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Many players enter camp in 'comeback mode'
By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com
(July 11, 2007) -- Donovan McNabb was having one of the better seasons of his NFL career when he suffered a serious knee injury in November. His replacement, Jeff Garcia, led the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs.
Jake Delhomme struggled badly in 2006, partly because of a nagging thumb injury. David Carr, the top overall pick of the 2002 draft, is waiting in the wings as the Carolina Panthers' new backup quarterback.
Byron Leftwich made only six starts last year before Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio sat him down because of a sore ankle. Leftwich, who wanted to keep playing, finished the season as a frustrated spectator.
In 2005, Shaun Alexander was the NFL's Most Valuable Player. In '06, a cracked foot limited him to 10 starts and caused a dramatic decline in his production.
McNabb, Delhomme, Leftwich and Alexander are among many prominent NFL players who soon will begin training camp in "comeback" mode.
Whether they are looking to rebound from forgettable seasons caused by injury, poor performance, or both, the start of contact drills this summer will mark their first important step toward redemption.
A closer look at a dozen of the league's more notable players looking to make a comeback follows:
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia: After a season-ending knee injury, McNabb and the Eagles could only ponder what might have been. In 10 starts, McNabb passed for 18 touchdowns against only six interceptions. He also registered a career-best 8.38 yards per pass attempt. Garcia's magical run to the postseason overshadowed McNabb's accomplishments, but Garcia now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By all accounts, McNabb has recovered well from major knee surgery. Still, it remains to be seen whether he can continue to count on outstanding mobility and a tremendous knack for avoiding pressure.
Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina: A sore thumb bothered Delhomme in 2006, but impatient Panthers fans aren't willing to cut him very much slack. Coach John Fox remains supportive of his starting quarterback, yet Carr's acquisition certainly changes the complexion of the Panthers quarterback situation. Carr's career, which so far has been disappointing, could stand for him to take some time away from the pressure of a starting spot. Ideally, he will be able to watch and learn in a relatively low-stress environment. However, if Delhomme struggles early, Carr is likely to be inserted right away.
Byron Leftwich, QB, Jacksonville: Leftwich was shelved for the final 10 games of last season with an ankle injury, but he's convinced he could have battled through it. His relationship with Jack Del Rio is strained, but Leftwich is in a position to help himself and his coach by staying healthy and performing at a consistently high level. History suggests he is climbing a steep mountain covered with grease; Leftwich has missed 15 of the Jaguars' past 21 regular-season games. His lack of mobility and slow release too often make him susceptible to big hits.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle: Alexander will turn 30 before the season starts. That would be enough of a concern even if he hadn't been bothered so much last year by a cracked left foot. But the 2006 season was the first in which Alexander was slowed by an injury. In early June, he told the Seattle Times his left foot would be fine and "by the time we get to the season, I will be in the best shape of my life."
Rex Grossman, QB, Chicago: It isn't exactly the type of list on which one would expect to find a starting Super Bowl quarterback, but Grossman qualifies. His inconsistent performance was a cause for concern throughout the Bears' run to the NFC title game. And his poor showing in the Super Bowl was the realization of the worst nightmare of many Bears fans. Grossman, who continues to be one of the more maligned starting quarterbacks in the league, needs to do plenty to shed the burden of continued skepticism.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh: After a motorcycle accident and emergency appendectomy, Roethlisberger never could find his groove in '06. Although he might not have been spectacular in the previous two seasons, he played well enough in 2004 to lead the Steelers to within sniffing distance of the Super Bowl and did his part to help them win the Vince Lombardi Trophy a year later (even if his performance in Super Bowl XL was mostly unimpressive). Roethlisberger is excited that new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians plans to place more of the offensive load on his throwing arm. Now it is up to Big Ben to respond.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle: The high hopes generated by the Seahawks' appearance in Super Bowl XL plummeted a year later, due in no small part to Hasselbeck's injury-plagued 2006 season. He was sidelined with a knee injury, then suffered broken fingers in his left hand, and wound up undergoing offseason surgery on his left shoulder.
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: His sizzling start after he took over as the Cowboys' No. 1 quarterback cooled off when he finished the season with a series of blunders. Romo clearly gave the team more spark than it had with Drew Bledsoe under center, but can he consistently perform at a high enough level to finally deliver long-awaited stability at the position? New offensive coordinator Jason Garrett faces a big job in getting Romo to produce as the big-time star the Cowboys think he can become.
Trent Green, QB, Miami: His days with the Kansas City Chiefs were numbered after he missed eight games from a frightening concussion he suffered in the first game of the '06 season. The Chiefs finally dealt him to the Dolphins, whose need for an experienced starting quarterback is desperate enough for them to take a chance on Green. If Green can stay healthy -- which won't be easy behind a very shaky offensive line -- he should have no problem running an offense he learned when he and new Miami coach Cam Cameron were together in Washington.
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore: The Ravens traded third- and seventh-round draft picks this year and a third-rounder in 2008 for a player they believe will do plenty to close the gap between them and a Super Bowl appearance. However, McGahee needs to show much more than he did in his final season with the Buffalo Bills before that has a chance of becoming a reality. He ran for a career-low 990 yards last season, and made himself enough of an annoyance to Bills management to force the trade. McGahee considers himself an elite back, but his three-year career average of 3.9 yards per carry is the stuff of an ordinary player.
Ask Vic
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, RB, Tampa Bay: In 2005, he made a nice splash as a rookie running back for the Buccaneers. In '06, he barely caused a ripple. A young and struggling offensive line didn't help, but the Bucs have taken steps -- such as acquiring former New York Giants offensive tackle Luke Petitgout in free agency -- to make it better. The onus is on Williams to demonstrate his rookie year wasn't a fluke.
Jevon Kearse, DE, Philadelphia: He suffered a torn knee ligament in Week 2 last season. Given that the strength of his game is his quickness off the edge, the injury could take something away from his performance. Kearse faces a long, hard battle to re-establish the form that once made him a feared pass-rushing force. Since 2001, he has not reached double digits in sacks for a season.
By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com
(July 11, 2007) -- Donovan McNabb was having one of the better seasons of his NFL career when he suffered a serious knee injury in November. His replacement, Jeff Garcia, led the Philadelphia Eagles to the playoffs.
Jake Delhomme struggled badly in 2006, partly because of a nagging thumb injury. David Carr, the top overall pick of the 2002 draft, is waiting in the wings as the Carolina Panthers' new backup quarterback.
Byron Leftwich made only six starts last year before Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio sat him down because of a sore ankle. Leftwich, who wanted to keep playing, finished the season as a frustrated spectator.
In 2005, Shaun Alexander was the NFL's Most Valuable Player. In '06, a cracked foot limited him to 10 starts and caused a dramatic decline in his production.
McNabb, Delhomme, Leftwich and Alexander are among many prominent NFL players who soon will begin training camp in "comeback" mode.
Whether they are looking to rebound from forgettable seasons caused by injury, poor performance, or both, the start of contact drills this summer will mark their first important step toward redemption.
A closer look at a dozen of the league's more notable players looking to make a comeback follows:
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia: After a season-ending knee injury, McNabb and the Eagles could only ponder what might have been. In 10 starts, McNabb passed for 18 touchdowns against only six interceptions. He also registered a career-best 8.38 yards per pass attempt. Garcia's magical run to the postseason overshadowed McNabb's accomplishments, but Garcia now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. By all accounts, McNabb has recovered well from major knee surgery. Still, it remains to be seen whether he can continue to count on outstanding mobility and a tremendous knack for avoiding pressure.
Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina: A sore thumb bothered Delhomme in 2006, but impatient Panthers fans aren't willing to cut him very much slack. Coach John Fox remains supportive of his starting quarterback, yet Carr's acquisition certainly changes the complexion of the Panthers quarterback situation. Carr's career, which so far has been disappointing, could stand for him to take some time away from the pressure of a starting spot. Ideally, he will be able to watch and learn in a relatively low-stress environment. However, if Delhomme struggles early, Carr is likely to be inserted right away.
Byron Leftwich, QB, Jacksonville: Leftwich was shelved for the final 10 games of last season with an ankle injury, but he's convinced he could have battled through it. His relationship with Jack Del Rio is strained, but Leftwich is in a position to help himself and his coach by staying healthy and performing at a consistently high level. History suggests he is climbing a steep mountain covered with grease; Leftwich has missed 15 of the Jaguars' past 21 regular-season games. His lack of mobility and slow release too often make him susceptible to big hits.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle: Alexander will turn 30 before the season starts. That would be enough of a concern even if he hadn't been bothered so much last year by a cracked left foot. But the 2006 season was the first in which Alexander was slowed by an injury. In early June, he told the Seattle Times his left foot would be fine and "by the time we get to the season, I will be in the best shape of my life."
Rex Grossman, QB, Chicago: It isn't exactly the type of list on which one would expect to find a starting Super Bowl quarterback, but Grossman qualifies. His inconsistent performance was a cause for concern throughout the Bears' run to the NFC title game. And his poor showing in the Super Bowl was the realization of the worst nightmare of many Bears fans. Grossman, who continues to be one of the more maligned starting quarterbacks in the league, needs to do plenty to shed the burden of continued skepticism.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh: After a motorcycle accident and emergency appendectomy, Roethlisberger never could find his groove in '06. Although he might not have been spectacular in the previous two seasons, he played well enough in 2004 to lead the Steelers to within sniffing distance of the Super Bowl and did his part to help them win the Vince Lombardi Trophy a year later (even if his performance in Super Bowl XL was mostly unimpressive). Roethlisberger is excited that new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians plans to place more of the offensive load on his throwing arm. Now it is up to Big Ben to respond.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle: The high hopes generated by the Seahawks' appearance in Super Bowl XL plummeted a year later, due in no small part to Hasselbeck's injury-plagued 2006 season. He was sidelined with a knee injury, then suffered broken fingers in his left hand, and wound up undergoing offseason surgery on his left shoulder.
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: His sizzling start after he took over as the Cowboys' No. 1 quarterback cooled off when he finished the season with a series of blunders. Romo clearly gave the team more spark than it had with Drew Bledsoe under center, but can he consistently perform at a high enough level to finally deliver long-awaited stability at the position? New offensive coordinator Jason Garrett faces a big job in getting Romo to produce as the big-time star the Cowboys think he can become.
Trent Green, QB, Miami: His days with the Kansas City Chiefs were numbered after he missed eight games from a frightening concussion he suffered in the first game of the '06 season. The Chiefs finally dealt him to the Dolphins, whose need for an experienced starting quarterback is desperate enough for them to take a chance on Green. If Green can stay healthy -- which won't be easy behind a very shaky offensive line -- he should have no problem running an offense he learned when he and new Miami coach Cam Cameron were together in Washington.
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore: The Ravens traded third- and seventh-round draft picks this year and a third-rounder in 2008 for a player they believe will do plenty to close the gap between them and a Super Bowl appearance. However, McGahee needs to show much more than he did in his final season with the Buffalo Bills before that has a chance of becoming a reality. He ran for a career-low 990 yards last season, and made himself enough of an annoyance to Bills management to force the trade. McGahee considers himself an elite back, but his three-year career average of 3.9 yards per carry is the stuff of an ordinary player.
Ask Vic
Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, RB, Tampa Bay: In 2005, he made a nice splash as a rookie running back for the Buccaneers. In '06, he barely caused a ripple. A young and struggling offensive line didn't help, but the Bucs have taken steps -- such as acquiring former New York Giants offensive tackle Luke Petitgout in free agency -- to make it better. The onus is on Williams to demonstrate his rookie year wasn't a fluke.
Jevon Kearse, DE, Philadelphia: He suffered a torn knee ligament in Week 2 last season. Given that the strength of his game is his quickness off the edge, the injury could take something away from his performance. Kearse faces a long, hard battle to re-establish the form that once made him a feared pass-rushing force. Since 2001, he has not reached double digits in sacks for a season.
