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BENGALS
Anderson, Jones may not be ready for opener
Both tackles have sought second medical opinions and neither has practiced since training camp opened.
Comment: What does this mean for the Bengals this year?
Friday, August 17, 2007
CINCINNATI — Wearing a boot to protect his right foot, heel, ankle and lower leg, Bengals right offensive tackle Willie Anderson made it clear Thursday he's worried that he may miss the nationally televised Sept. 10 opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
And if misery loves company, all he has to do is turn to his best friend and locker mate — left tackle Levi Jones, who owns an achy left knee.
Extras
Anderson's right foot and Jones' left knee are the team's biggest concerns, because neither high-priced bookend has practiced since training camp opened July 27.
Both were absent from the field again Thursday when the New Orleans Saints marched in, marking the first time in the Bengals' 40-year history they've practiced against an NFL opponent.
Anderson said he was encouraged by head coach Marvin Lewis to seek a second medical opinion, so he spent a week in Atlanta, where he underwent what he called a "nonsurgical procedure" to help ease his pain.
"Yeah, I'm worried," Anderson said. "I went to Atlanta and really found out what the problem was; that it was something else. It's kind of discouraging because I found out so late in the year.
"Now we're dealing with a time issue and a healing process. Either this procedure works or bad news comes out."
Anderson wouldn't reveal the exact injury or the extent of it. But the four-time Pro Bowl player's team-high streak of 112 straight starts is at risk. He said the boot will be history by early next week, but that he's two weeks away from any on-field activity.
"Doctors are optimistic about the end of the preseason, trying to give it a go and see how it feels," Anderson said. "You know me. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I'm lining up against Baltimore."
Same with Jones.
"That's the goal," he said. "You go when you're ready to play, right? And sometimes play when you're not ready. As soon as I can get it figured out and feel good about it, here I come."
Three Bengals' first-round draft picks — Anderson (1996), Jones (2002) and tailback Chris Perry (2004) — have questioned the club's medical staff in the past 12 months.
| Offensive tackle trouble | |||
| Starters | NFL seasons | games-starts | '07 salary |
| LT Levi Jones | 6 | 69-66 | $1 million |
| RT Willie Anderson | 12 | 174-168 | $2.4 million |
| Backups | NFL seasons | games-starts | '07 salary |
| LT Andrew Whitworth | 2 | 16-12 | $360,000 |
| RT Scott Kooistra | 5 | 54-1 | $595,000 |
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Karlos1211
August 18, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
The o-line backups (Kooistra and Andrews) are better than the Bengals have had in previous seasons, will get a lot of 1st team work in the pre-season and are going to step up. I am not as concerned as I would have been, say 2 years ago. Willie will be back as he is a tough guy. Levi should take Willie’s lead and suck it up. Maybe if he would have spent more time in the off-season rehabbing his knee as opposed to scrapping in casinos he’d be on the field tomorrow night.
By Karlos1211
August 17, 2007 11:54 PM | Link to this
Hopefully this procedure will work but I’m not as worried as I would have been in years past as the Bengals’ O-Line backups are much stronger than year’s past and will get a lot of work in the pre-season. Willie is tough and this must be very hard for him. Levi, on the other hand, needs to take a lesson from Willie and suck it up. Maybe he would be on the field right now had he concentrated more on re-habbing his knee in the off-season instead of scrapping in casinos.
By Terry
August 17, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Who cares- Bengals are a cheesy little flea market team and have been since 1968. Hope they go 0-16. Never liked Mickie Brown’s little dog and pony show. Not a Brown’s fan either. Wish they had a tougher schedule this year. Love to hear the radio stations taking calls when the Bengals aren’t doing well! So much whining and crying- IT’s great!Hope a linebacker takes Chaddly “Big Mouth” Johnson out. Like all the potential convicts and felons too.Guess I just don’t like minor league football.
By Wrong Treatment?
August 17, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
I have a medical background (though not an orthopedist), and it does appear that there is something wrong here. However, I find it hard to believe these players are being misdiagnosed assuming they are utilizing advanced MRI and a competent team of radiologists and orthopods. This sounds like an issue of choosing the wrong treatment—quite simply, it can be difficult to determine whether an injury requires surgical intervention, medical management, or physical therapy.
By Trabba
August 17, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Injuries killed us last year with Braham and Pollack going down early. Hopefully Levi and Willie will be back. We just need to get through the first eight games with at least a .500 winning percentage, and then end strong. And Brownfan, if you want to go back 20 years as you suggested, you will see we have an AFC Championship, and the last I checked the Browns did not.
By foster
August 17, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
New stadiums, new players, injuries, drug, alchol, and steroids. Makes no difference, just like the Springfield School District, losers are losers and only better leadership will ever change that.
By doug,bowling,franklin,ohio
August 17, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this
waths,new,lazy,bums,over,paid,god,bless,you,all.
By mark
August 17, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
time will tell browns fan…..why argue time will tell…can’t wait to see that bust quinn
By mark
August 17, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
time will tell browns fan…..why argue time will tell…can’t wait to see that bist quinn
By chris
August 17, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
loNG SEASON LAZY PLAYERS WHO WAS THE BONE HEAD WHO DRAFTED CHRIS PERRY WHEN WE COULD OF HAD STEVEN JACKSON AND TAKING KENNY IRONS BUST KIJANA2 SHOULD OF JUMPED UP IN 2ROUND AND PAULOONSKY FROM PENN STATE COME ON MARVIN REMEMBER THE ROWDIES
By chris
August 17, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
loNG SEASON LAZY PLAYERS WHO WAS THE BONE HEAD WHO DRAFTED CHRIS PERRY WHEN WE COULD OF HAD STEVEN JACKSON AND TAKING KENNY IRONS BUST KIJANA2 SHOULD OF JUMPED UP IN 2ROUND AND PAULOONSKY FROM PENN STATE COME ON MARVIN REMEMBER THE ROWDIES
By chris
August 17, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
loNG SEASON LAZY PLAYERS WHO WAS THE BONE HEAD WHO DRAFTED CHRIS PERRY WHEN WE COULD OF HAD STEVEN JACKSON AND TAKING KENNY IRONS BUST KIJANA2 SHOULD OF JUMPED UP IN 2ROUND AND PAULOONSKY FROM PENN STATE COME ON MARVIN REMEMBER THE ROWDIES
By Rhine Mclin's hat
August 17, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Brown fan— its called supply and demand we have sold out 28 straight games and this season is already sold out just head on up to Cleveland its no problem getting tickets.
Bob are you on crack they had the toughest schedule in the NFL last year you are a idiot
Benny I think you are correct
By Rhine Mclin's hat
August 17, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Brown fan— its called supply and demand we have sold out 28 straight games and this season is already sold out just head on up to Cleveland its no problem getting tickets.
Bob are you on crack they had the toughest schedule in the NFL last year you are a idiot
Benny I think you are correct
By Tom
August 17, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Sounds like passing the buck to me…. Why is this the doctor’s fault or even the Bengal’s? Injuries are part of the game. These guys make millions of dollars why does Marvin Lewis have to tell Willie Anderson to get a second opinion? Can’t he figure that out on his own?
By Tom
August 17, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Sounds like passing the buck to me…. Why is this the doctor’s fault or even the Bengal’s? Injuries are part of the game. These guys make millions of dollars why does Marvin Lewis have to tell Willie Anderson to get a second opinion? Can’t he figure that out on his own?
By deron
August 17, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this
This is getting downright unacceptable. The problem lies with the fact that the bengals don’t hire the right mix of medical personnel. The current staff is deep rooted in such traditional orthodox medicine that they aren’t interested in understanding other non-traditional methods of treatment. Willie has suggested this two years ago. Old school traditional medicine may still have a place but when you have a payroll of approximately 100 million you better get the right mix..Don’t you think?
By rick
August 17, 2007 8:43 AM | Link to this
They are quality players that are needed for our success. If they are out and then let’s say Kooistra gets dinged, who’s your RT? Depth gets very thin and shaky without these 2 starting.
By G
August 17, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
I whole-heartedly agree with schudaddy555. The Bengals’ (and Reds for that matter) medical staff appears to be completely incompetent. How can they “misdiagnose” so many players in the last two years? These players—Anderson, Jones, and Chris Perry to name three—have nagging injuries that if diagnosed properly, may already be back to playing. Come on Bengals….. protect you investment! Hire a competent medical group!!!
By Brown-fan
August 17, 2007 8:41 AM | Link to this
1 winning season with this “supposed star studded” lineup. Yet season ticket prices have went from $40 to $65 per seat per game in lower section in last five years. Equates to underachieving rip-off. At least the Browns are moving in the right direction. And before all you bandwagon fans start bashing me, remember, the Bengals and the Browns have the same number of winning seasons and playoff appearances with the same 1 and out result in the last 15 to 20 years!
By 21
August 17, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Over the hill? He is still one of the best O Lineman in the NFL. And patsy schedule? Palmer played through an ACL tear last year. You remember Daunte Culpepper? He had the same injury and look how his year ended up. Bad and then got replaced by Joey Harrington and then he got released. The Henry suspension will hurt then through 8 games and not having Willie or Jones will KILL them.
By benny
August 17, 2007 8:27 AM | Link to this
Apparently after 7:50 am, the IQ’s of those responding to Chick’s article drops significantly….
By Sam
August 17, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
I personally don’t believe these guys have injuries. They just don’t want to play while they draw those hefty paychecks.
By Tom
August 17, 2007 8:13 AM | Link to this
Anderson is over the hill and Jones is highly overrated. Nothing lost if they miss the opener.
By bob
August 17, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this
It ain’t gonna matter if these dudes play this season or not. They no longer have the patsy schedule from a couple seasons ago. I predict they may win seven games.
By schudaddy555
August 17, 2007 7:36 AM | Link to this
I think the Bengals medical staff should be held accountable for their unnacceptable performance. This happens a lot, guys being misdiagnosed and/or not being properly diagnosed in the offseason only to be diagnosed during camp and then missing the season. Does the system they have in place for treating injured players need to be reviewed? What does Bengals’ management think about the large number of injuries and the lack of good medical attention?