Carson Palmer could have played his last game

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:12 pm

The good Dr. contradicts himself a few times in this article, but an interesting read. Never has such a benign looking injury been so serious, with the possible exception of Bo Jackson. The are saying that the injury was more of the front-to-back roll than side-to-side.

CINCINNATI -- Carson Palmer's knee injury was "devastating and potentially career-ending," involving numerous ligament tears, a shredded ligament, damaged cartilage and a dislocated kneecap, his surgeon said Thursday.

Carson Palmer
Quarterback
Cincinnati Bengals

Profile
2005 SEASON STATISTICS
Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat
509 345 3731 32 12 101.1

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback tore ligaments in his left knee when he was hit by Pittsburgh's Kimo von Oelhoffen on his first pass during the Steelers' 31-17 playoff victory Sunday.

The team announced that he had torn the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. The damage was much more extensive and severe, but Dr. Lonnie Paulos said surgery went well and Palmer could be back for the start of the season.

Palmer had surgery Tuesday in Houston. Doctors used grafts from other parts of his body and donated tissue to fix the damage during an operation that lasted more than two hours. Palmer headed back to California on Thursday to do his rehabilitation.

"It's not just like it was a torn ACL," Paulos said Thursday, in a phone interview from Houston. "It's a magnitude more difficult to recover from and repair. It can and has ended careers, without a doubt.

"However, I feel very comfortable with Carson as an athlete and the heart that he's got. In the end, that's the bottom line. I can see the look in his eye already. He's ready to get going," he said.

Paulos, an orthopedic surgeon who has worked with the U.S. Ski Team since 1983, replaced the anterior cruciate ligament, which runs through the middle of the knee and provides stability. He said the medial collateral ligament, which runs along the side of the knee, was damaged "real bad."

"On a scale of one to three, it was a four," he said. "It was off the chart. It was pretty badly damaged -- shredded is the better term."

The kneecap dislocated when Palmer was hit, damaging tissue around it. There was also some cartilage damage, he said.

Paulos was able to repair the knee without removing pieces of cartilage or soft tissue, a good sign.

"The things that were torn could be repaired," he said. "They were not torn beyond repair. So he's got all his parts in there, which is good. We're optimistic, actually."

If rehabilitation goes well, Palmer could be running in a couple months and might be able to play in the first regular-season game, Paulos said. The 2006 schedule hasn't been set.

Palmer has worn a protective brace on the left knee since he sprained it near the end of the 2004 season. The knee bowed inward on von Oelhoffen's hit even though Palmer was wearing the brace.

"The brace didn't function well in this environment and should have done better than it did, frankly," Paulos said.

The plan is for Palmer to wear more substantial braces on both knees when he returns.

"No brace is perfect," Paulos said. "No brace can prevent every injury, but they do help."

Paulos saw the replay of the injury and wasn't surprised at the extent of the damage it caused. Palmer has absolved von Oelhoffen, saying he didn't think the lineman was trying to hurt him. The lineman said he was trying to sack Palmer, not injure him. He wasn't penalized for the hit.

Palmer made the Pro Bowl in only his second season as a starter, throwing an NFL-leading 32 touchdown passes. The club extended his contract through the 2014 season.

Jon Kitna, who has been Palmer's backup and mentor the last two years, can become a free agent. Palmer's injury will force the Bengals to make sure they have another reliable quarterback on board.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:19 pm

Doc Back pedals

While Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer's knee injury was deemed severe, the initial reports of possible long-term effects were overstated, Palmer's surgeon, Dr. Lonnie Paulos, said in a statement released by the team Thursday.

"I believe and regret that media reports based on interviews with me have misinterpreted my view of Carson Palmer's knee injury. Though the injury was serious, the essential fact remains that his ACL and MCL have been repaired.

"I would consider this a typical ACL-MCL football injury. Comments attributed to me that the knee injury was 'devastating and potentially career ending' were meant to describe such injuries in general. I was accurately quoted by The Associated Press that my bottom line is optimism regarding Carson's prognosis. With a successful rehabilitation program, he has an excellent chance of being medically cleared for play at the start of the 2006 regular season."

Paulos, in the AP interview Thursday, said the damage was more severe and extensive.

"It's not just like it was a torn ACL," Paulos told the AP. "It's a magnitude more difficult to recover from and repair. It can and has ended careers, without a doubt."

Paulos, however, assures Bengals fans that Palmer will be ready for next season.

"He did great," Paulos told The Cincinnati Enquirer. "He's already rehabbing. He's a great athlete. He's a stud. He'll be back in a few months."

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:22 pm

Culpepper's knee injury was perceived to be even worse than this and he's going to be back after a lengthy rehab. I doubt this will end Palmer's career...

PSUFAN · Post by **PSUFAN** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:23 pm

I also read this and scratched my head at the seeming contradictions. Spit it out, Doc.

Cicero · Post by **Cicero** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:36 pm

Doc: Carson's fucked.

Cinci Ownership: We'll lose season tickets and you'll be fired.

Doc: Carson will be fine. I was just joking.

Joe in PB · Post by **Joe in PB** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:36 pm

Doc is a Browns fan......

Killian · Post by **Killian** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:46 pm

Good find Cicero. I agree that I don't think it will end his career, but I'm also not a doctor. I never thought McGahee would walk straight again, but look where he is now.

BSmack · Post by **BSmack** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:46 pm

Bottom line is that Palmer may be back, but he's looking less likely to come back at the start of next season. Kitna's contract will be the key. If the Bengals sign him to a 3-4 million dollar deal, that means they know Palmer won't be back in time for the season opener.

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:44 pm

The Bengals I swear might really be cursed! They suck for almost 16 years they finally get good again and make the playoffs,and the second play from scrimmage Palmer is lost. Would this the curse of Paul Brown?

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:00 am

The Assassin wrote:The Bengals I swear might really be cursed! Would this be the curse of Paul Brown?

No. Bo Jackson.

May you toil in depths of shit forever, Bengal cunts.

Fuck the Bengals and Fuck Carson Palmer.

The Assassin · Post by **The Assassin** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 12:18 am

Raydah James wrote:
The Assassin wrote:The Bengals I swear might really be cursed! Would this be the curse of Paul Brown?
No. Bo Jackson.

May you toil in depths of shit forever, Bengal cunts.

Fuck the Bengals and Fuck Carson Palmer.

I was at that damn game and I'm STILL bitter! Bo Jackson was a man among boys. Imagine had he gave up baseball and played football full time (before his injury of course)?

Bobby42 · Post by **Bobby42** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:00 am

Joe in PB wrote:Doc is a Browns fan......

Doc said: "Shit, that ploy almost worked."

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:01 am

Raydah James wrote:
The Assassin wrote:The Bengals I swear might really be cursed! Would this be the curse of Paul Brown?
No. Bo Jackson.

May you toil in depths of shit forever, Bengal cunts.

Fuck the Bengals and Fuck Carson Palmer.

That's like totally too harsh, my man James. You of all people know I'll hold you to account.

Fuck the Bengals? Bwa...sortsa. How exactly do you "fuck the Bengals"?

Ignore them even less?

Here's the take you should have offered:

"Kimo is sure sorry, though"

Short, succinct...to the point....

WhatsMyName · Post by **WhatsMyName** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:06 am

Typical Raider cunts. Bitter little bitches, especially after Gruden cockslapped them.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:17 am

WhatsMyName wrote:Typical Raider cunts. Bitter little bitches, especially after Gruden cockslapped them.

Ok, you're not pinks and I stand corrected in that regard.

Pinks is pretty much a decent feller, despite his shortcomings.

I have no idea why you're still posting here.

Q and I are going to have a long talk.

WhatsMyName · Post by **WhatsMyName** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:56 am

War Wagon wrote:
WhatsMyName wrote:Typical Raider cunts. Bitter little bitches, especially after Gruden cockslapped them.
Ok, you're not pinks and I stand corrected in that regard.

Pinks is pretty much a decent feller, despite his shortcomings.

I have no idea why you're still posting here.

Q and I are going to have a long talk.

Good. Maybe you two can chat about why you're a faggot and why God damned you to such a miserable fate.

Did I mention "fuck you"?

Raider fan probably owns your bitch ass, don't they? I wouldn't be surprised if the whole board discovered what a cunt you are.

Qbert · Post by **Qbert** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 6:25 am

ok

enough of this bullshit.

W.M.N.--->get'yer Ass back to posting NFL FOOTBALL takes in this Forum.

this Forum is TROLL-Free....not allowed. (as you know)

so far, you've ran your Game just good enough to not get an "x".

that is; until your Last Post...it was.....ummmm...complete p00p?!

well, if you keep up the Snipeing...you're gonna get a visit from the Turk.

got it?

just a little help--->Newbie.

WhatsMyName · Post by **WhatsMyName** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 6:55 am

Karlis missed the kick.

Scott free?

T1B

Carson Palmer could have played his last game

Carson Palmer could have played his last game

Q

Re: Q