| 05 August 2010
It was a slow news day, camp-wise. With Ndamukong Suh on the field and practicing, along with no roster moves, the talking points were at a bare minimum. Well, save for the "Louis Delmas is having season ending surgery" rumor...quickly refuted by both Jim Schwartz and Delmas himself.
Schwartz was quick to put the kibosh on Pro Football Talk's rumor, though PFT did say we could expect a denial from the team.
Schwartz, via DetroitLions.com:
“My policy in training camp is that I’m not going to specifically comment on injuries. I think I’ve done a good job of letting you guys know when there is short-term stuff and when there is long-term stuff. There is nothing that has changed with Louis. Louis is a short-term guy. We’re erring on the side of caution. He had a pulled groin in minicamp and he’s conditioning. He wasn’t able to condition and he’s coming back.”
Uhhhhh...oh, my aching high groin...uh, wait...There's nothing to see here! Nothing!
Well, OK then! That's good enough for me!
Nothing to see here, move along everyone...that's what The Schwartz wants us to believe.
If the head coach says it's true, then it must be true. Head coaches are never known to lie through tightly gritted teeth, are they? When anyone in the NFL moves their lips, the odds are good they're lying...or at least telling a half truth.
But it wasn't only Schwartz spinning the media.
Delmas also had something to say, first trashing PFT...
Via Chris McCoskey at the News:
"Obviously they want to feel important so they throw words out there. Rumors are rumors. It's up to me to prove everybody wrong. Once I get back out there, those rumors will be shot down."
...then claiming surgery wasn't on the table, just "discussed"...
"Surgery was discussed, but it's not a possibility right now," he said. "The best thing for me right now is to take time off, do the ice and stem (electronic stimulation) and hope that I will be ready as soon as possible."
...and closed the topic by saying he WILL be ready for the regular season.
"I am not worried about that at all. I am missing part of training camp, therefore I can be 100 percent once the season rolls around."
Do I believe him? I'm not totally buying it.
I would be more confident we're hearing the truth from the Schwartz and Delmas if he had used the term "will be 100 percent" instead of "can be 100 percent." There's more than a little wiggle room between the two terms. "Can be" is NOT the same as saying "will be," no matter how you spin it. I'm not sure Delmas is totally convinced he'll be recovered in time...or will remain healthy if he does play.
Losing Delmas would cripple the Lions pass defense to the point of uselessness. Until the cornerbacks prove otherwise (Houston and Wade prove their previous teams were wrong about their abilities, Bly proves he's not over the hill, and Spivey proves he was worth the 3rd round selection and the Lions' faith in his ability), on paper (and on the field) the Lions' defensive backfield is scary bad. The only athlete in the backfield I had confidence in was Delmas...and he's dealing with a high groin strain serious enough to keep him out for a good part of training camp.
This is not good, people. Not good at all.
As much as I (deservedly) rip on PFT, they may be on to something, though their saying "pay attention to Delmas' health throughout the year" was a bit of a cop-out.
It's safe to say Delmas will have the most closely watched groin since...I'd rather not go there.
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