Important Medical Imagery Goes Here.With the optimism exhibited by the lynchpin of Ohio State's 2010 national title hunt aspirations and the statements surrounding the procedure seeming to confirm the lack of any real severity to the injury, it's unlikely Pryor will miss so much as the Buckeyes' spring game in April. That being said, even relatively non-intrusive arthroscopic surgery such as this can hardly be dismissed so easily when the player in question is of the kind of importance of Pryor.
Athletic Advisor has more on the nature of the injury:The PCL is most often injured by a blow to the front of the tibia. Most PCL injuries are a result of falling on the shin or the front of the shins being struck by an automobile dashboard during a wreck. This causes the tibia to move posteriorly, stretching or tearing the PCL. In the athletic arena, a PCL tear is usually the result of a hyperextension injury. For example, a football running back hit low from the front while being tackled from behind, the foot sticks in the turf as the forces of the tacklers cause the knee to hyperextend.The situation outlined at the end of the paragraph happened pretty much verbatim in the New Mexico State game and could very easily represent the origin of the injury. But even with the procedure behind #2, the Buckeye QB may not be in the clear quite yet.
The knee experts at Athletic Advisor go on to emphasize that the after surgery rehab is often more critical than the procedure itself:
Rehab after a PCL reconstruction is more important to a positive outcome than the surgery to repair the injured ligament. If the athlete does not regain strength, motion, and functional abilities the repair will be compromised.
With a crack staff of some of the top level physical rehabilitation specialists in their fields at his disposal, if Pryor shows even 50% of the dedication he was widely said to in preparation for the Rose Bowl, any worries over his long term prognosis can likely subside.
Speaking of the magician formerly known around these parts as LiC, TP's growth and development is profiled by LawBuckeye over at The Rivalry, Esq. LB has the breakdown on Pryor's maturity as a pocket passer, the highlights of his ascension in Pasadena, and what needs to take place in order for TP to lead a phoenix-like-resurrection for the entire program in Glendale next January.
Pairing a year older, year better Pryor with arguably the most talented line Jim Tressel and Jim Bollman have ever had the privilege to coach and dreams of Tostitos flavored immortality begin to become a reality. With an extra year of experience getting added on at both ends of that equation, it's not difficult to see why the earliest version of Vegas' "Top 25" has the Buckeyes slotted at #2. Alabama unsurprisingly comes in just ahead as 7/2 favorites to repeat, with Oregon, Boise State, Nebraska (um?), and yours truly's way too premature dark horse (for finishing as national runner up's, of course) Virginia Tech just behind.
It's not like he robbed you.MoC's now served 3.5 years of his 7-year sentence and just last week became eligible for early release on good behavior. Clarett's Delaware attorney stated his client was "a rehabilitated offender, who is poised to make a positive and productive return to society." Regardless of your stance on the mistakes made by the controversial tailback, the movement had to start somewhere. Now's your chance to get in on the ground floor. What better place than here? What better time than now?
