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December 13, 2007

Dilfer not ready to give up on season

Trent Dilfer today said the blow he absorbed Sunday was the hardest, most painful hit he’s taken in a while. But he’s not ready to call it quits for the season and he’s certainly not ready to take off his helmet for good.
“My mindset is I’m going to try to come back,” Dilfer said. “But I’m going to trust the medical staff. I will be ready to play if I’m medically cleared and the team sees fit.”
Dilfer said he has had two other big concussions during his career. The first occurred in 1995 while he was with Tampa B ay. He was so woozy after that play that the tight end was calling the plays in the huddle, prompting running back Eric Rhett to urge the coaching staff to get Dilfer out of the game.
The second hit happened in Oakland in 2001 when Dilfer, then with the Seahawks, was hit under the chin strap by a blitzing linebacker.
Dilfer thinks he might have been unconscious for three to five seconds on Sunday. But he quickly started moving body parts to show himself – and is family – that he’d be alright. The first words out of his mouth also were, “Did I get the first down.” Well, no, he didn’t, but that’s not what trainer Jeff Ferguson told him.
“I didn’t know they lied to me until the next day,” Dilfer said.
-- Matt Barrows

Posted by Matthew Barrows at 2:13 PM | Comments |