http://www.thecfl.us/forum/ |
|
| Play Through http://www.thecfl.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2852 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | Aylmar [ Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Play Through |
Pain is with him constantly now. Every morning, when he gets out of bed, his left foot throbs in protest. Standing, sitting, driving to practice, once routine tasks, now filled with discomfort. A five-year veteran, Kerry Bernard has grown used to the bumps and bruises of professional football. An off-season warrior, Bernard thrives on keeping his body in shape, because as his trainers tell him, it helps prevent injury. He worked especially hard at it during the past off-season. Starting center Ellis Price had been considering retirement after the Thunderbirds' run to the conference title game, and Kerry had taken it to heart. Bernard had a taste of being a starter in the 2008-09 campaigns as Price sat out with concussion issues. Although the coaching staff seemed content with his performance during those seasons, Bernard wasn't satisfied. He wanted to prove that he could really play. Unable to convince Seattle that their best move was to lock him up long term, Kerry signed a one year contract with the Thunderbirds at the start of training camp. "[ide89bd0]Kerry really moved well during camp,[/ide89bd0]" said Charles Dever. "[ide89bd0]He was pulling better than he did a couple of years ago. I thought at that time, and still think, that he's coming along real well in his development. I feel confident with that guy out there anchoring the line when he fills in for El.[/ide89bd0]" There was talk of perhaps making the improved Bernard the starter, extending his contract and paving the way for the retirement and/or departure of the oft-injured and more expensive Price after this season. All that changed, however, when Bernard strained a ligament in his foot in the final preseason game. Price remained the starter, and Bernard hit the trainer's table. Three weeks later, the foot totally rehabbed, Bernard started working overtime to impress the coaches, to get back to being the guy who was garnering consideration for a starting job. Just a week after being cleared to play, however, Bernard went to the trainer and complained of soreness in the same foot. "[ide89bd0]They ran every check in the book, man. They flexed it, did the side-to-side thing, pulled on it, and X-rayed it. They couldn't find anything. They say it's fine, but probably arthritic. It may be a lingering effect from the earlier injury. We're not sure. I'm not even 30 yet...but it is what it is.[/ide89bd0]" Now, after practice, Bernard has to sit for at least an hour with an ice pack on his ankle. "[ide89bd0]Earlier this year and with my elbow last year, you could feel it getting better every day. You knew at some point that the injury would heal and you'd feel fine again. With this man, it's a little harder every day. Sometimes, I can hardly walk on it in the morning. The trainers keep telling me that it will come and go, that I'll have good days and bad. And that's true, I suppose. Just got to get the bad ones out of the way.[/ide89bd0]" The Thunderbirds were off last weekend, so that required a practice in pads. According to Gene Oburn, Kerry hasn't lost his pop. "[ide89bd0]He lit me up on Thursday. He pulled out around Rotor (Pat Root) and got up into me a little bit. The guy can still hit like he did when we were rookies.[/ide89bd0]" "[ide89bd0]Of course I can,[/ide89bd0]" said Bernard. "[ide89bd0]When you get out there on the field, you don't feel anything. It's when you come in here, when you get out of that tub, that's when you remember what you've been dealt. This is not a story, man. One step at a time, I'll get through this and be fine.[/ide89bd0]" Even if every step makes him wince. |
|
| Author: | Raven Hawk [ Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | |
Good story. I love this stuff! |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC-07:00 |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited https://www.phpbb.com/ |
|