Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Votaze Burfict is dreading a tough offseason during his recovery from microfracture surgery to correct cartilage damage on the side of his knee. Burfict said he hopes to be at full-strength in time for Bengals camp, but microfracture surgery is a tricky process and can sometimes be difficult to recovery from quickly.
Burfict had his surgery done by a pro, Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic. ElAttrache has performed the same surgery on Los Angles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, Dodgers’ pitcher Zack Greinke, New England QB Tom Brady and Houston Texans rookie defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
“I don’t see any reason, if this thing heals like we want and we think it will, why he (Burfict) won’t be back like he was,” ElAttrache said. “Microfracture has a bad connotation, but there are plenty of guys who have come back and been able to play like before. But it’s not really news when it works out.”
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Charles Woodson will return to Raiders
Retirement will have to wait for safety Charles Woodson. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Pro Bowler re-signed with the Oakland Raiders for at least the 2015 season.
Official press release as the Raiders have re-signed FS Charles Woodson: http://t.co/zUhE9UGqS6 pic.twitter.com/w7BVP8T3Cu
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) January 26, 2015
At 38 years old, Woodson is an old man by NFL standards, but still recorded a solid season in 2014 with 112 tackles, four picks and a fumble recovery. Next year will be Woodson’s 18th season in the NFL after being drafted out of Michigan in 1998. Woodson picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers in 2010-11. Woodson has been with the Raiders for the last two seasons, playing on one-year contracts.
Woodson began his career in Oakland in 1998 before being signed as a free agent by the Packers in 2006. Woodson returned to the Raiders in 2013.
Woodson has been to the Pro Bowl eight times, with his last trip coming in 2011. He’s been an All-Pro seven times, was the NFL and NFC Defensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the AP and PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1998.
Woodson has led the NFL in interceptions twice, in 2009 and 2011 and is the only player in the NFL to have at least 60 interceptions and 20 sacks.
Richard Smith and Raheem Morris join Falcons staff
The Atlanta Falcons still don’t officially have a head coach, though Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn reportedly has the job, they are building a veteran coaching staff.
Monday the Falcons hired former Denver Broncos linebackers coach Richard Smith as its new defensive coordinator. Smith has been the linebackers coach for the Broncos since 2011. This will be Smith’s third stint as a defensive coordinator, after serving the position with the Miami Dolphins from 2006-08 and the Houston Texans from 2009-10.
Atlanta also added former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris to its staff after he agreed to become the defensive backs coach. Morris has been a secondary coach for the Washington Redksins for the last two seasons. Morris was a candidate for the Redskins open defensive coordinator position, but was passed over for Joe Barry.
Morris was 17-31 as the Bucs head coach after being promoted to the position from defensive backs coach in 2009.
Storm delays tight end Aaron Hernandez trial
The blizzard of 2015 has postponed the beginning of the murder trial of former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez’s trial and opening statements until at least Thursday.
Judge Susan Garsh, after the 12 jurors and six alternates were selected, sent the jurors home Monday morning with instructions to avoid any news on the Hernandez trial and to not tell even family or friends they are on the jury. Garsh warned the jurors she expects the case to last six to 10 weeks.
The 25-year-old former Pro Bowl tight end for the Patriots is charged with killing Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player, in June 2013. Lloyd’s body was found in North Attleborogh, Mass., not far from Hernandez’s residence. Hernandez has plead “not guilty.”
