Donovan McNabb has decided to undergo surgery for his sports hernia within the week and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, Eagles coach Andy Reid announced Monday.All-Pro corner Lito Sheppard is also expected to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a severe high ankle sprain that will require surgery, Reid said. McNabb had delayed a decision on the surgery to repair the sports hernia that has bothered him all season until he received two opinions that surgery was necessary. Dr. William Meyers recommended that McNabb have surgery now to correct the sports hernia after an examination Thursday morning. Over the weekend, McNabb received a second opinion from Dr. Michael Brunt that confirmed the surgery was needed. McNabb, who has played through injuries most of the season, had hoped rest and treatment would permit him to return to the field in a week or two and delay surgery until after the season. McNabb also had said he was hesitant to opt for the procedure because he's never before undergone surgery.Sheppard sustained his ankle injury, equivalent to a separation of the ankle, with 12:14 left in third quarter of the Eagles' 27-17 loss to the Giants when he got tangled up with Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress on an incomplete pass. He was taken off the field in a cart and the Eagles originally announced the ankle was broken.Sheppard, who made the Pro Bowl last season, has 27 tackles, two interceptions and one sack this season.A five-time Pro Bowl selection, McNabb clearly hasn't been the same quarterback who led the Eagles to the NFC championship game the last four years. He has thrown a costly interception in the fourth quarter in each of the last three games, and has nine picks this season.He threw just eight interceptions last season when he became the first player in NFL history to throw more than 30 touchdown passes (31) and fewer than 10 interceptions.Overall, McNabb has passed for 2,507 yards, 16 TDs and has a passer rating of 85.0 this season.McNabb hurt his chest in the season opener and has been bothered by the sports hernia for months.Reid said that Mike McMahon, who got the start against the Giants on Sunday, would be the starter for the upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2231967
They should have had McNabb have surgery EARLY on in the season when he first got his sports hernia. The loss of Lito wont be that bad--he hasn't been THAT productive this year on defense.The Eagles are bad enough now to get a top 10 draft pick in the first round...
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. McNabb should've gotten it fixed right away. He'd be back full strength right now if he had.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RandyMoss18 @ Nov 22 2005, 01:55 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'>Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. McNabb should've gotten it fixed right away. He'd be back full strength right now if he had. </div> They would be 2-8 right now if McNabb had that hernia surgery when it happened. It's not like its gonna make a big difference if he misses 6-10 weeks then or 6-10 weeks now because of his injury. Either way the Eagles are doomed without him.
Well, they just have to look to next year, this season isn't going anywhere. They have to get their guys healthy for next year, especially McNabb if they want to make another run at the playoffs.
