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Palmer likely to have "Tommy John" surgery


BengalszoneBilly

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Why wait to get surgery!?! The season is already shot to s**t. Now is the time! :angry:

Sources: Bengals' Palmer likely won't return in 2008, but is delaying surgery

By Chris Mortensen

ESPN.com

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is unlikely to play another game in the 2008 season but he will delay a decision on whether to have surgery to repair a "frayed" ligament in his right throwing elbow, sources told.

Palmer's injury is to one portion of the ulnar collateral ligament and he has been told that Tommy John surgery would repair the problem with positive results, the sources said. However, doctors have agreed that Palmer's conservative approach to such an operation is acceptable because the damage is more limited than what Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme suffered a year ago when he had the surgery.

Despite the Bengals' 0-7 record going into a game at Houston, the team has no plans to place Palmer on injured reserve, which would officially end his season. Palmer has asked the Bengals to wait "around two months" before taking any action because, a source said, the quarterback "does not want to abandon the team until he's certain he can't play ...the win-loss record has nothing to do with it, believe it or not."

Neither the Bengals nor Palmer have a comment about the specifics of the injury and the plan.

Palmer has visited five specialists who have concluded the quarterback has a worrisome injury. The ulnar collateral ligament is a thick triangular band and sources say only one of the three portions of the ligament is frayed.

Palmer believes the pain in his arm is actually manageable but he has lost strength in his right hand, which has become a greater obstacle to throwing the football, the sources said.

Palmer also has consulted with at least two quarterbacks who have undergone Tommy John surgery -- Delhomme and former NFL quarterback Rob Johnson. However, Palmer discovered that both passers had considerably more damage than he has experienced.

Delhomme's surgery was almost a year ago, on Oct. 18, 2007, and he was participating in organized team activities in late spring and early summer. He has had no setbacks.

Sources say Palmer is using a timetable that would still allow him to have the surgery at the latest possible date, if necessary, and get back on the field by next summer, based on the opinions from doctors and Delhomme's comeback.

Palmer injured the arm in a Sept. 21 game against the New York Giants. He has played only once since -- against the Cowboys on Oct. 5 -- before he began seeking numerous medical opinions.

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The Bengals don't get to make the call. Palmer does.

If that's true, explain to me why he doesn't make it now?

Because he wants to play. Sheesh, everyone around here always bitches about how the team has no heart, don't you recognize it when you see it?

That said, Palmer should shut it down. All he is doing is risking 2009. At 0-7 this season is over.

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Because he wants to play. Sheesh, everyone around here always bitches about how the team has no heart, don't you recognize it when you see it?

It would be heart if the Bengals were around 3-4. At 0-7 and the season shot, it's stupidity. <_<

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I recognize it Hoosier, and am thrilled for it. Good for Palmer. IF this team were 4-3, I would even be hoping he could make it back.

But, f**k, at some point saner heads have to make Palmer understand this is the ultimate of lost seasons, and the only chance we have of 2009 NOT being a similar lost season is with Palmer healthy.

So, his job is to get healthy. Immediately.

Have the f**kin' surgery.

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Well, he's not a pitcher. It's a different throwing motion, so the rehab doesn't take as long. If I recall, Delhomme had his Tommy John surgery last October. He didn't have any setbacks, and was ready in time for pre-season. If Palmer opts to get it now, we shouldn't need to worry about him playing next year... but he better shut it down soon. If he waits until late November or December, we could be watching this offseason like we did in '05 when he was rehabbing his ACL wondering if he could possibly make it back in time.

Of course, back then many of us still believed that the Bengals had a shot at being good, so there will be much less at stake this time.

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Well, he's not a pitcher. It's a different throwing motion, so the rehab doesn't take as long. If I recall, Delhomme had his Tommy John surgery last October. He didn't have any setbacks, and was ready in time for pre-season. If Palmer opts to get it now, we shouldn't need to worry about him playing next year... but he better shut it down soon. If he waits until late November or December, we could be watching this offseason like we did in '05 when he was rehabbing his ACL wondering if he could possibly make it back in time.

Of course, back then many of us still believed that the Bengals had a shot at being good, so there will be much less at stake this time.

After today's loss, I expect he'll go on IR. I think the debate is more about having surgery to fix it or let nature do its thing. I don't think there is much debate about him playing another down this season.

This was all predictable wasn't it? I know some here were saying Palmer's days were numbered in the preseason. If us country bumkins could see it, you got to believe the players and coaches new it too back in August.

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As if I don't have enough reason to not support this team already, seeing Carson take another snap this season would surely push me to completely bail on this team for good...

Probably not, but I'd be holy pissed off...

I think you gotta keep the rythm going. Win or loose, build some momentum going into next year.

Even though it may not be related to his elbow injury, with this offensive line, we all knew a big injury was waiting to happen. We all kinda seen this coming; worst case senario.

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As if I don't have enough reason to not support this team already, seeing Carson take another snap this season would surely push me to completely bail on this team for good...

Probably not, but I'd be holy pissed off...

I think you gotta keep the rythm going. Win or loose, build some momentum going into next year.

Even though it may not be related to his elbow injury, with this offensive line, we all knew a big injury was waiting to happen. We all kinda seen this coming; worst case senario.

Naw, we saw a severe concussion or another blown knee/broken leg coming. THIS type of injury was one that could only happen to the Cincinnati Shleprocks.

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