Post by prossman on Dec 14, 2009 13:41:17 GMT -7
DC.COM:Scary Moment Ware's Neck Injury Leaves Cowboys Hoping For The Best
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK
Josh Ellis - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 13, 2009 10:23 PM
ARLINGTON, Texas - Preliminary indications are DeMarcus Ware suffered a sprained neck during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. The Cowboys linebacker was taken to a local hospital for X-rays and further evaluation.
It is not believed Ware suffered permanent spinal damage. He had full strength and movement in his extremities and was alert and talking while being carted off the field on a stretcher. As of late Sunday night, the Cowboys wouldn't officially rule Ware out of Saturday's game at New Orleans.
"Initially it looks like right at the base (of his neck) he had a sprain," Jerry Jones said. "I don't want to get into medicine; I'm obviously not qualified. We feel very good about it. Everything was moving, everything was going. It's just by the nature of where it was."
Jones, seen covering his face with his hands while the team captain and franchise defender lay prone midway through the fourth quarter, summed up the feelings of a deafeningly quiet 90,522 in attendance.
On a second-and-eight play from his team's 25-yard line, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers dropped back to pass, with Ware applying pressure from his backside. Rivers stepped up in the pocket, sending Ware wide behind him, the linebacker's momentum carrying his ducked head into the hip of Chargers guard Brandyn Dombrowski.
The crown of Ware's helmet appeared to take the brunt of the blow, his neck recoiling awkwardly before he collapsed. Every member of the Cowboys medical staff helped attend to Ware, who had his facemask taken off by screwdriver before being placed onto a backboard. Ware then spoke to several of his teammates before leaving the field.
"I just was making sure he was alright, how he was feeling," Marcus Spears said. "I told him I love him, and he was alright. He said he was good. It was just a scary feeling for him because you get a little electricity when you jolt yourself like that. But all in all he was fine."
The Cowboys medical staff took all the necessary precautions, loading Ware onto a backboard before he was carted off the field.
Ware lifted spirits on the way off the field by giving a thumbs-up, wiggling his feet and waving his arms to a chorus of cheers.
Sunday's injury was at least the fourth this season for Ware, who already had a fractured foot and fractured wrist. He reported feeling woozy after taking a blow to the head in the season opener, and has worn a protective neck roll all season.
In November the Cowboys signed Ware to a six-year, $78 million contract extension which included $32 million in guaranteed money.
The play Ware was injured on was a 21-yard crossing route catch and run by receiver Vincent Jackson. After roughly a 10 minute delay while Ware was attended to, the Cowboys subbed in rookie Victor Butler and moved Anthony Spencer to Ware's weak side position in the 3-4. The Chargers kept the ball for another 4:33 of clock times, using 10 plays to get in position for Nate Kaeding's game-sealing field goal. Rivers said the plays called on the clinching drive were not targeted at Ware's absence.
Wade Phillips is expected to offer an update of Ware's status during his 11:30 a.m. Monday press conference.
__________________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK
Josh Ellis - Email
DallasCowboys.com Staff Writer
December 13, 2009 10:23 PM
ARLINGTON, Texas - Preliminary indications are DeMarcus Ware suffered a sprained neck during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. The Cowboys linebacker was taken to a local hospital for X-rays and further evaluation.
It is not believed Ware suffered permanent spinal damage. He had full strength and movement in his extremities and was alert and talking while being carted off the field on a stretcher. As of late Sunday night, the Cowboys wouldn't officially rule Ware out of Saturday's game at New Orleans.
"Initially it looks like right at the base (of his neck) he had a sprain," Jerry Jones said. "I don't want to get into medicine; I'm obviously not qualified. We feel very good about it. Everything was moving, everything was going. It's just by the nature of where it was."
Jones, seen covering his face with his hands while the team captain and franchise defender lay prone midway through the fourth quarter, summed up the feelings of a deafeningly quiet 90,522 in attendance.
On a second-and-eight play from his team's 25-yard line, Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers dropped back to pass, with Ware applying pressure from his backside. Rivers stepped up in the pocket, sending Ware wide behind him, the linebacker's momentum carrying his ducked head into the hip of Chargers guard Brandyn Dombrowski.
The crown of Ware's helmet appeared to take the brunt of the blow, his neck recoiling awkwardly before he collapsed. Every member of the Cowboys medical staff helped attend to Ware, who had his facemask taken off by screwdriver before being placed onto a backboard. Ware then spoke to several of his teammates before leaving the field.
"I just was making sure he was alright, how he was feeling," Marcus Spears said. "I told him I love him, and he was alright. He said he was good. It was just a scary feeling for him because you get a little electricity when you jolt yourself like that. But all in all he was fine."
The Cowboys medical staff took all the necessary precautions, loading Ware onto a backboard before he was carted off the field.
Ware lifted spirits on the way off the field by giving a thumbs-up, wiggling his feet and waving his arms to a chorus of cheers.
Sunday's injury was at least the fourth this season for Ware, who already had a fractured foot and fractured wrist. He reported feeling woozy after taking a blow to the head in the season opener, and has worn a protective neck roll all season.
In November the Cowboys signed Ware to a six-year, $78 million contract extension which included $32 million in guaranteed money.
The play Ware was injured on was a 21-yard crossing route catch and run by receiver Vincent Jackson. After roughly a 10 minute delay while Ware was attended to, the Cowboys subbed in rookie Victor Butler and moved Anthony Spencer to Ware's weak side position in the 3-4. The Chargers kept the ball for another 4:33 of clock times, using 10 plays to get in position for Nate Kaeding's game-sealing field goal. Rivers said the plays called on the clinching drive were not targeted at Ware's absence.
Wade Phillips is expected to offer an update of Ware's status during his 11:30 a.m. Monday press conference.
__________________