It's all over the news. Ryan Clady injured his patella tendon. What we don't know, is how it will affect his season.
From the Broncos site this afternoon:
NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora is reporting that Ryan Clady has undergone knee surgery, and will be out for three-to-four months.
"It’s an unfortunate situation with Ryan, but we’re hopeful that everything will be OK for the season," Head Coach Josh McDaniels told NFL Network.
He said that although the situation "is not ideal," it could benefit some of the other players on the roster, as they could see increased playing time in upcoming minicamps.
And ESPN confirms the report that Ryan had surgery and doesn't think it will affect his season:
Ryan Clady has undergone surgery to repair a torn left patellar tendon and will be out for several months, according to The Denver Post.
Clady suffered the knee injury playing basketball, two league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Clady has told people he will miss three months, according to the sources.
Team spokesman Patrick Smyth declined to comment on the report, saying only that veterans were participating this week in the team's offseason training program. Clady's agent, Pat Dye Jr., didn't immediately return a phone call.
At 5:00pm MDT, a Twitter from @Adam_Schefter ESPN medical reporter Stephania Bell believes the timetable on OT Ryan Clady's return is not a lock and functionally he may not be 100%.
Another report has it that the patella tendon was torn 50%. Now I don't know what that means for the anchor of our Offensive Line, but there is a possibility that it could affect his pocketbook if he misses time for an unauthorized activity that has an injury risk.
We know that he was injured playing basketball. What we don't know, is whether it was a part of the offseason conditioning program, or a recreational activity. If it was a part of OTA's, which is entirely possible, Ryan and the Broncos would be covered by an insurance policy (such as Workmen's Comp). If you remember my post on OTA's, there are some Florida University players that use basketball for conditioning. In such a case, the team knows about these activities and the player would be protected as seen below.
Per the CBA Appendix C regarding the Standard NFL PLAYER CONTRACT
9. INJURY. Unless this contract specifically provides otherwise, if Player is injured in the performance of his services under this contract and promptly reports such injury to the Club physician or trainer, then Player will receive such medical and hospital care during the term of this contract as the Club physician may deem necessary, and will continue to receive his yearly salary for so long, during the season of injury only and for no subsequent period covered by this contract, as Player is physically unable to perform the services required of him by this contract because of such injury. If Player's injury in the performance of his services under this contract results in his death, the unpaid balance of his yearly salary for the season of injury will be paid to his stated beneficiary, or in the absence of a stated beneficiary, to his estate.
10. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Any compensation paid to Player under this contract or under any collective bargaining agreement in existence during the term of this contract for a period during which he is entitled to workers' compensation benefits by reason of temporary total, permanent total, temporary partial, or permanent partial disability will be deemed an advance payment of workers' compensation benefits due Player, and Club will be entitled to be reimbursed the amount of such payment out of any award of workers' compensation.
If Ryan's injury was sustained from a recreational pick-up game of basketball, he could be held accountable for his actions.
back to the CBA:
3. OTHER ACTIVITIES. Without prior written consent of the Club, Player will not play football or engage in activities related to football otherwise than for Club or engage in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury. Player represents that he has special, exceptional and unique knowledge, skill, ability, and experience as a football player, the loss of which cannot be estimated with any certainty and cannot be fairly or adequately compensated by damages. Player therefore agrees that Club will have the right, in addition to any other right which Club may possess, to enjoin Player by appropriate proceedings from playing football or engaging in football-related activities other than for Club or from engaging in any activity other than football which may involve a significant risk of personal injury.
And further down in this section it states:
14. RULES. Player will comply with and be bound by all reasonable Club rules and regulations in effect during the term of this contract which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this contract or of any collective bargaining agreement in existence during the term of this contract. Player's attention is also called to the fact that the League functions with certain rules and procedures expressive of its operation as a joint venture among its member clubs and that these rules and practices may affect Player's relationship to the League and its member clubs independently of the provisions of this contract.
If the Broncos have a Rule that prevents any player from playing contact sports outside the NFL League related boundary (such as Basketball), they could ask for a portion of Clady's salary back if he misses a portion of the season. Clady is scheduled to earn $2,569,500 in 2010, so if he was to miss 6 games due to inappropriate conduct, it could cost him upward of $900,000. Of course this is all contingent on the possibility that Ryan is guilty for such conduct and the Broncos wish to pursue such an action.
Update: If you missed it tonight, Vic Lombardi was on the MHR Radio show. He stated that Clady's injury was during a pick-up game.
He also said that didn't think the Broncos would consider this approach (a fine or loss of salary). "It's not like he was skiing or anything."
We will know soon enough for certain what the timetable for Ryan Clady's return will be. If the Broncos pursue another Lineman such as Flozell Adams or Jamaal Brown, that will be unwelcome news for Kyle Orton's backside. If you think he had happy feet last year, think how happy he will be without Iron Clady having his back.
Get well soon Ryan!