Sports - from TBO.com Blogs
excerpt:
Bucs starting middle linebacker Shelton Quarles leaves on Sunday for a 10-day NFL-USO tour of the Persian Gulf on Sunday. When he gets back, he will find out whether he will be able to play this season.
Quarles has undergone a series of medical tests recently to determine whether a possible degenerative hip injury, one that ended Bo Jackson’s career, will allow him to suit up for the 2007 season, the final year of his contract with Tampa Bay.
“It could go either way,” Quarles said. “I am optimistic though.”
Quarles has reason to be. This is an 11-year veteran who fought through various injuries and played in pain the past several seasons. Quarles missed four games last year with groin, knee and ankle injuries.
Barrett Ruud started in Quarles’ place in those four games and would take over the starting middle linebacker’s job if Quarles is unable to play this year.
Former Denver Broncos linebacker Patrick Chukwurah could also be a possible roster addition. Chukwurah would be reunited with the Broncos former defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, now the Bucs defensive line coach.
Quarles, who earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in 2002, had 136 tackles last season and also contributed 2.5 sacks. He currently ranks third in franchise history with 985 career tackles.
Whether or not he’ll get to add to that total remains to be seen. Quarles returns from his visits with the troops on March 14 and plans on seeking another medical opinion.
“Everything will be figured out when I get back,” Quarles said.
Quarles may have degenerative hip, miss 2007
Quarles may have degenerative hip, miss 2007
Linear Mode
