Alan Branch two stress fractures?

Jr494ever · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 105 Location: Ithaca, NY

Profootballtalk.com:
POMPEI'S BRANCH REPORT IS RIGHT?

A league source tells us that Dan Pompei's recent report regarding the presence of stress fractures in the lower legs of defensive tackle Alan Branch is on the money.

"Pompei is right," said the source. "There is no doubt he is right. I don't know where he got his info but he is dead right. That's all I can say."

A source with knowledge of Branch's condition disputed Pompei's report on Thursday, calling the problem shin splints, at worst.

The problem, as we understand it, is that different doctors view the medical evidence differently. In this case, there's an issue as to whether there's a "black line" in an MRI of Branch's legs and, if so, whether it is proof of a stress fracture.

Some teams/doctors believe it does. Others don't.

Man, I was all for taking Branch at 11 but after this I'd rather go Willis or dare I say Carriker. Granted this could just be a rumor, perhaps started by teams with later draft picks, but even so is it worth the risk? What do you guys think? I say no, avoid him now unless more news comes out showing he's fine.

twistedwrister · Joined: 08 Nov 2006 Posts: 477

rudyZ · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 4633 Location: Québec

They can't even agree on what he has. Let's call House, Grey and the entire cast of ER.

ucr_kid · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject:

this might be why Branch was not in great shape for his pro day workout.
He may have been unable to condition in the weeks building up to his workout.

Thats a bummer for Branch...he does seem to have a lot of negative press lately for a guy who was rated at one point to go to Cleveland at #3.
This could take him out of the top 15

Hopper · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 1011

PFT isn't a reliable enough source for me.
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42 is a man's # · Joined: 20 Jan 2007 Posts: 79 Location: Hollywood

toss out all the mock drafts of us getting alan branch. carriker, landry, willis or anderson will b our pick.

nick49young · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 98 Location: Watsonville, CA

forget about him
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Night Angel · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 7001 Location: Allentown, PA

Take every story questioning a potential draft pick with more than just a grain of salt. I dont think this story is going to change anything for teams, its amazing how this just happens to come out a week before the draft. Sure it may be true, but I am leaning towards believing this is a scam story.

If this were true, ESPN, SI and other reputible sites would be all over this. Have any of you seen this story on there? If so, can you provide a link please?
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oldman9er · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 18148 Location: New Orleans

It will be investigated thoroughly, so I'm unfazed. McNolan will not draft a guy that has injury concerns in the top of the 1st round.
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#16 Forever · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 9:42 am Post subject:

49erjunkie · Posted: Tue Apr 24, 2007 5:48 pm Post subject:

i would hope that because of this he can slide towards the second round

rudyZ · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 4633 Location: Québec

Night Angel · Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 7001 Location: Allentown, PA

In order for him to slip all the way to the 2nd round, there would need to be a rumor that he doesnt have a knee cap or something.

Nobody is going to create a rumor about a guy, then get fooled by their own rumor and not select him, allowing him to fall into the 2nd. So I think it is safe to say Branch will get selected in the 1st 32 picks
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Jr494ever · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 105 Location: Ithaca, NY

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/04/49ers-nfldraft-alanbranch250407.html
"In an ESPNEWS interview last Saturday, Branch further damaged his stock by acknowledging that he has had stress fractures in both legs, but he said he has played with them for years.

"You can barely see a speck on the X-ray," he said. "I don't know why it's coming up now because I have never missed one practice, let alone one game."

"Speck" or not, lower-leg problems can derail a lineman for a sufficient period of time. Any team that considers selecting Branch probably dropped him a few spots on its board because of injury concerns.

According to NFLDraftScout.com, four teams have confirmed that there is validity to the rumors that Branch has stress fractures in both legs. Of the four organizations queried, two classified the injury as tibia fractures. The other two are claiming Branch has shin splints."

Hmm, now that scares me! Granted the fact he admitted to this and said it has never bothered him before is good to hear but I assume he's more likely to get hurt than someone who doesn't have a "speck" on their x-ray. I wouldn't be upset drafting Branch but man our guys better be sure this is nothing to worry about!