Kelley Washington has surgery-late round steal?

A sure top 10 pick before the injury-what now though? Is he worth a 3rd rounder and will he fall that far?


Tennesee's Washington Has Surgery
ELIZABETH A. DAVIS
Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee receiver Kelley Washington had surgery Tuesday on his neck, a procedure doctors believe will allow him to continue playing football.

Dr. Drew Dossett, a Dallas orthopedist, planned surgery to fuse two vertebrae in Washington's neck area.

Linda Goelzer, a spokeswoman at Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas, said Washington was out of surgery and in stable condition late Tuesday night. She could not release any details of the surgery.

Tennessee trainers and medical staff had not heard any word from Dossett by the end of Tuesday's practice, team spokesman John Painter said.

"The sports medicine staff expects to make a full release of that procedure Wednesday, he said.

An employee in Dossett's office who answered the phone said any information about Washington would have to come from the university.

Washington, a walk-on who played in the Florida Marlins' minor league system, led the Vols last season with 64 catches for 1,010 yards and five touchdowns.

He missed the first two games this year with a sprained right knee, then had 23 catches for 443 yards in the two games he played before landing hard on the back of his head and neck against Georgia last month.

Tennessee originally said Washington had suffered a strained neck, then a concussion, after the injury Oct. 12 at the end of a 45-yard catch and run.

Tennessee officials have declined to comment on the specifics of Washington's condition or scheduled surgery.

Dossett said Saturday that Washington suffers from spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spinal canal in his neck. The fourth and fifth vertebrae were to be fused.

The procedure probaby will likely allow Washington to continue playing football, Tennessee trainer Keith Clements said Monday.

Washington, however, probably won't be playing at Tennessee next season. He has said he planned to enter the 2003 NFL draft.

"I am looking forward to a full recovery," Washington said in a statement released Monday. "I look forward to getting back to playing the game I love and that is football."

 

The combine will tell how Kelley’s neck is progressing. He’s worth the risk if the neck looks like its healing well, but we don’t know that now

 

Combine or not - he will be a risk regardless. Spinal injuries are extremely serious. He needs to be checked out completely but this guy is a definately first rounder minus the injury. I might spend a 4th on him if the docs give him a good recommendation.

 

isn't that what Sterling Sharpe had done? he never returned.

 

>>Tennessee receiver Kelley Washington had surgery Tuesday on his neck.....

>> planned surgery to fuse two vertebrae


That really is all I need to read. No thanks, No way, No how. He ain't worth the risk, there's not THAT much of a drop off to the next to guy to take warrant the chance.

Let the other team risk it, and absorb the cap hit for a player that ain't playing so they can't afford the FA we want.

 

He won’t go earlier than third round, even under the best of circumstances. Forth or fifth is more likely. You can cut that player.

He may return to TN, he hasn’t made up his mind according to knox news.
Begs the question, what would you do? Declare, and be a mid-round selection, at least get paid some for risking your health, and if everything goes well, get that million dollar contract in 3 years.
Or return to UT, show teams you are healthy, and return to your first round status. Risk there is getting hurt again, and missing out totally on an NFL career.

 

He should go back to school. Especially considering the talent at WR position in this draft. No brainer. I think he'll come out though.

 

He will want too much money regardless of where he is drafted. He considers himself a top 10 pick and will want top 10 money even if he gets picked in the 3rd or 4th.

 

JASON PETER.

 

Maybe, but draft placement determines value. His agent may try that line, but it won’t happen. Bryant tried that last year, didn’t work.