BillyCarpenter1

Just heard that Michael Lewis was taken off the pratice field in an ambulance. No one knows exactly what happened. Hope he is ok.

coastalkid

This is NOT what we need. Hopefully it is not serrious but sounds scarey none the less.

BillyCarpenter1

WWL just reported that the stretcher was precautionary. Still don\'t know how serious the injury is. Could just be a stinger.

coastalkid

We hold our breath and pray!

BillyCarpenter1

Michael Lewis injured at morning practice
07/28/2003

ASSOCIATED PRESS


Saints special teams stando Michael Lewis was injured this morning in pre-practice drills.




AP
Michael Lewis
Lewis and safety Mel Mitchell collided. The players were working in separate areas next to each other when the collision occurred.


Lewis was strapped to a gurney, loaded into an ambulance and taken to a hospital. A Saints spokesman said the move was precautionary since Lewis complained of tingling in his hands after the collision.


Lewis is a popular player, who\'s known as the \"beer man.\" He was signed to the practice squad in 2000 even though he had no college experience. Since then, he\'s been a special teams standout, setting an NFL record last season for combined kickoff and punt return yardage. He also was selected for his first Pro-Bowl appearance





http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/W....d227167c.html

BillyCarpenter1

Lewis undergoes tests after practice collision
07/28/2003

WWLTV.com


Saints kick returner Michael Lewis is undergoing tests after a Monday morning collision during practice, according to team spokesman Greg Bensel.


Lewis collided with free safety Mel Mitchell during drills and was taken off on a stretcher and transported to a nearby hospital.




WWL-TV
Lewis is carted off the practice field
\"Michael Lewis is at the hospital right now being examined by our team physicians. All preliminary tests were positive,� said Saints head trainer Scottie Patton. “He still has some upper back and neck pain and discomfort. Neurologically, he is sound.


Lewis will have “additional diagnostic studies, \" but Patton said the Pro Bowl returner had no numbness, and “strength in all of his extremities.�


Patton said putting Lewis on the stretcher was a precautionary step.


\"From the preliminary exams and the symptoms that are present, we didn\'t want to run the risk, so we decided to transport for further evaluation.\"






http://www.wwltv.com/sports/saints/W....d227167c.html

coastalkid

This sounds better. Thanks for the updates BC.

saintfan

From the Associated Press:

Although Lewis was in some pain, the injury was not thought to be serious.

``He is going to be fine,\'\' coach Jim Haslett said. ``We are just going to have to see how he is. He will probably have a couple of days off.\'\'

BillyCarpenter1

This conversation is with New Orleans Saints head athletic trainer Scottie B. Patton:


Opening Statement: \"Michael Lewis is at the hospital right now being examined by our team physicians. All preliminary tests were positive. He still has some upper back and neck pain and discomfort. Neurologically, he is sound. Right now we are proceeding with more additional diagnostic studies.\"

Q: What happened out there?
A: \"I wasn\'t out here when it happened. I think there was a collision between he and another player in which there was an extension mechanism of his spine and neck and it just distributed a lot of pain and discomfort.\"

Q: Was it a neck or a back injury?
A: \"It was kind of both. They are both connected. It depends on the violence and the intensity of the injury of the areas that are involved.\"

Q: Was it precautionary to take him out on a stretcher?
A: \"From the preliminary exams and the symptoms that are present, we didn\'t want to run the risk, so we decided to transport for further evaluation.\"

Q: Will you know more by the end of the day?
A: \"Yes, as each test is completed we will know more.\"

Q: What hospital was he transported?
A: \"He was transported to Memorial Medical.\"

Q: Was he experiencing numbness right away?
A: \"There was no numbness. He had strength in all of his extremities.\"


__________________

BlackandBlue

Well, at least the reports that Mitchell was a heavy hitter have now been confirmed