Will Carroll on Brady's Knee

[lamafist]

The BP injury guru shares his best guess after watching the hit on Brady on TV:

“The way he got hit, it looks like a PCL,” Carroll wrote in an e-mail. “His foot was down and his leg went backwards. It’s the usual mechanism. I still haven’t seen a really good angle to be sure, but I didn’t see any twisting.”

Carroll said if it’s the PCL, there aren’t really any comparables for a quarterback trying to play through a tear. He noted that the injury sidelined both Reggie Bush and Roy Williams at the end of last year, but added that it’s the same ligament Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman tore and is trying to play through as we speak.

 

[letekro]

I'm sorry, who is this?

 

[Siddiqi]

I'm sorry, who is this?

He's an analyst on Baseball Prospectus, he knows a lot about baseball and baseball biomechanics, but I'm skeptical about his football expertise.

 

[lamafist]

He's an analyst on Baseball Prospectus, he knows a lot about baseball and baseball biomechanics, but I'm skeptical about his football expertise.

He's been doing injury analysis for football for a while now, he just hasn't found a consistent media platform for it.

 

[Cannon Arm]

Carroll also works at the Football brother of Baseball Prospectus, FootballOutsiders.com, as a staff writer. He does know football.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Egh, not sure waht to make of that. If it is the PCL, on one hand I don't like the idea of Brady playing with an injury that doesn't really have any comparable. If it means he can be back this season though, that is good news. If he did hold off on surgery, what's the timetable on a PCL?

 

[BradyisGod]

Well, its a pretty analysis, except his knee didn't go backwards.

 

[Canada's #1 Pats Fan]

First off, I'm not a medical professional. Watching the replay over and over again, my take is that Pollard's helmet hit Brady in the leg below just below the knee. Watch Brady , after the hit he grabs the same spot where Pollard's helmet hits (below the knee). As far as I know it can be his knee, it just doesn't look like it. Perhaps a deep bruise on his lower leg. I doubt it is a broken leg because of him being able to walk off. I think this can be best case scenario.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

ok so how long before it heals?

 

[pheenix11]

Well, its a pretty analysis, except his knee didn't go backwards.

Yeah it looks like it went sideways from what I could see. What that means I have no idea.

 

[letekro]

Egh, not sure waht to make of that. If it is the PCL, on one hand I don't like the idea of Brady playing with an injury that doesn't really have any comparable. If it means he can be back this season though, that is good news. If he did hold off on surgery, what's the timetable on a PCL?

Fully torn ligaments don't heal. Merriman has been playing on a torn pcl since his rookie year.

 

[Richter]

Well, just got back from watching the game, and let me say... I hope the Chiefs don't win a game this year, the dirty bastards. Screw them. As far as Carroll's analysis, my girlfriend had the exact same impression of the injury, that it's likely a PCL. Obviously she's not the trainer or someone with access to Brady, but she is a certified OT and gross anatomy instructor, and has an excellent working knowledge of bio-mechanics and serious knee injuries. The first thing she said is that Brady hurt his PCL when we saw the hit. Compared to what it COULD be, I hope she, and Will Carroll, are right.

 

[Scouse Patriot]

Going off one pic he's definately opened the joint up so it could just be a sprain. It's best to just wait and see.

 

[PromisedLand]

Yeah it looks like it went sideways from what I could see. What that means I have no idea.

I'm no expert, but I've had 2 torn ACL's, 2 bi-lat meniscus tears and another small meniscus tear, and 3 knee surgeries. You can't go through all that without learning at least a little about knee anatomy.

From what I could see it looked like the hit was on the outside of the knee, forcing the knee to bend toward the inside. So my guess is a sprained MCL (medial collateral ligament). But I am far from certain of this - you certainly can't make a diagnosis by watching a replay on TV. If it is an MCL, however, my recollection of recovery time for other players with that injury is 3-4 weeks. Of course it also depends on the degree of the sprain. But I don't believe sprained MCL's usually warrant surgery - their is enough blood supply to that ligament for it to heal on its own.

 

[Garbanza]

Whatever way you all look at it, the Pats are screwed. Brady will be out for a while. Kiss the playoffs goodbye.

 

[Richter]

Whatever way you all look at it, the Pats are screwed. Brady will be out for a while. Kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Wow, that's awfully pessimistic. Say he's out 6 weeks - you really think this team can't tread water and make a run when he returns to win the division and make the playoffs?

 

[satz]

First off, I'm not a medical professional. Watching the replay over and over again, my take is that Pollard's helmet hit Brady in the leg below just below the knee. Watch Brady , after the hit he grabs the same spot where Pollard's helmet hits (below the knee). As far as I know it can be his knee, it just doesn't look like it. Perhaps a deep bruise on his lower leg. I doubt it is a broken leg because of him being able to walk off. I think this can be best case scenario.

I saw the same thing he was not grabbing his knee.It was right below the knee. i know this spot i have had too many slap shot with hockey stick and it sure sends a stinger. I also broke it when my uncle slap shot me and i assure you once you break it their is no walking.

 

[TBonePatsFan]

Whatever way you all look at it, the Pats are screwed. Brady will be out for a while. Kiss the playoffs goodbye.

That's just crazy talk. Let's assume it's a sprained knees of some sort (as was discussed in a post above). Let's assume best case scenario and Brady is out 3-4 weeks. We face the Jets and Dolphins, then we have a Bye week. If the Pats can split the next two and Brady comes back to face the Chargers after the Bye, that would put us at 2-1 heading into the Chargers game.

How in the hell is that "kiss the playoffs goodbye"?

What? you don't like my assumptions? Well, you're assuming he'll be out for a while, assuming they're screwed and assuming the playoffs are not possible. I don't like your assumptions either.

How about waiting until you hear official word and if Brady is out for 3-4 months, then you can hit the panic button. I, for one, wouldn't panic in that scenario. It is what it is. We'd either get good QB play from Cassel or we would not. If we don't, no playoffs. Nothing to panic about.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I saw the same thing he was not grabbing his knee.It was right below the knee. i know this spot i have had too many slap shot with hockey stick and it sure sends a stinger. I also broke it when my uncle slap shot me and i assure you once you break it their is no walking.

I hope you are right my friend

 

[blackglass3]

Whatever way you all look at it, the Pats are screwed. Brady will be out for a while. Kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Between the team being good and our schedule being bad, I would be shocked if the Matt Cassel led Patriots didn't make the playoffs.

But feel free to stop cheering for them.