I love the part re: Lowe being the only NFL doctor allowed to examine McGahee. chron.com Feb. 19, 2003, 10:31PM McGahee's knee turns heads NFL teams weighing Miami back's rapid recovery from injury By JOHN McCLAIN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle INDIANAPOLIS -- That Willis McGahee was able to walk into the media room without a limp Wednesday is a testimonial to the perseverance and determination of the University of Miami running back who is trying to overcome a severe knee injury that cost him millions of dollars. McGahee, who suffered two torn ligaments in his left knee in Miami's loss to Ohio State at the Fiesta Bowl, underwent reconstructive surgery Jan. 5 and is recovering at an amazing pace, according to doctors who have examined him. "They say they've never seen anything like it," McGahee said at the annual scouting combine at the RCA Dome. "Teams I've talked to are very surprised, just like the media." Before the injury, McGahee was on his way to becoming the third pick in the draft, where the Texans probably would have selected him. Because of the injury, he probably won't be taken before the third round, where the Texans could still get him because they have a pair of No. 3 picks. It's no coincidence that the Texans are the only team allowed to examine McGahee at the combine. Dr. John Uribe, team doctor at Miami who performed the surgery, gave the Texans' renowned orthopedic specialist, Dr. Walter Lowe, permission to examine McGahee. "You wouldn't put him through a vigorous examination this close to his surgery," Lowe said about Uribe not wanting every team doctor to be able to poke and prod McGahee's knee this week. "All indications are that Willis is going to get well, but he's still got a long way to go. He needs to focus on getting well, and he shouldn't be in a hurry. "The April recheck date will be very important for him." McGahee continues to insist that he'll play next season, but Lowe warns that it's way too early in the rehabilitation to make an accurate prediction. "The recovery period's tough enough when you've torn one ligament," Lowe said. "It'll be nine months in September. It's way too early to predict that he'll be able to play that soon. "Willis is coming along fine. He's got normal cartilage, and there's no arthritis in the knee, and that's very important. It looks like he's well on his way to recovery. He'll play again, and he'll be good again -- just when is the question." Rather than return to Miami, McGahee entered the draft as a third-year sophomore. He wants to be drafted so he can begin rehab with his new team. "I plan on playing," he said. "I'm not worried about sitting out next year. I know what I can do, so I'm not worried about it. As long as I do the rehab and everything I'm told, I feel I'm going to be OK. "Right now, things are going real good. I'm rehabbing six days a week, two hours a day. I'm riding the bike and doing body squats." McGahee can do everything but run, but he wants to start as soon as possible. "Probably in the next month, but it's not up to me," he said. "It's up to the doctors and when they feel comfortable with me doing it. They've told me I'll make a complete recovery. There was no nerve damage. They didn't give me a time period. "Mentally, I'm ready to go, but I know I've got to take it easy. I can't go real fast. I want everything to heal properly. I'm just going to take it easy right now. I'm willing to work. My work ethic is real good. I'm young and strong." Fans flinched when they saw Ohio State cornerback Will Allen hit McGahee, whose knee was twisted at an odd angle. "I spoke to him, and he said he didn't do it on purpose, so I've just got to take his word for it," McGahee said. "I was just hoping it was a little ligament that was torn, like the PCL (posterior cruciate) or ACL (anterior). I knew it was worse than that. I just had to get over it. "It took me three days after the surgery. I went into my depressed mode. But then I had to get over it because it was time to start working. I started rehabbing the day after surgery." McGahee suffered a different injury to the same knee in high school and underwent surgery. "I know how to approach the rehab," he said. "I just had more ligaments torn. My mindset is that I can do anything I want to do. I'm walking. I'm not using crutches or a brace. I'm getting around pretty well." McGahee never considered returning to Miami for his junior year. "I'd done everything I could possibly do," he said. "I played for two national championship teams. "I still plan to be the best running back there is. In the long term, I hope to be in the Hall of Fame." Asked if he has doubts about his ability to return to the form he showed last season when he was the best running back in the country, McGahee said, "Yeah, (but) I think it's going to make me better and push me to do better things. "I'm just looking for somebody to give me a chance. If somebody gives me a chance, I know I can handle my business." McGahee keeps in touch with another former Miami running back who underwent major knee surgery -- the Colts' Edgerrin James. "I spoke to him two days ago, and he told me to keep my head up, that it's all about attitude and how you approach it," he said. "As long as you keep a positive attitude, everything's going to be good for you. "I don't think I'll be a risk. If teams pass me up, hey, they pass me up. But whoever gets me will get a good pick."
I'm glad to here is he is doing so well. Him and Dorsey both seemed like class acts. I wish them both the best!
If we get McGahee in the 3rd or fourth round of this draft, it will be a STEAL five years from now. I love his attitude. He is a straight-shooter who could never be accused of not giving 110% all the time.
I hate seeing injuries such as his, and I am glad to see he is doing well, but when I look at this from a GM's perspective, I only take this guy if I have a RB who is capable of being my #1 back and just hope he can do something for me one day. Willis was an unbelievable runner, and I wanted the Texans to look at him with their first pick. That being said a knee healing to the point you can run, sprint, and cut is one thing. A knee healing to the point a person can carry a football 20-30 times a game in the NFL is another. I may be wrong, but I just could not see spending a pick on the first day on this guy if I would do it at all. He may be able to play one day, but with all the aches, pains, bumps and bruises a completely healthy RB gets in the course of a year, I just do not see being able to depend on someone who has had knee reconstruction.
I wouldn't touch him with anything earlier than a 5th round pick. Whether he has gotten back to walking quickly or not, it would take a freaking miracle recovery to return to form from an injury like that.
i would take a chance on him. but then you would have to ask yourself, what if Lee Suggs (also had a knee injury) is still on the board in the 3rd round? who would you take?
Well, I can't really answer that, because I don't know college football well enough to know what guys might be there...but I am pretty certain that drafting McGahee at all would be a stretch, and I wouldn't want to use a draft pick on him that could be used for less risky players. Even if the guy does come back and recover almost, if not all the way, back to where he was, how many yards could he possibly get behind our O-line?
If Lee Suggs is still available in the third round when we pick, I'll eat my hat (the Texans one with the metal-like brim...). I'd consider using a second-day pick on McGahee. Nothing earlier, though.
The thing is, for players drafted in the later rounds, it's kindof a crap-shoot anyways. The chance a fourth-round pick will be a good contributor is 50/50 at best. Let's look at it from this perspective -- if McGahee comes back 85% of himself, that's gotta be worth a 3rd round pick. He was the best RB prospect of this draft, hands-down. He was assured a top-5 draft spot, and almost certainly would've at least been a good RB, if not a great one. Now, the third-round is a bit high for a player who may only be 80% of himself, but an 80% Willis McGahee is still better than 90% of the RB prospects in the draft. And he's sure as hell better than what we have now. IMO, the O-line got better as the season progressed, and 2-seasons from now, will be quite good, I imagine. I wouldn't expect McGahee to come back this year, despite his desire to. At best, he could backup our RB for the last 3 or 4 games of the season, but I would project him for 2 years from now. By then, our O-line will be better, Carr will be more established, and we should have some receivers that are starting to become playmakers. It's almost like adding a first or second-round pick the following season. And the Texans are just the team that could use a pick in this way because we have extra picks. I think that he'll go before mid fourth-round anyhow, and I wouldn't be surprised if he gets nabbed in the 3rd round. Even though he's a risk with the injury, a healthy Willis McGahee is almost a sure thing. Every player you draft is going to be a risk to be any good or not, and I think the potential payoff with Willis McGahee more than justifies the risk.
I'd give him our second pick in the third round. He's gonna recover and be good again. The fact that he'll probably be able to play by the end of this season is an even greater plus.
With this news, don't be suprised to see McGahee sneak inti the late 1st, early second. The docs say there is a chance that he could play in 2003.
I'd take him in third, although I don't think he'll last that long... You can never have enough players with this type of determination to prove he's worthy and will work twice as hard to show everyone who passed on him...
