Defensive end Richard Seymour spoke to the press about his injured left elbow in the locker room Thursday.
The four-time Pro Bowler said he hasn't had any surgery on the elbow, and isn't even sure what the specifics of the injury are. He confirmed what coach Bill Belichick has been saying all week – that he's day-to-day – and said the elbow was sore on Monday, so he had an MRI done on it. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is typically used to analyze soft tissue injuries.
"It was stiff. It didn't have much movement," said Seymour of the way it felt last Monday. "It's still too early to tell what the situation will be. I'm preparing like I'm going to play in this football game. If everything works out, it's a no-brainer and I'll be out there playing on Monday night. Obviously, if it doesn't turn the corner, then we'll have to make the necessary adjustments."
Seymour was asked if he hyper extended the elbow and if he would describe it as a deep tissue bruise. He said he didn't know what the doctors were calling it, or what exactly was wrong with it, admitting he noticed swelling. He explained that one of the reasons he doesn't know much about the injury is that he couldn't bring himself to watch the play on film after seeing it once.
"I went back and looked at the play – and I'm definitely blessed and fortunate, because it actually could have been worse than it was – I couldn't even watch it again on film, because it was pretty gruesome," said Seymour.
The injury occurred in the final play before the two-minute warning in the first half of the Bills game on Sunday. After the game, Seymour explained that his hand was planted and safety Rodney Harrison ran into it. He confirmed that again Thursday.
Seymour was at practice on Wednesday and again on Thursday. He wore a heavy brace on the elbow Wednesday and appeared to have it on under a long sleeved shirt Thursday. He talked about the brace as well.
"Obviously anything you wear, it kind of restricts you, but at the same time it protects you," said Seymour. "I just have to listen to the trainers, because it isn't something I've ever had before, so I'm feeling my way through it."
Seymour is left handed, so the injury is to his dominant hand. He said the elbow isn't at full strength and he doesn't know how the injury would affect his play, were he able to play on Monday.
"I'm not sure how much it will take away. I haven't really went full speed to test it. We just have to see as the week moves on," he said.
"As a player getting ready to play in any game – especially on Monday Night Football – you always want to play. You only get 16 games during the regular season to play, so you always want to be on the football field. But it's a violent sport and so you have to take the necessary precautions," said Seymour, indicating that he didn't want to rush back and increase the damage.
Seymour simply could not say whether he'll be able to play against the Vikings on Monday, but he believes his potential replacements will be able to get the job done in the event that he can't.
"Jarvis [Green] has always done a good job for us and the guy that fills in, whether it's Mike Wright, Jarvis, Marquise Hill – you know we have confidence in those guys."
Harrison gets another half-sack
In last Sunday's Patriots-Bills matchup, safety Rodney Harrison sacked quarterbackJ.P. Losman with 5:22 remaining in the third quarter. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin was near the play and the day-of-game statisticians credited Colvin and Harrison with a half-sack each.
The Elias Sports Bureau keeps the official stats for the NFL. They reviewed the play, crediting Harrison with the whole sack for –5 yards.
Harrison wasn't aware of the change until Thursday in the locker room when a member of the media informed him of the official change.
"I got the full sack? Yes! That's 28 and a half. I'm so happy," exclaimed Harrison after he was told about the change. "I told [Colvin], I said, 'Look, Rosie I don't want much, but you can't jump on top of a guy when I have the sack.' I said, 'I don't blitz much. Let me have it. I mean you're going to get your nine or ten sacks. Let me just get this one.' I'm thrilled about that."
Harrison said his goal has been to reach 30 sacks and 30 interceptions by the time he decides to retire.
"That was really the only personal stat that I ever looked at," he explained. "When I finished my career, I wanted to have 30 sacks and 30 interceptions. That's just something I wanted to do. Ultimately, I want to win. Stats are good, but when you look in your safety deposit box and you see those Super Bowl rings, there's nothing like it!"
Harrison is the only player in NFL history to record at least 25.0 sacks and at least 30 interceptions. The NFL began counting sacks as an official statistic in 1982. He currently has 28.5 career sacks and 31 interceptions.
Elias also credited defensive lineman Mike Wright with a forced fumble that came in the final seconds of the first half. Cornerback Ellis Hobbs recovered the fumble and returned it for five yards.
Notes:
The Patriots held practice outdoors today at one of the practice fields next to Gillette Stadium. They were not in full pads, wearing sweats/shorts, helmets and shoulder pads. The only players not seen during the portion of practice available to the media were cornerback Antwain Spann and offensive lineman Russ Hochstein. Some members of the field crew were at the practice field raking up red, white and silver confetti, which seemed to have blown out of Gillette Stadium, and was likely used in the filming of the Rock's new movie. The media was allowed to watch stretching only. No changes were made to the injury report today.
