EJ Articles - August 2, 2005
Hervey limps into rehab
Eskimos receiver likely out six to eight weeks
Vicki Hall
The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - Clad in blue and white Bermuda shorts and a gigantic knee brace, Eskimos receiver Ed Hervey hobbled to his locker stall on Monday and popped some Sugar Babies into his mouth before facing the media horde.
"There's no pain, but I don't know if that's a positive or a negative at this point," he said, leaning on his crutches. "You know, these things happen. They happen to everyone, unfortunately. I have to deal with it.
"I feel good about it. I'm going to do the best I can to rehab and get back."
Initial tests indicate Hervey tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Saturday's 36-30 victory over Hamilton. Should an MRI scheduled for this morning confirm the diagnosis, the 32-year-old expects to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Hervey's anterior cruciate ligament appears to be in tact, but that too must be confirmed by the MRI.
"If you have to tear a ligament, the one you want to tear is the MCL," Hervey said. "Hopefully, I'll be back in time for the last part of the season and, hopefully, the playoffs. But that's looking far down the line. I don't know anything official at this point. It's just a nasty injury."
So nasty that, as of Monday afternoon, Hervey hadn't watched the game tape. His teammates warned him not to watch the gruesome incident that caused the Commonwealth Stadium crowd to gasp in horror.
When he eventually gets up the nerve to watch it, Hervey will see his legs give like a wishbone just before a pile of players lands on his right knee.
"I was able to watch Joe Theisman's injury, so I know I can stomach this," he said. "I didn't really feel anything. I just looked to the side and saw that my leg wasn't where it's supposed to be. I must have been in shock more than anything. But the guys got off me and I tried to roll over to get as comfortable as I could. I closed my eyes for a second and tried to think about everything that was going on.
"Before I knew it, all my buddies were out there."
Hervey threw one arm around A.J. Gass and another around Singor Mobley as he limped off the field.
In spite of the pain and fear that his season might be over, Hervey waved to the fans as he rode to the dressing room on the back of a golf cart.
"I just want to thank everyone who was so supportive that evening," Hervey said. "I'll be fine. I'm a true trooper, and I'll get better.
"I've had people come up to me and say how sorry they are. They were in tears. That's why I love it here. Edmonton has always been good to me, even in tough times like this."
In the meantime, Hervey's temporary replacement practised Monday with the first-string offence. The Eskimos acquired Kwame Cavil from Montreal on Sunday in a trade for defensive tackle Clinton Wayne.
Cavil plans to study the Eskimos playbook late into the night so he can be ready for Friday's road game against the B.C. Lions.
"I consider myself pretty smart," said Cavil, who will wear No. 82. "I ain't behind the curve or anything.
"I'm going to try and learn as much as I can as quickly as possible. I know that's a challenge, but I'm ready for it."
Hervey is one of the most popular players in the dressing room, so his teammates are trying to come to grips with the fact he likely won't be in the lineup for months.
"That's a big loss," said defensive back Donny Brady. "But his heart is with the team and we're with him. We're really not losing him in spirit. He's still here in soul, mind, body -- everything. He's just not going to be on the field.
"You know, I'm a spiritual man so it ain't nothing."
Eskimos receiver likely out six to eight weeks
Vicki Hall
The Edmonton Journal
EDMONTON - Clad in blue and white Bermuda shorts and a gigantic knee brace, Eskimos receiver Ed Hervey hobbled to his locker stall on Monday and popped some Sugar Babies into his mouth before facing the media horde.
"There's no pain, but I don't know if that's a positive or a negative at this point," he said, leaning on his crutches. "You know, these things happen. They happen to everyone, unfortunately. I have to deal with it.
"I feel good about it. I'm going to do the best I can to rehab and get back."
Initial tests indicate Hervey tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Saturday's 36-30 victory over Hamilton. Should an MRI scheduled for this morning confirm the diagnosis, the 32-year-old expects to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Hervey's anterior cruciate ligament appears to be in tact, but that too must be confirmed by the MRI.
"If you have to tear a ligament, the one you want to tear is the MCL," Hervey said. "Hopefully, I'll be back in time for the last part of the season and, hopefully, the playoffs. But that's looking far down the line. I don't know anything official at this point. It's just a nasty injury."
So nasty that, as of Monday afternoon, Hervey hadn't watched the game tape. His teammates warned him not to watch the gruesome incident that caused the Commonwealth Stadium crowd to gasp in horror.
When he eventually gets up the nerve to watch it, Hervey will see his legs give like a wishbone just before a pile of players lands on his right knee.
"I was able to watch Joe Theisman's injury, so I know I can stomach this," he said. "I didn't really feel anything. I just looked to the side and saw that my leg wasn't where it's supposed to be. I must have been in shock more than anything. But the guys got off me and I tried to roll over to get as comfortable as I could. I closed my eyes for a second and tried to think about everything that was going on.
"Before I knew it, all my buddies were out there."
Hervey threw one arm around A.J. Gass and another around Singor Mobley as he limped off the field.
In spite of the pain and fear that his season might be over, Hervey waved to the fans as he rode to the dressing room on the back of a golf cart.
"I just want to thank everyone who was so supportive that evening," Hervey said. "I'll be fine. I'm a true trooper, and I'll get better.
"I've had people come up to me and say how sorry they are. They were in tears. That's why I love it here. Edmonton has always been good to me, even in tough times like this."
In the meantime, Hervey's temporary replacement practised Monday with the first-string offence. The Eskimos acquired Kwame Cavil from Montreal on Sunday in a trade for defensive tackle Clinton Wayne.
Cavil plans to study the Eskimos playbook late into the night so he can be ready for Friday's road game against the B.C. Lions.
"I consider myself pretty smart," said Cavil, who will wear No. 82. "I ain't behind the curve or anything.
"I'm going to try and learn as much as I can as quickly as possible. I know that's a challenge, but I'm ready for it."
Hervey is one of the most popular players in the dressing room, so his teammates are trying to come to grips with the fact he likely won't be in the lineup for months.
"That's a big loss," said defensive back Donny Brady. "But his heart is with the team and we're with him. We're really not losing him in spirit. He's still here in soul, mind, body -- everything. He's just not going to be on the field.
"You know, I'm a spiritual man so it ain't nothing."
As long as he can catch the ball... 
I'm on holidays - so its great to see others picking up the slack..... Props go out to E4L and Delorean 
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