Family Matters
Footballguy
PFW's "The Way We Hear It" has this to say about these QB's (my comments in blue:
Injury rehab for high-profile QB quartet appears to be going smoothly
Talk about big hurts.
The NFL’s glamour position certainly had its share of unglamorous injuries last season, with four of the league’s more prominent QBs going down for the count with downright ugly injuries.
Whether or not the Bengals’ Carson Palmer and the Dolphins’ Daunte Culpepper can bounce back from serious knee injuries, and whether Chad Pennington and Drew Brees can shoulder the load for the Jets and Saints, respectively, after suffering injuries to their throwing shoulders, will go a long way toward telling the 2006 NFL story that will begin unfolding before we know it.
What follows are progress reports at the beginning of June on the aforementioned foursome:
Carson Palmer / Bengals — Palmer continues to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee, and his goal is to be ready for the Bengals’ season opener. His recovery became a national story after he landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated in May. Palmer was walking without a noticeable limp as early as March, and there is hope he will be able to play in early September. But his availability in Week One is far from a sure thing, putting the pressure on the Bengals to get a fall-back option (perhaps former Ravens QB Anthony Wright) ready in time for the Sept. 10 debut at Kansas City. Still, no one in Cincinnati doubts that Palmer will do everything in his power to be back on the field as early as possible. “He’s doing everything he’s supposed to do,” Bengals QB coach Ken Zampese told PFW in late May. “Goal-wise, he’s up to speed. I know he feels good about his progress.”
If anyone can get back and be ready game 1 it's Palmer. I reported what a sports doctor friend of mine told me about players returning from injury. It's not just a matter of healing but there's also this issue of being mentally ready and willing. Most don't make it. I feel Palmer will but I have my doubts he'll be his old self this year. From a redraft perspective I'm avoiding him. Dynasty wise I like him alot. He's #2 behind Manning on my list.
Daunte Culpepper / Dolphins — Word from South Florida is that Culpepper is ahead of schedule in the rehabilitation of his surgically repaired right knee. His performance in a mid-May passing camp excited WR Chris Chambers, who finally has a quarterback in the accurate, strong-armed Culpepper who can get the ball to him deep down the field, and impressed LB Zach Thomas, who was awed by Culpepper’s size and strength. It also appears as if Culpepper’s mobility is rapidly returning. He even took off and scrambled for positive yardage when a passing play broke down. We hear that if Culpepper continues to make progress and looks good at the veterans minicamp beginning June 9, he will be the odds-on favorite to start in the season opener at Pittsburgh on Sept. 7.
Similar feelings about Cpep. I am a Cpep fan and was dissapointed last year. Again I would avoid him in redrafts unless you back him up with another quality starter. And that can be an expensive approach to getting your QB. But dynasty wise he should be fine.
Chad Pennington / Jets — The big news from Jets camp was the report that Pennington threw in team drills on back-to-back days, nearly 34 weeks after undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder for the second straight season. Pennington participated in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills and is making all the throws in the playbook. We also hear that Pennington has made a concerted effort to get stronger and more durable. He now weighs 229 pounds — about 10 pounds heavier than his previous playing weight. The next big step in his rehab will be at the Jets’ veterans minicamp June 15-17. If healthy, Pennington will challenge Patrick Ramsey for the starting job. It will be the first time since Pennington became the Jets’ starting quarterback that he will have to win the job in training camp.
This one is more difficult to call. I have no idea how well he will do or even if he will play fulltime again. I'm taking a wait and see approach.
Drew Brees / Saints — When the Saints signed Brees to a six-year, $60 million contract in March, they took a huge gamble on a field general who was less than two months removed from surgery to repair a tear in his right, throwing shoulder. But it appears that gamble is paying off. Word is Brees’ rehab is well ahead of schedule and that he was even participating in almost every drill at the Saints’ minicamp during the first weekend in June. We hear Brees isn’t experiencing much pain when he throws, and he’s still targeting a full return by the start of training camp. Unless some unexpected setback occurs, Brees should be in the Saints’ starting lineup in Week One.
Unlike AJ Smith (what a joke), I have no concerns about Brees. He will be fine and should be a decent value in most drafts.
Ramsey is no challenge for a healthy Pennington.
