Confirmed - Gresham shutting it down for the season

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 10:49 AM CDT Comment 47 comments

I heard the rumors swirling this morning, but my OU buddy just confirmed. Oklahoma Sooners TE Jermaine Gresham is electing to have surgery to repair his cartilage injury, rather than to just have it removed. It is still an arthroscopic procedure, but the recovery time for the repair of cartilage is significantly longer than having a menisectomy. This should allow him to recover in time for the combine at year-end. See the link for confirmation.

I feel bad for the kid. Best wishes to him and hope he recovers 100%.

Bumped: Editor's Note -- While this is bad news for Oklahoma and their redshirt-freshman QB, it sounds like Gresham made a good decision. Maybe he could have come back earlier if he had just excised the damaged tissue, but repair will hopefully have him back 100% to start his career. Hopefully this is an indicator that Stoops and his staff are encouraging their players to make the smartest decision for their own well-being, instead of pushing someone to come back early. Best of luck to Gresham, who is clearly the best TE in the nation, despite being a Sooner. Quite an accomplishment. -Horn Brain-

UPDATE: As drbadass notes below, the Tulsa World has come out with an article quoting Bob Stoops that refutes the KOCO-TV report on Jermaine Gresham. The Tulsa World article notes the following from Stoops:

"That's not accurate," said Stoops, who replied in a text message to the World that Gresham's status won't be known until after Gresham's surgical procedure -- "a scope" of the knee -- today.

So who knows whats really going on in Norman.

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Wow

As much as I would have loved for our boys to play against the best, I am glad that Gresham took the smart route and is trying to get healthy for the combine. He’ll be a beast in the NFL, rather than an injured bust by coming back too early.

Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.

by kriess on Sep 8, 2009 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

good luck to the man

He is a total beast. I was more forlorn over his skipping the draft than Bradford.

by the chairman211 on Sep 8, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Best of luck to him on the recovery.

The line on Red River is creeping higher and higher.

by ctex80 on Sep 8, 2009 11:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sucks for him

Here’s hoping he can still have a fruitful pro career after this. dude’s a beast.

by the other Andrew on Sep 8, 2009 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations Boys

I have heard it argued here that Stoops must be the quintessional scumbag for convincing poor Bradford to stay, but I am not here to argue his presumed failures. (after all, many Longhorn fans were calling for Mack’s head in 2004.)

If the above is indeed true, I think that this gives Bradford more inclination to elect surgery. He still needs to see his second doctor today for a second opinion, so this is just speculation.

I hear a loud cry of “abandon ship!” from Norman. Bradford is probably gone, and the offense is being restructured. This is our rebuilding year and your ticket to the NC. Damn, would have been a great matchup.

by Boomer S on Sep 8, 2009 11:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

easy there

Im not so sure that this has anything to do with Bradfords decision.

From Sam’s comments last night, he seemed very confident that he would be back this season, that he wanted to be back this season, and that Gresham being there or not had nothing to do with it. Surgery wasnt mentioned at all as an option. Generally speaking with AC joint injuries, you dont see surgery as necessary unless you have a grade 4-6 sprain.

I think Bradford will come back to play this season. Its just a matter of when and how effective will he be.

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reminder

Colt, Sergio, & Jordan all made the same decision Bradford and Gresham made with the same heartfelt desire of a MNC for their school.

God Bless these kids and pray for their safety each and every day.

Best wishes and speedy recovery to the Sooner greats.

by orangetower on Sep 8, 2009 11:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I may be wrong, but I think Colt, Sergio, and Jordan were seen as being able to improve stock. Bradford was not going to get much higher. Not sure about Gresham.

by JohnsonUT on Sep 8, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're not going to get drafted #1 overall at TE

He can’t get any higher.

by Horn Brain on Sep 8, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

however, none of those 3 were projected anywhere near as high as Bradford or Gresham, who were both first round locks. Colt is probably destined to be a second round pick, Sergio has a chance to play his way into the first round this year, and Ship is probably 2nd to 3rd round territory, if not farther down, as well.

The guaranteed money between a first round pick and anywhere else in the draft is ridiculous. Bradford passed up at least $35M guaranteed (which is what Stafford got this year, I believe). Thats a lot more to risk than what our three guys had.

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Colt, Sergio and Jordan weren't in the millionaires' club...

Bradford, Gresham and McCoy all turned down instant millionaire status to come back and all risk dropping down the draft boards, while all of our guys came back in hopes of improving their not-optimal draft position. They can all drop as well but its not like they passed up instant riches to come back. Obviously it is horrible to see any good guy get hurt and all three of these Sooners seem like class acts.

I do wonder if Gresham’s decision had anything to do with Stoops. Just because Gresham shut it down doesn’t mean it was done with the approval of the coaching staff. I will be interested to see what happens if Bradford’s insurance policy collides with his or Stoopie’s desire to play as soon as possible.

by Rickyspub on Sep 8, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More than the Money

They did not make their decision to come back to make more money, none of them did. How much is Colt, Jordan, & Sergio making this year? How much is Sam & Jermaine getting paid?

They all came back for the same reason, to win a title, not just to improve their place in the draft. I’m sure a lot of things came in to the decisions. Maybe Bradford didn’t want to be a Lion or Gresham didn’t like the stack?

Sure some of them would have been instant millionaires, but even the 2nd-3rd round picks would have made more than they are this year.

The point here is really that it’s more than the money that’s lost here.

Best wishes.

by orangetower on Sep 8, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geez, in that case you can say that about every guy on the friggin' roster!

None of these guys are getting paid. I imagine both teams have guys on the roster who have graduated and could be out earning a paycheck in the working world, but none of those guys is likely risking his career as an accountant due to a possible injury. You could make the case that OU’s trio made a greater sacrifice, but they were definitely in a different boat from any of the other guys on their own roster or our roster. Colt, Ship, and Sergio would have all likely taken the money if they were graded in the first round and I wouldn’t have begrudged them for making that sound financial decision. Its the Finley’s and Charles’s that are more disappointing when they leave for the NFL without having maximized their potential. Bradford, Gresham, and McCoy maxed out their potential and now playing (or sadly WERE playing) on borrowed time.

I guess I am just a cynic and think these players (being 1st round-level NFL talent) should be thinking about their futures rather than passing up a life of financial security for another go around at a national title. I don’t applaud what the OU trio did and it is sad that two of them might be paying the consequences. And the third likely has already failed on achieving his sole goal for coming back.

by Rickyspub on Sep 8, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you have a lottery ticket you cash it.

Plain and simple, and being a first rounder in the NFL draft is exactly that.

You can make the argument that its better to go lower to go to a better team, or that its admirable to want to go back to college, or that your stock can’t drop very much, but it all amounts to risking what is guaranteed money. And in this world, thats usually called foolish.

by BoddickerIsClutch on Sep 8, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They all have the chance to make A LOT more money coming back. Most people had colt behind Stafford, Sanchez, and Freman. I still think most would say his game doesn’t transition well to pro ball (I completely disagree) and that he is a 2nd rounder at best.

I heard some people say Sergio might have gone in the mid first. I think that was a bit optimistic. He has the chance to play himself into the same spot as Orakpo last year now.

Ship would have been no where near the first round. Heyward-Bey, Crabtree, Maclin, Harvin, Nicks, and Britt (30th) all went in the first round. Maybe he goes in Robiskie’s place number 36. Maybe. I think he will improve his draft stock by having another healthy year.

by UT_BKC on Sep 8, 2009 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That guy is ridiculously good.

Hope he makes a full recovery!

"Football's so important in Texas. On the West Coast, it's a social. On the East Coast, it's a culture. Here, it's a religion."
-- Major Applewhite

by Sunkist on Sep 8, 2009 11:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My guess is

Seeing Bradford’s injury everytime he turned on ESPN reinforced the risks of playing this year and he might have lost in stoops’ accountability to look out for his players well being.

That being said get well soon Sam and Gresham.

by Longhorn@Berkeley on Sep 8, 2009 11:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Stoops is contradicting the story

Says they are going to determine his future later today based on some procedure

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=422&articleid=20090908_250_0_NORMAN509232

by drbadass on Sep 8, 2009 11:48 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

interesting

just more Bob Stoops spin control?

ill post an update above

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

my thoughts exactly

by drbadass on Sep 8, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Stoooooops

“Jermaine, don’t go telling people you are done for the year until you talk to me.”
“But coach, the doctor said this is what’s best for my knee.”
“Well modern medicine can do miraculous things these days, son, but what they can’t do is tell you when it’s safe to play. You know, you need to exercise it some, anyway. Haven’t you ever heard of physical therapy? Same difference.”

by Horn Brain on Sep 8, 2009 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What does Stoops gain from this?

Wouldn’t it be better to just say, “We wish Jermaine the best on his surgery and would love to see him back on the field”? Its non-specific about him returning to the team, but also isn’t douchebaggy in making it sound like Stoops puts his position over the health of his player.

I would really love to see this break out in a real family feud with Gresham and his family vocally reiterating he is done in hopes of getting ready for the NFL and Stoops saying he will play for OU again.

by Rickyspub on Sep 8, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All is well! All is well! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I’m not sure that I agree that he’s the best TE in the nation, but he’s a damn good oversized receiver. I’m glad for his sake that he’ll probably be good to go come draft season. I know it’s a long shot, but draft season starts with bowl season, so as unlikely as it sounds, he could conceivably play in a bowl in late December even if he’s not ready by late November. Doubt it happens, though.

Gosh…kinda sucks that OUsucks will be able to point to this, but of course Texas fans can always point toward the 80 gadgillion tight ends the Longhorns have lost.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

UPDATE - Bob Stoops gives more info from noon presser

ESPN link

apparently his knee has been locking up. not sure what the cause was from the MRI, so they are scoping to have a look and see what the cause is. apparently if the cartilage is torn and can be repaired, they will do so, and the recovery for this procedure is 5 months, which would end his season.

this seems to be the most likely outcome and Stoops is just grasping at straws.

by 6th street on Sep 8, 2009 1:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Given all of the back and forth on Greshem's Knee

I wonder how accurate the reported diagnosis on Bradford’s shoulder is.

by billb on Sep 8, 2009 1:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is what I was thinking.

If does indeed have a grade 3 sprain no way he is back in 2-4 weeks. If I was Sam I wouldn’t trust my coach and I would go get a second opinion from a doctor that isn’t paid by the university.

by girlslikefootball2 on Sep 8, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

man, i think i was like the only one in DKR on saturday who wasn’t celebrating when OU lost. i didn’t even know that bradford got taken out and gresham wasn’t playing. i was just reeaally looking forward to another big RRR game. it’s just way more fun when both teams are undefeated and highly ranked in my opinion, and this year’s match up was primed to be the game of the season.

here’s to a full recovery for gresham, if he is indeed out for the season. and hopefully bradford makes a quicker than anticipated recovery and is back before the big game.

by hooked on texas on Sep 8, 2009 1:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I used to feel that way, but after last season, I want to leave no doubt. I want OUsucks to lose early and often. I want them to lose every game, if possible. Abject humiliation and subjugation is the way to send them back down to the level at which they belong.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

classy

by ern on Sep 8, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, let’s bring class into it. There’s an old saying about stones and glass houses, but I forget how it goes.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have a feeling you’re “that guy” at a watch party. Most everyone is enjoying himself, but you are absolutely livid and wetting your burnt orange nylon sweat suit over a late second quarter field goal by Wyoming— bringing the Cowboys to within 18. At halftime you talk of secession, how you’re thinking of finally getting that Longhorn tattoo on your neck, and Nickelback. You have (or will have) a kid named Darrell and lil’ Colt is on the way, but halfway through the fourth quarter you’re wondering if that fetus should be christened Garrett instead… Life decisions, my friend. Literally. When the whistle blows you can only fantasize about hibernating until next Saturday. It is a noble existence. And one that you will not regret on your deathbed. Hook ‘em?

by BrooklynSooner on Sep 8, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heh. Not at all. I hate the Cowboys, I hate Nickelback almost as much as I hate Creed and all that other lame emo-alt garbage, and I’m probably the only person who ever spent eight years in the army and still despises the idea of getting a tattoo. I have two daughters, one named after Ruth wife of Boaz, and the other named Charlotte Emily, after the Bronte sisters. If the latest one had been a boy, he would’ve been named after Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

It’s pathetic that you base your imagination’s perception of me on…well, zero evidence, except that I know good and well that the Sooners are a dirty program that doesn’t deserve the success it has had recently.

Yes, Hook ’Em.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's awesome that you named your daughter Ruth.

Such a strong woman.

by 2Cor12:9 on Sep 9, 2009 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And by the way, I’m quite curious about where you get the idea that I’m a secessionist, or even discontent with the federal government to which I am a consultant. Why would I want Maryland to secede from the US? Plus it’d be a bit awkward bumping into people on the other side of Eastern Avenue at cocktail parties.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Abject humiliation and subjugation is the way to send them back down to the level at which they belong.

Hyperbole and blog comments don’t make good bedfellows. Your parting shot sounded psychotic and ’roid rage-y, while my dig was meant to be less serial-rapist-esque and more playful. All in fun…

by BrooklynSooner on Sep 8, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s more strategic than anything. How does one best discredit the arch-enemy in the race for recruits, fan base, poll votes, etc.? By doing whatever it can to humiliate that opponent, and hoping the opponent continues to be humiliated in the other games as well.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 8:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re-reading this, I think I should emphasize that “doing whatever it can” means destroying the team on the field, not anything dishonest or intentionally injuring.

by burntorangehorn on Sep 9, 2009 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BrooklynSooner, maybe you're that guy..

You know who I’m talking about. The guy who, after Oklahoma loses, you go to the Texas fan sites, “just to see what they’re saying about it.” Maybe you’re the guy who, for the last few days, has contributed nothing more than insults to the people who may be less than classy about the whole Bradford incident.

I remember when Colt McCoy got injured at K-State and A&M in 07, and his new nickname was “Cart McCoy.” People put up youtube videos making fun of it, fans brought signs that said as much to Texas games, yadda yadda yadda. Did it piss me off? Yeah. Did I go to IamThe12thMan.com and raise hell about it? Not a chance, probably because it would piss me off even more.

Don’t expect sympathy from everyone on this site re: the current state of the OU program and the injuries to the two top players who came back “for another shot at the championship.” Longhorns fans that are celebrating the injury of Bradford are similar to the Sooner fans that are calling for Bob Stoops’ head right now; people can overreact when they smell a little bit of blood in the water, and if you give it a week the rhetoric will calm down a bit. And much like burntorangehorn here, he’s venting on this site, rather than doing it on the CCMachine, which would be a dick move reserved for “that guy” that you speak of, with the Nickelback and neck tat and whatnot (Thanks for not being a troll burntorangehorn)

By the way, no offense, but I also want OU to lose every game. Especially the one against Baylor. I guess you should be mad at me for that too.

"Stats are for losers, I like winning games."

by bendj on Sep 8, 2009 7:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Cart McCoy incident was just plain ridiculous, but let it be pointed out that I haven’t yet seen a Texas fan on this site making light of the Bradford or Gresham injury. I’m not saying I’m not looking forward to seeing what I think will be more losses by that team, but I definitely don’t wish injury on very many people (Kellen Heard, for example).

by burntorangehorn on Sep 8, 2009 7:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know what you were saying

But brooklynsooner clearly read it out of context.

"Stats are for losers, I like winning games."

by bendj on Sep 8, 2009 7:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Point taken.

by BrooklynSooner on Sep 8, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well it's good to see all that got resolved...

and we’re all good friends again…

just one more thing, though:
“Hyperbole and blog comments don’t make good bedfellows.”

WHAT???

by Pflash on Sep 9, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I thought Okie Lite had a bad week last week

At least they won. OU suffers an embarrassing loss and then they have to deal with this stuff.

by TheElusiveShadow on Sep 8, 2009 2:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

A New Narrative

I understand the sentiment to feel sorry for OU. I also feel very badly for Gresham and Bradford. I understand the benefits of playing a 100% strong OU in Dallas. And I do not want to sound tasteless or unsympathetic. But I cannot bring myself to pull for OU, ever. Even when it is in UT’s best interests, it is difficult for me to do. I dont hate them or wish them harm of any kind. I just do not pull for OU.

I am looking forward to the RRR even more now because I am hoping to see Sergio tear a hole in a couple of OU linemen and give Landry the ole Bomar treatment. I would also like for Jamarkus McFarland to enjoy some quality time on his rump thinking over his decision to go to OU. It sucks for OU that this happened, and it will suck for Texas if our strength of schedule takes a hit and we fall behind USC or Bama later in the season. But you can’t help what you feel sometimes and the way I feel is this:

Make an example. Leave scars. Take no prisoners. Make it 4 out of 5 and turn the tides of the national media and the “narrative” that is the UT/OU rivalry for the past decade. Humiliate them like they did to us in 2000/2001. Drill their egos so deep into the Cotton Bowl field they wont recover them by the time RRR 2010 comes around. Help Landry figure out the big pile of mess he just stepped in and the world of pain that will be his for the next few years. Make sure the OL knows what they have to look forward to next year as well and make sure the backups on the OU DL know that almost our entire OL is returning next year to have them again. Put their DBs on sports center. Make Colt/Shipley a star. Make Mack the name of my firstborn.

And last but not least, wipe that smirk off Bob Stoops face. Not only because it will be fun but because the pollsters demand it, thanks in great part to Bob Stoops. OU is the beast and you dont take your eyes off the beast just because it has a hurt paw. You put it down fast and hard.

by chilimilkjones on Sep 8, 2009 5:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs