Tuesday, June 05, 2007
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Verron Haynes, shown here with former Steelers running backs coach Dick Hoak, is back on the practice field for the first time in more than seven months.
Click photo for larger image
One day, you're in the backfield of the reigning Super Bowl champions. The next, you wonder if you'll ever play football again, or walk properly for that matter.
It happened to Verron Haynes two days before Halloween in Oakland. You think quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers were scary in that 20-13 loss, nothing was as frightful as the popping sounds in Haynes' left knee as the ligaments snapped like old rubber bands.
"It was a whole bunch of ligaments up in there," Haynes said. "Go down the line and name them."
There was the PCL, the MCL and the dreaded ACL, for starters. Only one good piece of news came out of it -- no nerve damage. Haynes had a chance, a long one through rehabilitation and plenty of prayer.
Yesterday, before thanking his surgeon, his trainers and God, Haynes re-signed with the Steelers and took that long-anticipated step of rejoining his teammates on the practice field for the first time in more than seven months. He is ahead of schedule and hopes to stay that way as he tries to reclaim his job as third-down back and possibly backup to starter Willie Parker amidst increasing competition.
"Terrific," Haynes declared after the Steelers began their next-to-last week of practice before breaking June 14 until July 23 training camp. "I feel good. I feel fresh, revived. And I'm just ready to get out there and work. It's a great feeling. I took the field for the first time and I felt like a rookie all over again, real good."
So good that he wore no brace, just a small piece of rubber around the knee that's supposed to hinder arthritis. It was good news not only for Haynes but also the Steelers. Less than three months ago, they were frightfully thin in the backfield with Parker the only real experienced running back. Najeh Davenport's contract had expired, and Duce Staley and Haynes had been released.
The Steelers actually did Haynes a favor. He was able to collect some money for being released while injured before the new NFL calendar year started in March. Kevin Colbert, their director of football operations, said at the time that Haynes would continue to rehab his knee at their facility and they hoped to re-sign him if he passed their physical.
"It was a big concern," Haynes said of his future. "But the reality of it is Mr. Rooney, Kevin and Mike Tomlin told me all along don't worry about it, we have you, you'll work out here and we'll bring you back. And true to their word, they did."
Not only that, but Davenport also re-signed, and after the Steelers failed to draft a back in April, they signed veteran Kevan Barlow. Now Haynes must compete with them to get his old job back.
"The role will define itself," Haynes said. "I'm not about the numbers game. That will play itself out in training camp."
Haynes is more reliable than spectacular as a back, particularly on third down. He caught 57 passes for 417 yards in his five seasons, and ran for 738 yards and a 4.2-yard average. Nobody during that time has been able to block as well on third downs, something the Steelers consider a priority when he lines up virtually next to the quarterback in the shotgun formation.
He predicted he will be better than ever next season.
"We took the Cybex test they use for the Combine and this leg is actually stronger," he said with a nod toward his left knee. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to get back out there and just showcase my talent again."
NOTES -- Tackle Willie Colon joined a gaggle of linemen who have tried their hand at the center position this spring when he snapped the ball to the quarterbacks yesterday in team drills. Others at the position have been Chukky Okobi, Sean Mahan, Marvin Philip and Kendall Simmons. ... Roethlisberger missed his first practice of the spring in order to play in Jim Kelly's charity golf tournament in New York.
(Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com.)
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