Is the lack of depth at corner.....

[5 Super Bowls]

going to keep TNew from returning punts and kickoffs?? I think he could be a real asset as a return guy. Has anyone heard if this has been brought up??

[Lord Sun]

We could have had six corners and I don't think we'd let Newman return kicks. You may want your highly paid top-ten pick cover man playing some ST, but it does not really seem like a good idea to have him back there as a first-choice returner.

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by 5 Super Bowls

going to keep TNew from returning punts and kickoffs?? I think he could be a real asset as a return guy. Has anyone heard if this has been brought up??

With as many guys as we have on the team that have retuned punts and kickoffs I doubt Newman will get many if any oppertunities to return kicks

[Nors]

I like CB and LB as our two #1's next year.

[5 Super Bowls]

Originally Posted by Lord Sun

We could have had six corners and I don't think we'd let Newman return kicks. You may want your highly paid top-ten pick cover man playing some ST, but it does not really seem like a good idea to have him back there as a first-choice returner.

If Deion Sanders were in his prime and on the team would you not want him returning kicks? Their athleticism is what I think makes them good return guys.

[Lord Sun]

Actually, I don't think Prime was in his prime when he was here. Even so, let's look at a couple of factors here:

1) Prime was way more experienced than Newman.

2) Deion hated contact, and went down if you kissed him.

3) That was in the Switzer era. Not going to happen today.

[Nors]

There are some issues/concerns on Newmans shoulder

[Doomsday101]

Originally Posted by Lord Sun

Actually, I don't think Prime was in his prime when he was here. Even so, let's look at a couple of factors here:

1) Prime was way more experienced than Newman.

2) Deion hated contact, and went down if you kissed him.

3) That was in the Switzer era. Not going to happen today.

In fairness to Sanders he was also one of the most dangerous men of taking it all the way when he had his hands on the football be it as an int or returning punts or kicks. Sanders gets knocked as not being a big hitter and that is true but Deion still made the tackles and was the best cover corner I have ever seen play the game in the 40 years of watching the NFL.

[Sarge]

Originally Posted by 5 Super Bowls

going to keep TNew from returning punts and kickoffs?? I think he could be a real asset as a return guy. Has anyone heard if this has been brought up??

I don't think BP would risk getting TNew hurt returning punts/kicks. Leave it to a special teamer.

We simply can't afford to lose his services, no matter how many backups we have at cb, IMO.

[Duane]

Every time I think of Newman returning punts or kickoffs I think of Jason Sehorn. The last thing we want to do is lose our best corner doing something a 6th round pick can do.

[Doomsday101]

Only way I see Newman retunring any punts or kickoffs is if the guys we have doing it only show themselfs as average. Then I could see certain situation that he would be asked to do it, such as trailing late in a game with the club needing a spark

[5 Super Bowls]

Originally Posted by Nors

There are some issues/concerns on Newmans shoulder

What concerns??? I haven't heard anything about his shoulder. Did I miss something??????

[Shuttemdown41]

Originally Posted by 5 Super Bowls

What concerns??? I haven't heard anything about his shoulder. Did I miss something??????

That all started before the draft last year. According to Newman some people (other agents) started spreading rumors about a shoulder injury he supposedly had but when checked out by doctors the shoulder appeared fine. You know how agents start jockeying for position for their clients in the draft. The shoulder is fine, but I definitely DO NOT want to see Terence returning kicks anytime soon, like another poster said, Jason Sehorn should wipe that thought out of anyone's mind immediately!

[Chocolate Lab]

I actually got a question in on this subject on one of Mickey's chats last year, and he and Eatman both remarked that they had totally forgotten about the shoulder question and hadn't even thought of it until I asked. So it couldn't have been a very big issue with him, if it was at all.

Here's an article on it....

However -- given that Newman has reportedly already gained almost 15lbs in his upper body this offseason (indicating that he's been able to lift heavy and often), I'd have to believe that either he got some kind of surgery, or -- more likely -- the injury wasn't as bad as some believed and it has healed in the last year.

BTW, note that last paragraph.
================================================== =====


Injury concerns swirl around super prospect Newman


April 14, 2003
By Jay Glazer
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Jay your opinion!




It happens every spring. One blue-chip prospect's injury concerns raise several question marks as the NFL Draft approaches and throw a potential wrinkle into the draft's early hours.

This year that player is Kansas State super prospect Terence Newman, generally projected as a better pro cornerback than last year's top duo of Quentin Jammer and Phillip Buchanon.

Several teams tell SportsLine.com that nerve damage in Newman's left shoulder has not shown significant improvement in recent months, and the injury is affecting his position on some boards. In fact, one team possessing a top-10 selection has taken him off their board.

"The way we saw it was that the nerve in the shoulder was dead and his deltoid muscle has (atrophied)," said one AFC executive. "Our doctor explained it to us that he would need a nerve transplant, then the muscle would grow about one inch per month and he needs about eight inches, or a little more, to grow back."

Newman told SportsLine.com on Monday that he does not need nerve transplant surgery.

Newman was examined at February's scouting combine in Indianapolis, but at the time, the red flag had been tucked away at half mast. Following a recheck by doctors last Sunday in Indianapolis, the warning flags were again unfurled.

Terence Newman's health becomes an issue less than two weeks before the draft.(Getty Images)
"The kid has nerve damage in that shoulder, according to our doctors," said one personnel director. "The thing that has really scared us off is the fact that from February until now the shoulder has not gotten stronger. It hasn't gotten weaker but it hasn't gotten stronger. That is the key. You'd hope it would have improved during the last six weeks."

How concerned is that team?

"We took him off of our board," said the official. "He can play with it but the chances of him having big problems with it or getting re-injured are too strong for the kind of money we'd have to a pay the kid."

Another team's personnel czar said he has not taken Newman off his board because the kid will not drop to him late in the first round.

"Would we be concerned enough about what we know about it to stay away from him if we were drafting in the top five? Yeah, it would probably scare us off."

When contacted this weekend by SportsLine.com about the shoulder, Newman admitted there was a problem but refused to provide details.

"Yeah, it's an old injury," said the man Kansas State coach Bill Snyder dubbed the best player he has ever had. "There's nothing hurt that is going keep to me from playing the ball. It's nothing that's a problem right now."

When asked if he played all of last year on it he simply stated, "No I didn't." When asked when it happened he answered, "I'm not going to tell you that."

Newman's injury had little bearing on his all-world outburst last season. It had little effect in his final game as Kansas State's version of Charlie Hustle tallied a stunning 130 plays. Newman led the team with 10 tackles, made a huge contribution as a receiver on offense and starred on special teams. The injury also had no affect on his workouts for team, running a blistering 4.37 to 4.39 in his postseason timings (including at the combine).

"He does have nerve damage in that shoulder and there are concerns about the strength in the shoulder," said Texans general manager Charley Casserly. "We have not taken him off of our board. Other people have played with the injury and if he was available at No. 3 we could take him. We are not as concerned as other teams may be."

The subjectivity from team to team can severely hinder a youngster or have no bearing whatsoever. However, it only takes one dance partner to make others wish they had been the prom date.

"I'm praying other teams get scared off enough by the injury so he drops to us," said one head coach with a top 10 pick. "Trust me, if he's there when we pick, we'll have a parade."

How the injury alters the judgment of the early teams, if at all, is unclear.

This weekend Newman spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, who own the draft's first pick. Apparently the injury has not caused great concern for Marvin Lewis' team.

Could other teams that would have tried to trade up for him be scared off? The majority of teams polled said that Newman is on their board with an injury notation but his grade would not change much because the talent level and athleticism is simply too good to pass up.

"We have it noted and think it's certainly something to be concerned with," said another AFC personnel man. "There is definitely a problem there. But you know where we have him on our board right now? No. 1. He's still the top-rated guy in our draft even with this injury. He's that good."

[CapnComeback]

Originally Posted by 5 Super Bowls

What concerns??? I haven't heard anything about his shoulder. Did I miss something??????

I've been hearing this since the draft....the 2003 Draft. Next question.