Bucrut85

i'm hoping they draft santonio holmes to help the offensive out because galloway and hilliard are getting older and don't no if clayton is going to do what he did in his rookie year. or draft one of the florida st guys in cromartie or sims would also be good.

Professor

Honestly, I don't think that any of those guys are going to be available at 23. They have some protection problems up front and I think they draft Marcus Mcneil the OT out of Auburn. I think that OT is thier biggest concern and have seen some mocks have them taking eric winston, I think Mcneill is a better fit, he is a little bigger and stronger than winston.

Professor

he also played with williams at auburn

ABuccsFan

I will blow a gasket if they draft McNeil. Undoubtedly.

They will be drafting an O-lineman most likely. Duece Lutui is a pretty good bet. The Buccs are very high on Lutui, and they believe they can turn him into a RT. He played RT and protected Liehart just fine during his Hiesman year. He played at 365lbs. and now weighs in at a svelt 330. Any questions about him being able to keep speed rushers at bay should be answered by his drop in weight. Tampa has hired two asst. coaches during the offseason from USC. They know what the big man can do. The supposed draft experts believe picking Lutui in round one would be a reach, some GM's beg to differ, and Bruce Allen is one of them.

Professor

I think I would rather have Mcneill or Eric Winston that Lutui, Lutui is a guard that might be able to play tackle and McNeill is a big tackle that is bigger than Lutui and faster than him. Jean-Gilles is a better prospect, IMO, than Lutui, at least he is a guard and tackle. I have Lutui has the second rated guard but the sixth ranked lineman.

ABuccsFan

Why would you rather have McNeil? Even if he shows to be a good player in the NFL, his career will be very short lived. Spinal Stenosis can kick the average Joe's ***, but a guy who throws around 300lb. D-linemen for a living? He'll just be happy to walking pain free in a handfull of years, and the riggors of the NFL lifestyle will be the furthest thing from his mund. AQnyy player drafted in the NFL draft is a crap shoot, but this kid has already rolled a 7. I wouldn't waste more than a 4th round pick on him.

Professor

that has not been a problem for him at all, check out this article from THE BUCCANEERS WEBSITE

http://www.buccaneers.com/news/newsd...px?newsid=5028

The massive Auburn tackle, a former roadgrader for Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams, has several reasons he’d like to reunite with one of his former Tiger teammates
Spotlight on the Draft: Marcus McNeill
Another deadline delay: Teams now have until 10:00 p.m. to submit roster cuts, as negotiations on a new CBA are given more time
Auburn T Marcus McNeill helped Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown rack up big numbers in college

Mar 04, 2006 -

(The 2006 NFL Draft is scheduled to take place on the weekend of April 29-30, during which nearly 300 college standouts will enter into the professional ranks. During the months of March and April, Buccaneers.com will run a series of features on these NFL hopefuls, taking a closer look at some of the names you’ll be hearing on draft weekend. There is no correlation between the players chosen for these features and the Buccaneers’ draft plans, and any mentions of draft status or scouting reports are from outside sources. Our current feature: Auburn tackle Marcus McNeill.)

Marcus McNeill doesn’t know where his NFL career will begin, only that he is considered one of the best offensive tackle prospects in the 2006 draft. He does know, however, the first thing he’s planning to do if he ends up in Miami or Tampa.

Collect.

Until a year ago, McNeill’s primary responsibility was opening holes for Auburn running backs Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams. He did it so well that both Brown and Williams went in the first five picks of last year’s draft. (One could argue that the backs’ natural talents had something to do with that, too, as evidenced by their continued success on the NFL level in 2005.)

At Auburn, where the rushing of Brown and Williams was perhaps the key factor in the Tigers’ undefeated season in 2004, their success was shared, linemen and backs. When Caddy and Ronnie continued to excel for the Buccaneers and Dolphins, respectively, McNeill naturally thought the sharing would continue.

" Whenever I can get back to pancaking people, I'm ready to get back to that. I can leave all these 40-times and all that to the wide receivers."
“I like them both, they both brought a lot to the table so I think they both owe me a lot of money,” joked McNeill during last week’s NFL Scouting Combine. “I haven't received my check this year so I don't know what to say about that.”

McNeill thinks Williams, the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2005, should be lobbying for a reunion in Tampa.

“He needs to be doing something,” said the massive (6-7.5, 336) tackle. “He needs to be doing that or putting some money in my pocket. He hasn’t sent me anything. I had to struggle this year just like I did when he was broke with me.”

That’s not going to be a problem for McNeill for long. Most draft projections have him going among the first 20 picks this April. While Virginia’s D’Brickashaw Ferguson appears to be the consensus choice as the best offensive tackle available, McNeill is in the running to go next at his position.

Not only is McNeill huge, he’s nimble and fast for his size, running a 5.07-second 40-yard-dash at the Combine. His long arms make it tough for edge rushers to get around him, and he’s big enough to simply engulf some defenders. He played left tackle in front of Williams and Brown but believes he can easily handle either side.

“I can go to the left or right side,” said McNeill. “I played left and right side, we flip-flopped when I was younger so I have a little bit of experience at both and none of them really gave me any problems and I didn't give up any sacks or tackles at all. I am always up for the challenges and I never back down from stuff like that. If they put me on the left side, I think they can throw me into the fire pretty early and I will adapt pretty well.

McNeill did miss three games in 2003 due to a back strain, and he has a spinal condition called stenosis (narrowing of the spinal column) that hasn’t affected his play but will surely be checked out by any interested teams. He points out that he has had no trouble with his back since the ’03 injury.

“Everybody asks me about my back but when they find out I played two and a half years and haven't had any problems out of it, they really look away from it and worry about other things,” he said.

Scouts say McNeill has shown impressive maturity over the last two years, too. The downside of having such overwhelming size and innate athletic ability is that it is tempting to coast on those natural gifts, particularly against college-level competition. Thus, it’s good to hear McNeill’s assessment of what will be the key to his success in the NFL.

“Technique and fundamentals,” he said. “Because when I go against a defensive end, nine of out 10 defensive ends are going to be more athletic than me. So I can't always depend on my athletic ability. I'm really going to have to work my fundamentals and technique, because that's the way you beat athletic ability.”

McNeill’s humorous riffs at the Combine on his former teammates’ financial obligations were very much in character. He is well known at Auburn for his “observational humor,” which rarely spared anyone. He doesn’t work blue, but he likes to keep things light. He thinks that may have served him well at the Combine, too, when it came time for evening meetings with the various NFL teams in attendance.

His goal in each interview, he said, was to let the team officials see that he was a good guy wanting to have a good time.

“Don't be walking around with a frown on your face, acting like you don't like it,” said McNeill of the sometimes tedious nature of the combine. “I knew this was coming for a long time. Carnell told me about it, Ronnie told me about it, everybody's told me what it's going to be like. So I don't real feel like it's a meat-market type thing. I feel like it's a job interview and you can't go on a job interview with a sad face on. You want to get in there and show them your personality.”

McNeill wasn’t leery of the physical tests at the combine, either. He figured teams already had a good scouting report on him and he could only improve his stock by running, jumping and shuttling through cones. Unfortunately, the Combine workouts don’t include the football activities at which McNeill particularly excels.

“Whenever I can get back to pancaking people, I'm ready to get back to that,” he said. “I can leave all these 40-times and all that to the wide receivers.”

And get on to the business of playing in the NFL. And maybe collecting on a past-due notice or two.

sounds like they might be interested to me

ABuccsFan

Thanks for the article. I read it, and it doesn't change my mind one bit. He's a yound kid, his medical condition won't affect him as much now. But it will. It affects the average person, so it's certainly going to affect a person going through the riggors of the NFL on a day in day out basis.

ABuccsFan

Spinal Stenosis
A condition due to narrowing of the spinal cord causing nerve pinching which leads to persistent pain in the buttocks, limping, lack of feeling in the lower extremities, and decreased physical activity.

Mission Statement
The purpose of this website is to provide information about the current standard of care in the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic lumbar spinal stenosis to people with spinal symptoms, medical health care providers and researchers. While every effort has been made to provide balanced, factual information a visit to this site is not an acceptable substitute for a professional medical consultation. Furthermore, while it is advisable to become active in the learning and decision making process regarding your own health care, none of the treatment modalities discussed within this site are recommended without the advice of a state licensed health care practitioner.

The Silent Epidemic
The most common indication for surgery in persons aged over 60 in the United States is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS). Currently, it is estimated that as many as 400,000 Americans, most over the age of 60, may already be suffering from the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis [The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and The Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS)] and this number is expected to grow as members of the baby boom generation begin to reach their 60s over the next decade.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, people over 60 will account for 18.7% of the domestic population in 2010 versus 16.6% in 1999. According to the United Nations' Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the trend is global with the number of persons aged 60 years or older estimated to be nearly 600 million in 1999 and is projected to grow to almost 2 billion by 2050, at which time the population of older persons will be larger than the population of children (0-14 years) for the first time in human history. The majority of the world's older persons reside in Asia (53 per cent), while Europe has the next largest share (25%).
The prevalence of musculo-skeletal disorders and the cost to treat them led the World Health Organization and the United Nations to declare 2000-2010 be the Decade committed to improving quality of life to people with bone and joint disease and injuries throughout the world.

ABuccsFan

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
What is It? What Treatments Are Available?

What is Lumbar Spinal Stenosis?
The vertebrae are the bones that make up the lumbar spine (low back). The spinal canal runs through the vertebrae and contains the nerves supplying sensation and strength to the legs. Between the vertebrae are the intervertebral discs and the spinal facet joints

The discs become less spongy and less fluid filled with age. This can result in reduced disc height and bulging of the hardened disc into the spinal canal. The bones and ligaments of the spinal facet joints can thicken and enlarge, due to arthritis, also pushing into the spinal canal. These changes cause narrowing of the lumbar spinal canal which is known as spinal stenosis (figure).

Spinal stenosis is like the lime build-up on the inside of a garden hose. Over time, it narrows the diameter of the hose, just as spinal stenosis narrows the spinal canal.
What are the Symptoms?

Spinal stenosis does not necessarily cause symptoms. Many people can have significant stenosis on imaging studies but fail to have symptoms.

When present, symptoms may include pain or numbness in the back and/or legs, or cramping in the legs. Weakness in the legs may occur. Rarely, bowel and/or bladder problems can occur.

Symptoms are often worse with prolonged standing or walking. Symptoms may come and go, and may vary in severity when present. Bending forward or sitting increases the room in the spinal canal and may lead to reduced pain or completed relief from pain.
How is It Diagnosed?

Your physician will take a history and perform a physical examination.

X-rays may be ordered that may reveal evidence of narrowed discs and/or thickened facet joints. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study may be obtained for a more detailed evaluation of spinal structures. Or, a computed axial tomography (CAT) scan and/or a lumbar myelogram may be advised for similar improved detail.

Each of these studies can provide information about the presence, location and extent of spinal canal narrowing and nerve root pressure.
What Treatments Are Available?

If your doctor determines that lumbar spinal stenosis is causing your pain, he or she will usually try nonsurgical treatments at first.

These treatments may include anti-inflammatory medications (orally or by injection) to reduce associated swelling or analgesic drugs to control pain.

Physical therapy may be prescribed with goals of improving your strength, endurance and flexibility so that you can maintain or resume a more normal lifestyle.

Spinal injections (such as an epidural injection of cortisone) may be prescribed.
Medication and Pain Management

Your doctor may use one medication or a combination of medications as part of your treatment plan. Medications used to control pain are called analgesics. Most pain can be treated with nonprescription medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen. Some analgesics, referred to as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are also used to reduce swelling or inflammation that may occur. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and a variety of prescription drugs. If your doctor gives you analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications, you should watch for side effects like stomach upset or bleeding. Chronic use of prescription or over-the-counter analgesics or NSAIDs should be monitored by your physician for the development of any potential problems.

If you have severe persistent pain that is not relieved by other analgesics or NSAIDs, your doctor might prescribe narcotic analgesics (such as codeine) for a short time. Take only the medication amount that is prescribed. Taking a larger dosage doesn't help you recover faster. Side effects include nausea, constipation, dizziness and drowsiness, and use can result in dependency. All medication should be taken only as directed. Make sure you tell your doctor about any kind of medication you are taking -even over-the-counter drugs- and inform your doctor whether or not your medication is working for you.

There are other medications that have an anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroid medications-either orally or by injection-are sometimes prescribed for more severe back and leg pain because of their very powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids, like NSAIDs, can have side effects. Risks and benefits of this medication should be discussed with your physician.

Selected spinal injections, or "blocks," may be used to relieve symptoms of pain. These are injections of corticosteroid into the epidural space (the area in the spinal canal surrounding the spinal nerves) or facet joints performed by a doctor with special training in this technique. Depending on response to initial injection, several follow-up procedures may be performed at later dates. Injections are often done as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation and treatment program.
Nonsurgical Treatment

Symptoms of spinal stenosis frequently result in activity avoidance. This results in reduced flexibility, strength and cardiovascular endurance. A physical therapy or exercise program usually begins with stretching exercises to restore flexibility to tight muscles. You may be advised to stretch frequently to maintain flexibility gains. Cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise, such as stationary bicycling or walking on a treadmill, may be added to build endurance and improve circulation to the nerves. Improved blood supply to the nerves may alleviate the symptoms of spinal stenosis.

You may also be given specific strengthening exercises for the muscles of the back, abdomen, and legs. Everyday activities can be less challenging if flexibility, strength and endurance are optimized. Your therapist and physician may advise you on how best to incorporate a maintenance exercise program into your life, either at home using simple equipment, or at a fitness facility.

For some individuals with spinal stenosis, home modification and safety will be considered. Perhaps the washer and dryer should be moved to a more convenient location. A bedside commode may be advisable. Bathroom safety devices are prescribed if needed. Strategies for preparing meals, pacing activities and conserving energy may be reviewed. Optimal fitting of assistive walking devices such as canes and walkers may be recommended.

Unless significant or progressive leg weakness develops, or bowel or bladder problems occur, the presence of spinal stenosis by itself usually does not represent a dangerous condition in the adult, Therefore, treatment is aimed at pain reduction and increasing the patient's ability to function.

Nonsurgical treatments do not correct the spinal canal narrowing of spinal stenosis itself but may provide long-lasting pain control and improved life function without requiring more invasive treatment. A comprehensive program may require three or more months of supervised treatment.
What If I Need Surgery?

Surgery is reserved for that small percentage of patients whose pain cannot be relieved by nonsurgical treatment methods. Surgery will also be advised for those individuals who develop progressive leg weakness, or bowel and bladder problems.

Since spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the bony canal, the goal of the surgery is to open up the bony canal to improve available space for the nerves. This is called lumbar decompression surgery, or laminectomy.

Surgery, when necessary, will relieve the leg pain and less reliably, will relieve the back pain. Patients are allowed to return to most activities within weeks. Postoperative rehabilitation may be advised to assist in return to normal activities.

Sometimes, in spinal stenosis, the vertebrae shift or slip in relation to each other (spondylolisthesis). Abnormal motion (instability) may then occur between the vertebrae. In such cases, spinal fusion surgery may be required in addition to decompression in order to stabilize the involved vertebrae.

A fusion is performed by placing bone graft, bone substitute, and/or instrumentation between the vertebrae being fused. (See the North American Spine Society patient education brochure on Fusion for more information.) Fusion can be performed from the front (anterior approach) or from the back (posterior approach), or may require both anterior and posterior approach. The choice of approach is influenced by many technical factors including the need for spur removal, anatomic variation between patients, and degree of instability. The success rate of fusion surgery is over 65%.

After surgery, you will remain in the hospital for at least several days. Most patients are able to return to all activities within six to nine months. A postoperative rehabilitation program is usually prescribed to guide return to activities and normal life.