Da Clip Show: Keeping an Eye on the Tribe’s AAA Squad – Playoffs Edition 9/13/11
September 13, 2011While We’re Waiting… O-Line Concerns, Feller’s Debut and Uniform Discussion
September 14, 2011
The agent for Cleveland Browns punter Richmond McGee has come to his client’s defense this week stating that McGee’s subpar debut was the result of a herniated disc which was suffered during pregame warm-ups on Sunday morning. The fallout of this news is said to be a trip to the Injured Reserve and an end to what was a very short and inauspicious season for the punter/holder.
Booting three punts of 30 yards or less, McGee was said to have the inability to “feel his legs” by the end of the contest, one which saw the Browns on the losing end, 27-17. This report is in line with apparently new, anonymous WFNY commenters “In the Know” and “Missing Facts,” who opted to share this news with the community on Monday afternoon.
Immediately following the debacle, speculation surrounded the replacement of McGee with tryouts starting as early as Tuesday morning. Preempting any talent show were rumors that the Browns were to sign Brad Maynard, formerly of the Chicago Bears. Coincidentally, Browns current special teams coach Chris Tabor spent the last three seasons with the Bears.
If placed on IR, McGee will join his peer Reggie Hodges who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during the preseason.
17 Comments
I hope Brad Maynard can get this done, but this punter situration is baffling me. There aren’t 32 guys in America who can kick the ball 60 yards down the field and keep it in bounds? Couldn’t we throw a MLS goalie or something out there with a helmet and tell him to boot it? It just seems like punter should not be this big of a deal. If he’s hurt he’s hurt, but couldn’t Phil kick it down the field?
@Eric D – the tricky part about punting is twofold.
1. Getting enough air under your kicks to not outkick your coverage.
2. Directional kicks (coffin-corner). It’s hard to see how important this trait might be because our offense doesn’t get to midfield enough to see it in full usage, but this is where Maynard is supposed to thrive.
also, I feel a bit bad for the animosity I felt towards Mr. McGee given that he was actually toughing out an injury and being asked to punt 8 times despite that. no way to know that at the time, but I issue a retroactive apology for the bad karma sent his way.
and, I redirect some of that bad karma towards Shurmur as we had some very reasonable opportunities to go for it on 4th down knowing that our punter could barely feel his legs.
Why in the world did Shurmur not come forth with this information in the post-game interview? He answered questions about the punter but said nothing of a possible injury. I don’t get that… seems like the ultimate way to deflect/kill reporter’s questions.
@ Vengeful Pat — maybe because it just ain’t true but to help McGee save face in the national media he made up some injury so that when he does “heal” he can still get a job?
Jus’ sayin’
Queue up McGee’s family in the comments about how he’s really injured and how we’re all bad people for challenging this information.
Even though he’s been cut from 2 other teams and never made it to an opening day roster.
Why in the world did Shurmur not come forth with this information in the post-game interview?
Probably because it’s fabricated.
most likely scenario…McGee never told browns or shurmur about the injury which is why Shurmur never mentioned it. he knows he’s VERY expendable as a punter and, right or wrong, one way to get a ticket out of town as a borderline NFL punter is to complain about some kind of injury. so he probably toughed it out. once it was clear the browns were probably going to cut him, he (ie, the agent) came forward with the injury to force his way onto IR. savvy move actually by him and the agent. the guy was on the street, and now gets a season’s worth of salary while sitting on IR.
why would it be fabricated? how would faking an injury save face for mcgee in the national media? first of all, besides a tiny blip on espn, the national doesnt care about punter mcgee. secondly, if he fakes it and the browns know its fabricated, why not call his bluff? the browns cut guys all the time, but now they want to feel sorry for a questionable punter and let him sit on IR all year with a fake injury AND pay him?? if its fake, the browns cut him. if he files a grievance, go ahead and prove there’s an injury. its not hard to do.
@mike – not only that but even if he files a grievance an injury settlement is likely to be less than what they are paying him to sit on IR for the season (since he was not on a multi-year deal).
therefore, it is most likely (IMO) that they did know about the injury and he toughed it out for the Browns with the acknowledgement that we would place him on IR after the game.
as to why Shurmur wouldn’t mention it in the postgame; there are a ton of rules as to what you can and cannot disclose medically about players and Shurmur may have been instructed to keep quiet on this topic until it could be discussed. we have seen several incidents in the past where this has been an issue (Mangini w/ Favre and Savage w/ Winslow jump immediately to mind).
mgbode…good point. could have been a pre-set “deal” as well. everyone knew, knowing that IR would be the end result.
Yes he faked it… I suppose he will also fake all te rehab drills that he will likely be doing at the team facility still being with the team and on IR as well as he will have to fake limping around, lie to everyone, whatever. Come on people, you can’t be serious and really think he fabricated this just to end up on IR for the season.
1 game into the season and the punter is a pivotal. It’s gonna be another long season.
This is why terminated employees get walked out……so they can’t fake an injury like falling down the stairs. Well played, Mr. McGee. You’ve joined an expansive list of people to collect Mr. Lerner’s money without any work required.
@ Tim — You don’t know much about the old boys clubs of the world, do you? This sort of thing happens all the time. Cleveland78 is right; when you’re let go you are always walked out to ensure you can’t slip on some dangerous piece of carpeting and sue the be-jesus out of your former employee.
Maybe there was a conversation before the game started about IR after the first week, we will never know. But something happened here that wasn’t kosher.
“Punter McGee” sounds like the nickname of someone who can punt a football.
How ’bout we go with “Fibber McGee” since he either lied to his coaches, or is now lying to the “national” media.
Wait… Surely the Browns have run tests and had team doctors look at McGee. I am sure they would be able to tell if he is hurt. Don’t you think the Browns medical staff would examine a player and be able to determine if he had a herniated disc?
Its not like the dude walks in and says ‘hey everyone I have a herniated disk, please place me on IR’ I am sure the team doctors looked at x-rays to either confirm the diagnosis or find it because he complained of symptoms.