Rams Notebook: Terrell puts off surgery, irks Linehan in process

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
12/21/2006



Rams coach Scott Linehan said that when he granted second-year guard Claude Terrell permission to return home to Texas, it was with the understanding that Terrell would undergo surgery for the wrist injury that placed him on injured reserve Aug. 28.

But Terrell "opted not to get it done," Linehan said Wednesday. And Linehan's none too happy about that.

"There's a certain amount of trust that has to be involved in somebody doing what they say they're going to do," Linehan said. "He was supposed to have it. But you can't make a person have surgery. And now he's in the same spot he was in when we originally wanted him to get it done."

A fourth-round draft choice from New Mexico in 2005, the 6-foot-2, 330-pound Terrell started 10 games at left guard as a rookie. He played the last five with his right wrist in a brace.




Terrell, 24, had surgery in January, but the pain resurfaced on just the second day of training camp in late July. As Terrell sat out practice after practice, Richie Incognito won the first-team job at left guard.

Although several specialists recommended a second operation, Terrell was resistant, Linehan said.

"There was a discontent as to whether the procedure was the right thing to do," Linehan said.

Enough discontent, in fact, that Linehan didn't want Terrell around as he prepared his new team for the start of the regular season.

"Claude was not in the frame of mind that I felt was going to be helpful for the locker room, so I OK'd for him to go down to Texas," he explained. "I just felt it would be best to have him pursue some other (medical) options and not do it here, because I didn't want any distractions."

Terrell, who could not be reached for comment, was told to report to Rams Park this week, when it would be "suggested" again that he have the operation. "Now we're hopefully going to force the issue and get it done some time before the end of the year," Linehan said.


Even then, Terrell would need three to four months of rehab and would miss at least the early part of the offseason conditioning program. "It puts him way behind," Linehan said.

Without the surgery, Linehan indicated that Terrell's future in the NFL could be jeopardized.

"If he doesn't get it done, it'll be highly unlikely that he's going to be able to play," Linehan said. "It's kind of up to him now."

Carter plans to play

Although safety Jerome Carter was listed as questionable Wednesday on the week's first injury report, he insisted that the sprained right ankle that kept him out of the last two games wouldn't sideline him for a third.

"I'm hurting, but it's nothing compared to the pain that I was facing these past two weeks, not being able to play," Carter said. "I'll be out there Sunday, you can believe that."

Carter, who was used mostly on passing downs and special teams, was injured Dec. 3 against Arizona. "I did it on a kickoff return," he said. "I was blocking and somebody fell on it."

Rookie defensive end Victor Adeyanju also was questionable, but he got in his most work at practice Wednesday since breaking his right forearm Nov. 26 vs. San Francisco.

"It looks pretty encouraging that he'll be (activated) this week," Linehan said.

Adeyanju, who made nine starts in a row before the injury, said, "I definitely feel good, feel very positive. If you hit my arm a certain way, it's going to hurt. But it's not like there's a pain issue or anything like that."

Guard Adam Timmerman (ribs), whose consecutive-games streak ended at 204 this past Sunday, also was listed as questionable. Fullback Paul Smith (neck) was listed as doubtful

Is this guy TRYINGto get cut to sign with anothr team?!

We sure do have a lot of boneheads on this team.

Terrell is a real Claude!!!:)

Trade him.

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Originally Posted by RAMMAN68

Trade him.

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To Whom? And who in their right mind would want a fat, lazy and unmotivated slob who is apparently on his way off of this team? Good bye, FAT BOY we hardly knew ye (and no doubt we didn't miss much).

WHAT SAY YE?

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Originally Posted by RAMarkable

To Whom? And who in their right mind would want a fat, lazy and unmotivated slob who is apparently on his way off of this team? Good bye, FAT BOY we hardly knew ye (and no doubt we didn't miss much).

WHAT SAY YE?

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The Raiders....... :)

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Originally Posted by cowboyhater

Is this guy TRYINGto get cut to sign with anothr team?!

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I don't think anyone would even sign him, let alone trade anything for him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RAMMAN68

The Raiders....... :)

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Tee Hee!! That's pretty funny Ramman. Ya know I can actually see that possibly happening. Man it must be lousy being a Faider fan these days!

WHAT SAY YE?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RAMMAN68

The Raiders....... :)

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Well, they do need help on the O-line... :<>