saintz08

PLEASURE OF PAIN

Wednesday, May 19, 2004
By Jeff Duncan
Staff writer

Saints linebacker Cie Grant

will have to play with pain

the rest of his career, but

that beats what he feared


Cie Grant received the scare of his young professional career two weeks ago.

His left knee didn't feel right. The same left knee the second-year Saints linebacker had minor arthroscopic surgery on last August to remove loose particles and relieve pain. Now, here he was eight months later, still with discomfort and swelling.

The situation was bad enough that Grant, on the advice of agent Neil Cornrich, flew to Vail, Colo., last week to undergo further evaluation and receive a second opinion from specialists at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic, the internationally renowned orthopedic center founded by Dr. Richard Steadman.

Doctors there told Grant his knee was structurally fine, that he had a chronic situation in the joint that could be remedied through non-surgical treatment.

Grant breathed a sigh of relief. So did Saints officials, who were concerned the injury might require more surgery or, worse, be career-threatening.

"Getting the nod this past week really helped me mentally," said Grant, who, along with the rest of the team, participated in the first day of the team's two-week coaching sessions. "When the doctor gave me the OK, that was the best news, that really had me excited about coming in and going to practice.

"It was uncertain a couple of weeks ago, and it was hard to think about what I had to do here not knowing what the situation was. Now I know what it is, and I can move forward."

Saints coach Jim Haslett said doctors told Grant the pain and swelling in the joint was caused by irritation from his patellar tendon as it rubbed on his kneecap. The problem can be remedied with treatment, Haslett said, but Grant probably will have to endure the discomfort for the rest of his career.

"For the most part, it was good news," Haslett said. "I thought last week he might not ever play again. He's going to be OK. He's just going to have to learn to play with it."

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