It was the Cowboys doctor who diagnosed Clark with a herniated disk

CowboyChris

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This may have been mentioned already. From Bob McGinn.

5. DAMONE CLARK, Louisiana State (6-2 ½, 239, 4.60, 3-7): After backing up Devin White in 2018 and Patrick Queen in ’19, he started in the middle the past two years. “Big, long-armed (33), athletic and fast,” said one scout. “His instincts are a touch off. They were off two years ago and improved since then. Very productive; he was a bright light in a dark room at LSU this past season. As the season sunk he just kept playing and got better. Reluctantly, he could do it (wear the green dot).” At the combine, one of the Cowboys’ team doctors diagnosed him with a herniated cervical disc. On March 24, he underwent a fusion through the front of his neck and won’t play in 2022. “There’s no way he goes first- or second-round now,” the scout said. “He’s going to sink like a rock.” Finished with 249 tackles (23 ½ for loss) and 10 sacks. “He was the No. 1 (linebacker),” said a second scout. “Not as talented as Devin White but he was all over the place. Just makes plays. Explosive as hell. He can cover and blitz. He’s a Pro Bowl linebacker. He’ll stack. Strikes people. They man him up a lot. He was amazing.” Wonderlic was 9. “Good man (cover) on running backs,” said a third scout. “Inconsistent tackler in space more due to technique than skill. Can have delayed reactions at times. Probably can play all three positions but you might be a little hesitant to put him at Mike based on the mental. Very talented. He’ll start.” From Baton Rouge, La. “I guess you could draft him late or sign him as a college free agent and pay him for the year and see how the surgery goes,” a fourth scout said. “Just redshirt him. But a linebacker with a fused neck? I don’t know.”

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Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Pretty clever of Jerry. Yeah you need surgery, kid. My God this is terrible. Hey, do we have your contact info for the draft? Okay. Tough break.
Stephen Jones expects him to play this year, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.
 

Rack

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I had that same surgery last year. I can't imagine being able to put a helmet on anyone at this point.

Then again it is today's wussified NFL so who knows.
 

Risen Star

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I had that same surgery last year. I can't imagine being able to put a helmet on anyone at this point.

Then again it is today's wussified NFL so who knows.

Yeah it why I didn't have him in the first 4 rounds. It's hard to believe he'll ever be the same.
 

Ken

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This may have been mentioned already. From Bob McGinn.

5. DAMONE CLARK, Louisiana State (6-2 ½, 239, 4.60, 3-7): After backing up Devin White in 2018 and Patrick Queen in ’19, he started in the middle the past two years. “Big, long-armed (33), athletic and fast,” said one scout. “His instincts are a touch off. They were off two years ago and improved since then. Very productive; he was a bright light in a dark room at LSU this past season. As the season sunk he just kept playing and got better. Reluctantly, he could do it (wear the green dot).” At the combine, one of the Cowboys’ team doctors diagnosed him with a herniated cervical disc. On March 24, he underwent a fusion through the front of his neck and won’t play in 2022. “There’s no way he goes first- or second-round now,” the scout said. “He’s going to sink like a rock.” Finished with 249 tackles (23 ½ for loss) and 10 sacks. “He was the No. 1 (linebacker),” said a second scout. “Not as talented as Devin White but he was all over the place. Just makes plays. Explosive as hell. He can cover and blitz. He’s a Pro Bowl linebacker. He’ll stack. Strikes people. They man him up a lot. He was amazing.” Wonderlic was 9. “Good man (cover) on running backs,” said a third scout. “Inconsistent tackler in space more due to technique than skill. Can have delayed reactions at times. Probably can play all three positions but you might be a little hesitant to put him at Mike based on the mental. Very talented. He’ll start.” From Baton Rouge, La. “I guess you could draft him late or sign him as a college free agent and pay him for the year and see how the surgery goes,” a fourth scout said. “Just redshirt him. But a linebacker with a fused neck? I don’t know.”

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Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Pretty clever of Jerry. Yeah, you need surgery, kid. My God this is terrible. Hey, do we have your contact info for the draft? Okay. Tough break.
The thought crossed my mind....admittedly.

Very strange our Dr. found it (Damone said he didn't even know he had an issue????) and then we take him. Maybe the Dr. legitimately found it but i assure you Jerry had the real scoop and everyone else got doom and gloom lol
 

VaqueroTD

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Bobby Wagner got an 8 and Ray Lewis got a 13 so Wonderlic is probably an overrated attribute.

Still think this was a wasted pick though with the injury where it is and the position he plays.

At least this time it was only a 5th rounder on a fragile LB.
 

tyke1doe

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The Dr said he could play never said he would be great. So Doc did his job
So why would the Cowboys take him high second round if the doctor said he could just play?
Why would Jerry not ask whether he'd be back to normal if there were any doubt about him completely recovering?
:huh:
 

Loso86

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So why would the Cowboys take him high second round if the doctor said he could just play?
Why would Jerry not ask whether he'd be back to normal if there were any doubt about him completely recovering?
:huh:
Logically if a player was good and was injured a team would check and see if he could eventually play. They would assume he would be back to normal or close enough to risk a second on him.
 

Creeper

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What did Jimmy Johnson say? "If I ever draft another dumb player hit me in the head with a bat" or something like that? I think I would pass on a 9, even in the 5th round. But certainly having a fused neck vertebrae and a 9 has to disqualify him. Maybe he will surprise us all.
 

BAT

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Are you wondering how he got a Wonderlic score of 9 too?

"Probably can play all three positions but you might be a little hesitant to put him at Mike based on the mental."

"Reluctantly, he could do it (wear the green dot)."
 
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