AP/WP:Redskins' Ramsey to Be Out Rest of Season

[TK]

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/sports/7443591.htm

Redskins' Ramsey to Be Out Rest of Season

JOSEPH WHITE

Associated Press

ASHBURN, Va. - Patrick Ramsey is done for the season.

The Washington Redskins quarterback said Monday he will have surgery on his troublesome right foot within the next two weeks, a frustrating end to his first year as an NFL starter.

"We just really felt like it wasn't going to get better by the end of the season," Ramsey said after meeting with a team doctor.

Ramsey has been bothered by the flareup of an old fracture on the right edge of his foot. The injury's origins are unknown, but it first became a problem during training camp and was aggravated in the last few weeks.

The injury affected Ramsey's throwing mechanics, and he has barely practiced for three weeks because of the soreness. He started the Nov. 23 game against Miami, but left early with a mild concussion, then sat out the last two games against New Orleans and the New York Giants.

After wearing a cast for a few days, Ramsey tried to practice last week, but he reinjured the foot and had to leave early. That's when he knew he was probably done.

"I understood that might be a reality when I slipped last week and it hurt that badly," Ramsey said. "In a game-type situation, more than that's going to happen."

Ramsey's season ends because of an ailment that has nothing to do with the pounding he took. The second-year player from Tulane who was sacked 30 times won rave reviews for playing despite injuries to his shoulder, arm and little finger.

"It's frustrating, it really is, but there's nothing I can do about it, just try to make the best of the situation," Ramsey said. "I want to compete, and that's all I'm ever going to want to do."

By having surgery now, Ramsey gets a head start on his rehabilitation. He won't be able to run for 10 weeks after the operation, a timetable that would have him back on the field in time for next spring's minicamps.

In 11 starts, Ramsey completed 179 of 337 passes with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions and a 75.8 rating.

"I saw things better out there," Ramsey said. "I saw the field better. Mechanically, I was kind of inhibited, but at the same time I saw things mentally well.

"I'll never be pleased. I feel like I improved, but I feel like I can improve even more."

With Ramsey out, midseason pickup Tim Hasselbeck will start the remaining three games. Hasselbeck got his first NFL victory Sunday, completing 13 of 19 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-7 victory over the Giants.

[Symbol]

And next year, Ramsey as the starter will just be great.

[Canadian Hog]

I'm glad that the organization and Patrick made the right move. This will be our first step in the right direction towards next year. Patrick will come back better and stronger than ever.

[Phat Hog]

Good move. Get the surgery done and out of the way so he can start rehab ASAP. I think this will only help Ramsey get better for next year. My only fear is that we are now potentially auditioning our 2nd string QB for other teams to try and snatch from us… :paranoid:

[TK]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46064-2003Dec8.html

Redskins' Ramsey to Be Out Rest of Season

By Mark Maske

Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, December 8, 2003; 2:03 PM

Washington Redskins quarterback Patrick Ramsey said today that he has decided to end his season and undergo surgery on his injured right foot.

The procedure could be performed this week, Ramsey said, and will require about 10 weeks of rehabilitation before he will be able to run again.

"We just really felt like it wasn't going to get better by the end of the season," Ramsey said after consulting with members of the team's medical staff at Redskins Park. "This gives me a head start" on his rehabilitation program.

Ramsey has sat out all but two series of the Redskins' last three games. He attempted to return to the lineup last week but aggravated the injury with a misstep late in Wednesday's practice. He is suffering from a bone bruise and the aggravation of an old fracture.

He said he hoped to schedule surgery this week with a specialist in Charlotte, N.C., and indicated that the procedure likely will involve repairing a tendon as well as a bone. The injury is to the fifth metatarsal on the outside of his right foot.

"It's frustrating," Ramsey said. "It really is. But there's nothing I can do about it. I'll just try to make the best of the situation . . . . It [the end of his season] became a reality when I slipped last week and it hurt that badly and I aggravated it that much, just because in a game-type situation, more than that is going to happen. If I can't continue to practice like that, then obviously it would be tough to continue to play. I want to compete. That's all I'm ever going to want to do. But the fact of the matter is that if I get three weeks of rehab [beginning now instead of after the Redskins' season], that will be March before I'm ready to run. That's what I'm going to try to do."

In a season in which he absorbed a series of jarring hits practically without flinching and shrugged off a procession of nagging injuries to his knee and left shoulder, hand and forearm, Ramsey ultimately was sent to the sideline by a foot ailment that first came to the attention of club officials during training camp in August. He played with the injury for much of the season, but aggravated it during a Nov. 9 triumph over the Seattle Seahawks and again a week later in a loss at Carolina.

He spent most of the past three weeks with his foot in a protective boot, and had in a cast for a week before last week's attempt to play. He expressed concern last week that adjustments to his throwing mechanics produced by his foot injury could lead to him hurting his arm or back.

In his second pro season, Ramsey completed 53 percent of his passes for 2,166 yards, with 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was sacked 30 times and had a passer rating of 75.8, ninth-best in the NFC. Redskins officials say they remain convinced that the former first-round draft choice will be their franchise quarterback for years to come.

"I know one thing: I saw things better out there," Ramsey said. "I saw the field better. Mechanically I was kind of inhibited being able to throw at times. But mentally I think I saw things pretty well and felt pretty good about it . . . . I'll never be pleased. I felt like I improved. But I can improve even more."

Tim Hasselbeck has started the Redskins' last two games, including Sunday's 20-7 win over the New York Giants at Giants Stadium, after relieving Ramsey following two offensive series of a defeat at Miami on Nov. 23. Hasselbeck likely will start the club's remaining three games, barring an injury, and already has gone a long way toward securing the Redskins' No. 2 quarterback job entering next season. Rookie Gibran Hamdan has been promoted from the practice squad to back up Hasselbeck, and the team will have a free roster spot if it places Ramsey on the injured reserve list.