Sanders and Freeney starting TRAINING CAMP on the PUP
by BigBlueShoe on Jul 8, 2008 9:40 AM EDT
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A nasty little rumor that seems to be sweeping the blog-o-sphere is that Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders are starting the season on the Physically unable to Perform list (or, the PUP for short). Bob Sanders was recently on NFL Sirius Radio and said he'd start the year on the PUP. A few weeks ago, Jimmy at MCM emailed me asking if the rumor was true regarding Sanders and Freeney. Just to clarify, there is a HUGE difference between starting the regular season on the PUP and starting training camp on the PUP. Bob and Dwight are starting training camp, not the regular season, on the PUP.
If a player starts the regular season on the PUP, that player cannot play in a regular season game until Week 6. If a player starts training camp on the PUP, then they cannot play in pre-season games.
From what we've all read and seen, Dwight and Bob are healing up just fine, and both are expected to start against Chicago in Week One. So, I think this rumor is just nothing more than people misunderstanding players when they say they are "starting the season" on the PUP. For players, the season begins roughly around July 24th, when TCs open up. Now, if, by some measure of idiotic stupidity, the Colts place Bob or Dwight on the PUP to start the regular season, the Colts will be lucky to make the playoffs. Indy has a murderous schedule, and a fast start, as always, is key.
However, it's unlikely that Indy will start 2008 without Bob and Dwight. Expect them there Week One.
UPDATE:
A reader in this post pointed me to an article on Big Cat Country:
The Colts offseason of great concern continues. They've been hit hard by the injury bug, and it isn't even August yet.
Strong Safety Bob Sanders and DE Dwight Freeney will probably be starting training camp on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.
Hagler was expected to be a starter this season, and his injury stings, however, the more telling story is Dwight Freeney. He still isn't healthy enough to perform, and although all the Colts' are saying he'll be back for the season opener, I have my doubts. One thing is for certain, he won't be the same beast this year.
Colts LB Tyjuan Hagler also will be on the PUP list after a recent pectoral injury he suffered during strength training.
"Hit hard?" I can understand a "believe it when I see it approach" in regards to Freeney, but players like Michael Strahan have come back from similar foot injuries, and last I checked Strahan just won a ring. Bob had his shoulder essentially scoped. He played all last season with it, and he won Defensive Player of the Year. That's not getting hit "hard" by an injury bug. The Hagler injury is just stupidity on Tyjuan's part, and it could cost him his starting job. But the bottom line is Dwight and Bob are expected back 100%.
Oh, and both Freeney and Sanders started 2006's TC on the PUP list, if I recall. I seem to remember Indy winning a championship that year.
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If this was true, it would be all over the news and interwebs. It would also suck if a shoulder surgery would cost Sanders six weeks of the season.
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by Colts Homer on Jul 8, 2008 10:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
It’s just in the “whisper” phase now, but people are confused enough about it that they are emailing me. So, I figured clarification was needed. I’d lose my mind if Bob and Dwight started 2008 reg season on the PUP.
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by BigBlueShoe on Jul 8, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was doing a little fact-checking on the PUP thing
And call me crazy if I don’t distinctly remember reading something in the last 7-10 days that said exactly that, but now that I’ve gone back in the “way-back” machine I can’t seem to find it.
So I’m either a hallucinating liar, or something was published somewhere and then taken offline.
That said, I don’t think there’s any way to spin that having two of your best defensive players on any sort of list isn’t worth a little concern. Yes, you won a Super Bowl in 2006 after a slew of injuries, but you’ll recall that there was some legitimate worry about the 06 defense, especially when Sanders was missing time. While it worked itself out, to say the least, I don’t see any circumstance where not having Sanders and Freeney ready to go at the start of training camp is not noteworthy.
Besides, didn’t the Marvin Harrison Injury Fiasco of 2007 make everyone a little more cynical about Injury Reports from the Colts?
-C
Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!
by River City Rage on Jul 8, 2008 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
errrr... duh
You meant the rumor was about them missing the REGULAR season. I’ll also contend that Big Cat Country (I didn’t write it, but it’s on my site, hence the 3rd Person Perspective) made no claim that they were going to start the season on PUP, only training camp.
Colts | Freeney expected to start camp on PUP list
Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:08:23 -0700NFL Network reports Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney (foot) is expected to start training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
Indianapolis Star:
In all likelihood, Hagler, Freeney and Sanders will be among Colts on the physically unable to perform list when the team reports to Terre Haute on July 24 for training camp. Freeney and Sanders are expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. The length of Hagler’s rehabilitation is unclear.
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by River City Rage on Jul 8, 2008 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree BBS
If Freeney and Sanders started the regular season on the PUP, that wouldn’t mean you couldn’t make the playoffs, thats just ridiculous.
Sanders and Freeney are good and make your defense, but if Manning and your offense are as great as you say they are, I’m sure managing a 3-3 record up to that point is very doable.
You can’t possibly think your defense stinks that bad without its 2 best players.
In Romo we Trust
by Terry on Jul 8, 2008 11:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Our discomfort is the Colts' fault
BBS, I appreciate the clarification. Being out of preseason games didn’t hurt them in ‘06 and it never really hurt Edge much.
The Colts’ chief shortcoming as an organization in terms of fan friendliness is the casual duplicity of their management about injuries. I’m sure they’ve weighed being truthful (with its competitive disadvantage) with how it makes all us fans roll our eyes every time we get some cheery report about a player’s progress from injury. I’m at a point where I’m not ever sure what to believe. I will only be assured when Sanders and/or Freeney line up on September 7.
I don’t think being with Freeney and Sanders until October means no playoffs. I agree with characterizing the schedule as murderous, but the Colts were still pretty good after Freeney went out last year (admittedly, not good enough to go deep in the playoffs without a pass rush). Don’t get me wrong, it makes the playoff run uphill, but hardly impossible.
The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.
by Coltsfan58 on Jul 8, 2008 11:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
f’in dot
I just hope they come back healthy AND in game shape, period. I don’t care if they come back in week six or week 10 to be honest. As long as the Colts are in the playoffs, I’m happy. I would much rather see Freeney and Sanders come back healthy and in shape ready for the last few regular seasons games going into the playoffs as compared to what happened with Marvin last season. I’m not trying to take the regular season for granted, but ultimately it isn’t that big of a deal (even though I despise seeing the Colts lose) as long as they are in the hunt at the end. Give me 11-5 or 12-4 and healthy over 14-2 with some questions any year.
Go Colts!
by KingRichard on Jul 8, 2008 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m kinda tired so I hope that made sense. :(
Go Colts!
by KingRichard on Jul 8, 2008 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well what about
Marv will he start on the PUP list or will he be good to go???
by coltsfan21 on Jul 8, 2008 11:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Personally, I feel it’s very important to get wins early on. That means having Freeney and Sanders both setting the tempo of destruction in the first few games. Besides, I want this to be the year that the Colts win every game. They should have done it in 2005. Now, you know the season is getting close when you go to the store for some half and half, and the freshness date is August 6th…..3 days after the pre-season opener!
by drlove on Jul 8, 2008 12:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sanders has shoulder surgery
every offseason as do many many players (just not usually every year on the same part).
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You ain't gotta Lee Corso, You ain't gotta have Stuart Scott,
You ain't gotta have Linda Cohn, Know what I'm talking bout,
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You ain't gotta have ABC staff just to talk sports baby, cuz I got game
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by shake n bake on Jul 8, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Unlike most players
Bob uses no anesthesia when undergoing surgery. He just hands the doctor a scalpel and tells him to “Make it speedy.”
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by JakeTheSnake on Jul 8, 2008 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The "no anesthesia" thing is correct
but my understanding is that Sanders performs the surgeries himself. Personally, I think this is a risky move that would be better left in the hands of professionals. And I nominate you to tell him so.
by ctnyc on Jul 8, 2008 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Bob
Bob Sanders feels no pain, but rather pain feels Bob Sanders.
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by BigBlueShoe on Jul 9, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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