Gannon through for the year
The Shadow
QB likely to have shoulder surgery, and his future is uncertain
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
ALAMEDA -- The casualty list has become as painful as the 2-7 won-loss
record for the Oakland Raiders, who learned Wednesday reigning NFL Most
Valuable Player Rich Gannon was lost for the season due to a torn labrum in
his throwing shoulder.
Gannon spoke with coach Bill Callahan on Wednesday morning before leaving to
speak with doctors in Minnesota, where he will likely undergo surgery.
"He's incapable of throwing right now," Callahan said. "He's gone back home
to talk to the surgeon who did his previous surgery on his shoulder (in
1994)."
With Gannon joining Marques Tuiasosopo (torn MCL) on the injured reserve
list, veteran Rick Mirer gets his second start Sunday against the Minnesota
Vikings on Sunday at Network Associates Coliseum and will be the No.1
quarterback for the foreseeable future.
Also placed on injured reserve Wednesday was reserve lineman Matt
Stinchcomb, who will undergo surgery on the same left shoulder that required
reconstructive surgery in 1999.
Callahan said Gannon planned to throw the ball Tuesday for the first time
since Oct.20 but never got that far, as he was unable to do much more than
lift his arm above his shoulder.
The injury occurred when Gannon was sacked with his arm in an exposed
position by Chiefs linebacker Shawn Barber. It was hoped initially the
injury would respond to rehabilitation.
The labrum is a fibrous cartilage found on the ends of the shoulder joint's
ball and socket and serves as an attachment for ligaments and tendons.
Former 49ers quarterback Gio Carmazzi had surgery to repair a torn labrum in
July of 2001. The injury ended his career.
Callahan was optimistic Gannon, who turns 38 in December, would be able to
play next season.
"I'm glad he's having the surgery done now, so he'll be ready to go for
minicamps and for the spring," Callahan said.
Still, Gannon's age and current contract make his future in Oakland
uncertain. His salary is scheduled to jump to $7 million in 2004, a figure
the Raiders may be reluctant to pay considering Gannon's health and 2003
performance appeared to be in decline.
Gannon completed 55.6 percent of his passes (125-for-225) this season for
1,274 yards, six TDs and four interceptions for a 73.5 passing rating. The
passer rating was his lowest figure since posting a 59.6 in eight games for
the Washington Redskins in 1993 -- the year before his first shoulder
surgery.
After throwing five interceptions in a 48-21 loss to Tampa Bay in the Super
Bowl in January, Gannon took a beating in a season-opening 25-20 loss to
Tennessee and never approached the form that won him the NFL's MVP Award
last season.
Last season, Gannon passed for 4,689 yards -- tied for the seventh-best
yardage figure of all time -- and set NFL records with 10 300-yard passing
games and 404 completions in leading Oakland to the AFC championship.
There has been speculation that Gannon wasn't right physically even before
Barber's final blow.
"He's taken some shots, but none of that magnitude that isolated his
shoulder, to my knowledge," Callahan said.
Although optimistic by nature, Callahan did not attempt to downplay Gannon's
loss.
"It's extremely tough to lose a player of this caliber and what he provides
for this team," Callahan said. "I know he feels bad. If there is anyone who
would want to fight and get back on the field as soon as he can, it's Rich
Gannon. Unfortunately, this is going to take a little time."
Callahan said the team hadn't been informed after Wednesday's practice, but
Gannon's fate came as no surprise to tackle Lincoln Kennedy.
"I kind of expected it when it happened," Kennedy said. "Not only when you
saw it happen, but the fact that he was unable to come back the last couple
of weeks."
Gannon's injury is only the latest in a series of physical ailments that
have helped to cripple the Raiders.
Tuiasosopo went on injured reserve last week after suffering a season-ending
knee injury on Nov.2 against Detroit, his first game as a starter.
Defensive tackle John Parrella, Oakland's best defensive lineman, has missed
four games with a severe groin injury and could miss at least two more.
Dana Stubblefield, the other defensive tackle, has missed three games
overall and the past two with a severe ankle sprain.
Strong-side linebacker Bill Romanowski played three games before being
sidelined with repeated concussions, going on injured reserve Oct.23.
Kennedy has missed two games at right offensive tackle and been available as
only an emergency substitute in two others with a torn calf muscle.
Guards Mo Collins (knee) and Frank Middleton (quadriceps) have been in and
out of the starting lineup.
Wide receiver Jerry Porter played sparingly in the opener, needed hernia
surgery and missed the next five games before returning in the same game
Gannon was injured.
"It's devastating, the situation we're in right now, and we're trying to do
the best we can to keep everybody healthy and to practice and prepare and
field a quality team," Callahan said. "But when you miss as many people as
we've had, it really disrupts your continuity."
Said Kennedy: "It's just the way things have gone. A lot of people we kind
of counted on and had high expectations for the year are no longer with us.
Right now the team is fighting for survival."