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Maybe it was karma that caused Dez Bryant to hurt his ankle
Posted Saturday, Jul. 31, 2010
By Gil LeBreton
glebreton@ star-telegram.com
SAN ANTONIO — Bad karma?
Upon further review, maybe Dez Bryant should have carried the shoulder pads.
But it's football. Ankles happen. Rookies get hurt.
Yes, even the Dallas Cowboys in this, their golden anniversary, Super Bowl-hosting season.
In a blink Friday afternoon, the hit of the camp became the worry of the camp. Bryant's high ankle sprain could sideline him for a month, could keep him from making his NFL debut for two months or could hamper his running and cutting for the rest of the season.
Choose your prognosis. High ankle sprains are that iffy.
My cousin the orthopedic specialist said that high ankle sprains are among the most bothersome sports injuries that he treats. The best therapy -- staying off your feet -- is the easiest to ignore.
Hockey star Sidney Crosby suffered a high ankle sprain in January, 2008, and returned in March -- 61/2 weeks.
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain in mid-March and returned April 30 -- 61/2 weeks.
On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki seems to get a high ankle sprain every few months. He misses a game, maybe two, and then he's back, running and jumping.
My cousin the orthopedic guy says that he's seen high ankle sprains bother high school football players for as much as six months.
If you're a Cowboys fan, Bryant's injury is close to the worst news possible, right up there with Romo, Jessica Back Together or Jones Reconsiders, Re-Signs Owens.
The rookie from Oklahoma State had been catching everything thrown his way, high and low, leaping or diving, and with two hands or one.
It's hard to find fault with Miles Austin -- 81 catches last season, 11 touchdowns. And owner Jerry Jones -- luckily, as it turns out -- was wise enough or stubborn enough not to trade receiver Patrick Crayton.
But Bryant's sprained ankle thrusts Roy Williams back into a go-to role, and that won't help season ticket sales.
If Williams was smug enough to tell Bryant to carry his shoulder pads, let's see if Roy is capable of filling Dez's shoes. Williams is due to be paid $9 million this season, and he should be expected to play as if he's worth it.
If he doesn't, the Cowboys' season will swing on Bryant's recovering ankle.
Bad karma.
As he promised the Jones family before the team drafted him, Bryant was quick to sign his rookie contract and arrive in camp.
And now here the Cowboys are, a week before their preseason opener, and their top three draft picks are all out with injuries.
The Bryant injury, of course, was an instant featured item on the national sports shows.
The Cowboys. Always with the drama.
Earlier in the day, the Cowboys item making the TV and radio rounds had been Troy Aikman's low-key jest about being a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Those weasels from TMZ ran with it, as is the fashion these days, which prompted Aikman's classic denial, sent via Twitter:
"I will not be on DWTS... interferes with American Idol auditions."
This is why we love Aikman. He gets it.
Jimmy Johnson, signing up to be on Survivor: Nicaragua? Had it, but no longer gets it.
Miles Austin, dating one of the Kardashians? Not even close.
Austin's life was destined to be radically altered even before Friday's injury to fellow receiver Dez. Reggie Bush dated Kim Kardashian and, next thing he knew, he no longer had a Heisman Trophy.
The Cowboys can't help it. When owner Jones tried to downplay his expectations at training camp's first news conference, the national media wrote about Jerry, accusing him of sandbagging.
The excitement over Bryant, however, had not been hype. The daily Alamodome crowd had been applauding him even in warmups.
He had a big season ahead.
If only he had just carried the shoulder pads.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07...#ixzz0vGNurRkV
Posted Saturday, Jul. 31, 2010
By Gil LeBreton
glebreton@ star-telegram.com
SAN ANTONIO — Bad karma?
Upon further review, maybe Dez Bryant should have carried the shoulder pads.
But it's football. Ankles happen. Rookies get hurt.
Yes, even the Dallas Cowboys in this, their golden anniversary, Super Bowl-hosting season.
In a blink Friday afternoon, the hit of the camp became the worry of the camp. Bryant's high ankle sprain could sideline him for a month, could keep him from making his NFL debut for two months or could hamper his running and cutting for the rest of the season.
Choose your prognosis. High ankle sprains are that iffy.
My cousin the orthopedic specialist said that high ankle sprains are among the most bothersome sports injuries that he treats. The best therapy -- staying off your feet -- is the easiest to ignore.
Hockey star Sidney Crosby suffered a high ankle sprain in January, 2008, and returned in March -- 61/2 weeks.
Texas Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain in mid-March and returned April 30 -- 61/2 weeks.
On the other hand, the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki seems to get a high ankle sprain every few months. He misses a game, maybe two, and then he's back, running and jumping.
My cousin the orthopedic guy says that he's seen high ankle sprains bother high school football players for as much as six months.
If you're a Cowboys fan, Bryant's injury is close to the worst news possible, right up there with Romo, Jessica Back Together or Jones Reconsiders, Re-Signs Owens.
The rookie from Oklahoma State had been catching everything thrown his way, high and low, leaping or diving, and with two hands or one.
It's hard to find fault with Miles Austin -- 81 catches last season, 11 touchdowns. And owner Jerry Jones -- luckily, as it turns out -- was wise enough or stubborn enough not to trade receiver Patrick Crayton.
But Bryant's sprained ankle thrusts Roy Williams back into a go-to role, and that won't help season ticket sales.
If Williams was smug enough to tell Bryant to carry his shoulder pads, let's see if Roy is capable of filling Dez's shoes. Williams is due to be paid $9 million this season, and he should be expected to play as if he's worth it.
If he doesn't, the Cowboys' season will swing on Bryant's recovering ankle.
Bad karma.
As he promised the Jones family before the team drafted him, Bryant was quick to sign his rookie contract and arrive in camp.
And now here the Cowboys are, a week before their preseason opener, and their top three draft picks are all out with injuries.
The Bryant injury, of course, was an instant featured item on the national sports shows.
The Cowboys. Always with the drama.
Earlier in the day, the Cowboys item making the TV and radio rounds had been Troy Aikman's low-key jest about being a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. Those weasels from TMZ ran with it, as is the fashion these days, which prompted Aikman's classic denial, sent via Twitter:
"I will not be on DWTS... interferes with American Idol auditions."
This is why we love Aikman. He gets it.
Jimmy Johnson, signing up to be on Survivor: Nicaragua? Had it, but no longer gets it.
Miles Austin, dating one of the Kardashians? Not even close.
Austin's life was destined to be radically altered even before Friday's injury to fellow receiver Dez. Reggie Bush dated Kim Kardashian and, next thing he knew, he no longer had a Heisman Trophy.
The Cowboys can't help it. When owner Jones tried to downplay his expectations at training camp's first news conference, the national media wrote about Jerry, accusing him of sandbagging.
The excitement over Bryant, however, had not been hype. The daily Alamodome crowd had been applauding him even in warmups.
He had a big season ahead.
If only he had just carried the shoulder pads.
Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07...#ixzz0vGNurRkV