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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - For Kevin Burnett, his "contract year" certainly hasn't gotten off to a good start.
Unfortunately for him, it's nothing he's not used to by now.
The fourth-year linebacker, who is entering the final year of his contract and could be headed to free agency next season, has returned to Dallas while his teammates remain in Denver to practice against the Broncos for the rest of the week before Saturday night's preseason game at Invesco Field (8 p.m., MDT).
But Burnett obviously won't be in uniform, for he is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery Friday on his left knee after suffering a sprain during Wednesday morning's practice against the Broncos.
The simple clean-up surgery is not exactly the issue. It's a rather minor procedure that should sideline Burnett for another 2-3 weeks, meaning his chances to return by the Sept. 7 opener in Cleveland is a possibility.
However, the fact that surgeries are starting to pile up, especially on his knees, is another concern.
Since Burnett joined the Cowboys in 2005 as a second-round pick, he has undergone six surgeries, with Friday's procedure to be his seventh. And that's not counting reconstructive surgery he had on his left knee during his collegiate career at Tennessee.
But Burnett said he's long past being upset about the injuries, which mostly have occurred in the off-season, considering he's missed just three games in his three seasons.
"I can't change it. There's no reason to get mad or frustrated anymore," Burnett said. "I've had my days of being mad and frustrated. You can't get mad. (Surgery) still has to be done either way, whether you're playing football or you're not.
"Right now, I'm care-free because it could've been worse. I could've been done."
And by "done," Burnett said retirement has at least crossed his mind. Not because he doesn't feel he can contribute, but with the surgeries starting to add up, the linebacker said it has crossed his mind.
"I don't think I would ever just walk away from the game right now," Burnett said. "But at some point in time, you have to ask yourself how long can I subject myself to this kind of punishment and is it really worth it? But that hasn't really crossed my path at this point. I'm looking forward to playing this season." Without Burnett, who had been starting the Cowboys' dime defense, the club worked both Bradie James and Zach Thomas as the dime-backer on Thursday, and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said he expects Bobby Carpenter to get some reps at that position as well.
The Cowboys have grown accustomed to forming contingency plans for Burnett, who has had trouble shedding the "injury-prone" label, and this latest surgery certainly won't help.
This will be the third surgery on Burnett's left knee in the last five years. He tore his ACL in his left knee in college, and then had a clean-up surgery in 2005. Later that season, Burnett tore the ACL in his right knee, forcing him to rehab the injury the entire following off-season. Burnett has also had minor surgeries on his hip, shoulder, ankle and one to repair a hernia.
That's one reason why Burnett said he won't rush his comeback this year, despite his desire to play in the season opener.
"I'm always hopeful, but I have to keep in mind that this is my third surgery on my knee, so I don't want to rush anything," Burnett said. "I don't want to put any time restraints on it, but I want to come back as soon as I can. The main thing I'm concerned about is that I know my body. I know when I'm not right and when I'm not performing how I should be. I'm glad we found it early and I didn't go out there and do any more damage."
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said he spoke to Burnett before he left to return to Dallas and said both were relieved that he didn't need reconstructive surgery.
"He's had a clean-up before and an ACL," Phillips said of Burnett. "We both agreed the clean-up is a lot better. He feels pretty good about it. He was down a little bit because he thought he was injured. But he was hurt."
Hurt or injured, Burnett didn't want any part of injuries this season, not only because he's already had his fair share during his career, but also that he was looking forward to having his best season, which could lead to a bigger payday.
Whether or not this is his last year in Dallas, Burnett said he tries not to focus on the big picture.
"When you start to put pressure on yourself, that's when you start to press and do things out of the normal. The old saying goes, 'if you always do what you've always done, then you'll always be what you've always been.' I've always been at the upper echelon of players, at any level.
"But you have to keep performing at all times. Just like (former Cowboys coach) Bill Parcells used to say, 'Keep showing up. Keep showing up. Even if they want to get rid of you, just keep showing up.'"
Unfortunately for Burnett, this is the seventh time that he is showing up in the wrong place
Unfortunately for him, it's nothing he's not used to by now.
The fourth-year linebacker, who is entering the final year of his contract and could be headed to free agency next season, has returned to Dallas while his teammates remain in Denver to practice against the Broncos for the rest of the week before Saturday night's preseason game at Invesco Field (8 p.m., MDT).
But Burnett obviously won't be in uniform, for he is scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery Friday on his left knee after suffering a sprain during Wednesday morning's practice against the Broncos.
The simple clean-up surgery is not exactly the issue. It's a rather minor procedure that should sideline Burnett for another 2-3 weeks, meaning his chances to return by the Sept. 7 opener in Cleveland is a possibility.
However, the fact that surgeries are starting to pile up, especially on his knees, is another concern.
Since Burnett joined the Cowboys in 2005 as a second-round pick, he has undergone six surgeries, with Friday's procedure to be his seventh. And that's not counting reconstructive surgery he had on his left knee during his collegiate career at Tennessee.
But Burnett said he's long past being upset about the injuries, which mostly have occurred in the off-season, considering he's missed just three games in his three seasons.
"I can't change it. There's no reason to get mad or frustrated anymore," Burnett said. "I've had my days of being mad and frustrated. You can't get mad. (Surgery) still has to be done either way, whether you're playing football or you're not.
"Right now, I'm care-free because it could've been worse. I could've been done."
And by "done," Burnett said retirement has at least crossed his mind. Not because he doesn't feel he can contribute, but with the surgeries starting to add up, the linebacker said it has crossed his mind.
"I don't think I would ever just walk away from the game right now," Burnett said. "But at some point in time, you have to ask yourself how long can I subject myself to this kind of punishment and is it really worth it? But that hasn't really crossed my path at this point. I'm looking forward to playing this season." Without Burnett, who had been starting the Cowboys' dime defense, the club worked both Bradie James and Zach Thomas as the dime-backer on Thursday, and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart said he expects Bobby Carpenter to get some reps at that position as well.
The Cowboys have grown accustomed to forming contingency plans for Burnett, who has had trouble shedding the "injury-prone" label, and this latest surgery certainly won't help.
This will be the third surgery on Burnett's left knee in the last five years. He tore his ACL in his left knee in college, and then had a clean-up surgery in 2005. Later that season, Burnett tore the ACL in his right knee, forcing him to rehab the injury the entire following off-season. Burnett has also had minor surgeries on his hip, shoulder, ankle and one to repair a hernia.
That's one reason why Burnett said he won't rush his comeback this year, despite his desire to play in the season opener.
"I'm always hopeful, but I have to keep in mind that this is my third surgery on my knee, so I don't want to rush anything," Burnett said. "I don't want to put any time restraints on it, but I want to come back as soon as I can. The main thing I'm concerned about is that I know my body. I know when I'm not right and when I'm not performing how I should be. I'm glad we found it early and I didn't go out there and do any more damage."
Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips said he spoke to Burnett before he left to return to Dallas and said both were relieved that he didn't need reconstructive surgery.
"He's had a clean-up before and an ACL," Phillips said of Burnett. "We both agreed the clean-up is a lot better. He feels pretty good about it. He was down a little bit because he thought he was injured. But he was hurt."
Hurt or injured, Burnett didn't want any part of injuries this season, not only because he's already had his fair share during his career, but also that he was looking forward to having his best season, which could lead to a bigger payday.
Whether or not this is his last year in Dallas, Burnett said he tries not to focus on the big picture.
"When you start to put pressure on yourself, that's when you start to press and do things out of the normal. The old saying goes, 'if you always do what you've always done, then you'll always be what you've always been.' I've always been at the upper echelon of players, at any level.
"But you have to keep performing at all times. Just like (former Cowboys coach) Bill Parcells used to say, 'Keep showing up. Keep showing up. Even if they want to get rid of you, just keep showing up.'"
Unfortunately for Burnett, this is the seventh time that he is showing up in the wrong place
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