Alabama QB played with broken ribs.

[trof]

Did the Media Know, and Keep It Quiet?

by Glynn Wilson
Locust Fork News

There’s much talk on the radio and the Web about the hit that knocked Texas Quarterback Colt McCoy out of the national championship game, but very little mention of the fact that Alabama Quarterback Greg McElroy was playing with two broken ribs.

“I cracked my ribs in the third quarter against Florida,” McElroy said outside the locker room in Pasadena, according to ESPN. “Two of them — the ninth and the 10th. Left side. It’s bad. I got it numbed up before the game and it was killing me at halftime.”

McElroy certainly not look like the same quarterback who went 12-for-18 for 239 yards in the SEC championship game victory over the Florida Gators.


He completed 6-of-11 passes for 58 yards against the Longhorns and was sacked five times. McElroy wore a flak jacket and an extra pad over his left ribcage for protection.

“For about a week and half after Florida, I couldn’t really throw at all,” McElroy said. “As I came back, they started to loosen up a little bit … It’s been pretty painful, pretty consistent for the entire bowl practice.”
http://blog.locustfork.net/2010/01/08/turns-out-mcelroy-played-with-broken-ribs/

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. ~

:kick:

[trof]

2. You'd think the MSM would have picked this up.

???
:shrug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. odd, isn't it ...?

what gives?

[fishwax]

4. I saw it on ESPN the day after the game

:shrug:

[fishwax]

5. do broken ribs make you hold on to the ball too long?

Because that was McElroy's real problem.

Actually, though, I could see a flak jacket making it difficult to throw the ball away quickly, so perhaps it did hinder him in some of those sacks and hurries ...

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. and yet, they Won

go figure.

[fishwax]

7. sometimes teams win with quarterbacks who don't play well

It helped that they had a stout defense (outside of two second half drives, both of which involved breakdowns on big plays) and a great running back. Fortunately McElroy's ribs didn't hinder his ability to hand off to Ingram in the fourth quarter. :)

As far as injuries go, Ingram being out for most of the third quarter and into the 4th with an injured ankle also hurt the Tide. When he came back, they were rolling again. :toast:

[NightWatcher]

8. Bama didnt have to play perfect, just better than Texas

and that game was an example of the proper way to manage a football game.