AP: Thumbs up for Jansen -- because both are broken

[spanishomelette]

Thumbs up for Jansen -- because both are broken

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-redskins-jansensthumbs&prov=ap&type=lgns

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer

September 14, 2005

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- Now is not the time for Jon Jansen to take up the piano. Video games are out, too, although he's never been much for those anyway.

Every movie he sees gets ``two thumbs up.'' As for hitchhiking? ``It's automatic,'' he said with a smile as he raised one of his casts.

The jokes could go on and on. These days, Jansen is all thumbs -- all broken thumbs, that is. The Washington Redskins right tackle is sporting a big white cast on each arm after breaking his left thumb in a practice last week and his right one in Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears.

``I've never heard of lineman having two broken thumbs,'' said 42-year-old guard Ray Brown, a 20-year veteran and the oldest lineman in the league. ``I've heard of a broken thumb and maybe a broken finger somewhere. Aw, that's tough.''

Trainer Bubba Tyer hasn't seen anything like it, either, and he's been with the team for a third of a century. Nevertheless, Jansen expects to play Monday night when the Redskins face the Dallas Cowboys, protecting the blind side of left-handed quarterback Mark Brunell.

``Obviously, I would rather play with 10 good fingers,'' Jansen said. ``But four on each hand will do.''

Jansen said he was fine playing with one cast Sunday, and he stayed in the game after breaking the second thumb in the fourth quarter. Fortunately, his casts don't cover his other fingers, so he can still clutch and grab, although he certainly wouldn't be able to play if he were anything other than a lineman or a kicker.

``It's a little bit cumbersome,'' he said as he looked down at his hands after Wednesday's practice. ``But it's what I've got to deal with. It's Dallas, Monday night, so it doesn't much matter.''

The coaches aren't about to give Jansen a rest. Not only is he too valuable, he just wouldn't allow it. Jansen missed only one snap in his first five NFL seasons before sitting out last season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon.

``This isn't even a setback for him,'' assistant coach Joe Bugel said. ``It's not going to bother him. Even at practice today, he's a real warrior.''

Jansen wears gloves when he's on the field, so he has to put those on before he's fitted for the bigger casts he wears for practices and games. He will have to make some subtle changes to his blocking technique.

``The big thing is probably not being able to use the palm of his hand, the flat surface where you slide along the surface of the shoulder pads,'' Brown said. ``But it's to his advantage on the run game -- he can throw his punches.''

At least Jansen won't get called for holding this week. Well, probably not.

``I've seen stranger things,'' Jansen said. ``But I would have a good argument.''

Updated on Wednesday, Sep 14, 2005 5:49 pm EDT

[God Help Me, I'm in Texas]

"AP: Thumbs up for Jansen -- because both are broken"

:laugh:

[iheartskins]

I had the same reaction as the member in the post above. I hope you'll forgive me for not typing your whole name out.

[TheGreek1973]

Hey we know how these refs like the boys and all, especialy when we play them but if I were Bugles and a ref throws a flag on Jansen for holding I would walk out on the field and kill the bastige..... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: