graft some adamantium to his skeleton and make him a bionic/wolverine super freak.
 

AZRamsFan93

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I would be more than happy to see Sam step up and do what he had to to be a Ram. I have to believe that would be a massive reduction in hs contract and a play-for-pay clause.

I would never let him be the starter again without the QB of the future and a staunchy vet like SH behind him though.

I'm 2/98 on Bradford being a Ram next season. Paying him full price to sit on the bench and then maybe not even have him as a backup next season at full price again? Not gonna happen IMHO and I would be pissed if they did.

You'll notice there has not been a peep from Snisher about "Sam is our guy" since the injury. They aren't going to get suckered into that kind of payout.
They can't make that statement. They are not fools.
 

jrry32

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My personal stance is that the Rams should ask Bradford to take a pay cut and draft someone. Let them compete for the starting job. Bradford knows the offense while it'll likely be beneficial for a rookie to sit and learn. If Bradford gets hurt, we have our draft pick take over. If he stays healthy and plays incredibly well, we'll have a tough decision to make. If he is average, we let him walk after the season or try to re-sign him as a backup.
 

DR RAM

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My personal stance is that the Rams should ask Bradford to take a pay cut and draft someone. Let them compete for the starting job. Bradford knows the offense while it'll likely be beneficial for a rookie to sit and learn. If Bradford gets hurt, we have our draft pick take over. If he stays healthy and plays incredibly well, we'll have a tough decision to make. If he is average, we let him walk after the season or try to re-sign him as a backup.
I agree with this, mostly.
 

CGI_Ram

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Here's what I believe; Sam will bounce back and be a good comeback story in this league. If not in St. Louis, somewhere.

He's got the talent.