After spending a week away, Philbin rejoined the Packers on Sunday for their divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants. BRONCOS QB PLAYED THROUGH INJURIES IN PLAYOFF LOSS ADVERTISING BY ARNIE STAPLETON | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ENGLEWOOD, Colo. —
BRONCOS QB PLAYED THROUGH INJURIES IN PLAYOFF LOSS
BY ARNIE STAPLETON | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tim Tebow needs more R&R than anyone thought.
The Broncos quarterback played through rib, lung and chest injuries he sustained in Denver’s 45-10 loss at New England in the AFC divisional playoffs last weekend.
He won’t need surgery, is expected to make a full recovery with some down time and his offseason training program shouldn’t be affected in any way.
ESPN first reported Wednesday that Tebow got hurt on a third-quarter tackle, then had trouble sleeping because of the pain and underwent an MRI on his chest Monday.
Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said that while he couldn’t confirm the exact extent or nature of the injuries due to team policy, he acknowledged that Tebow finished the game in considerable pain.
Backup Brady Quinn quickly got ready to go into the game after Tebow was hit by Vince Wilfork and Rob Ninkovich, but Tebow stayed in and finished up.
“It’s just the physicality of playing football. Sometimes you get hit and it can hurt a little bit. But, I wanted to play a lot of the game,” Tebow said after the game.
The outcome had long been decided by the time Tebow got hurt.
“I just wanted to show character. You just continue to fight and it doesn’t change who you are, how you play, how you go out there, you should be the same at all times,” Tebow said. “That’s what I wanted to show, it didn’t matter if it was the first play or the last play or you were down by 42. I was going to be the same player and I was still going to give everything I have. Because that’s all I have to give.”
Tebow, who had an ice pack on his non-throwing shoulder after the game, wasn’t in the locker room during a one-hour media window on Sunday, emerging with a smile from the trainer’s room as reporters were filing out as the players streamed to their end-of-season meeting with coach John Fox.
Recovery from such injuries can take several weeks, and it’s highly unlikely Tebow would be able to play in the Pro Bowl on Jan. 29 if he’s selected as a second alternate.
On Monday, Broncos boss John Elway declared Tebow the incumbent starting QB entering training camp next summer and reiterated his plan to work with him during the offseason to help polish his passing game.
Tebow went 8-5 as the Broncos starter after supplanting Kyle Orton following a 1-4 start. He engineered a six-game winning streak that included four straight fourth-quarter comebacks that sent Tebowmania into full pitch.
Eli Manning misses practice with illness
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning missed part of Wednesday’s practice session with an illness that coach Tom Coughlin called “a stomach bug, hopefully a 24-hour deal.”
Manning was placed on the Giants’ injury report for the first time this season as a limited participant in practice, though he missed the majority of it. The team is preparing to play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday for the NFC championship.
“If there is one guy who can miss a practice Wednesday mentally, it’s No. 10,” guard Chris Snee said of Manning, who has had his best pro season. “He was probably in here on Monday and Tuesday looking at film.”
Also limited Wednesday were defensive ends Justin Tuck (shoulder) and Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), cornerback Corey Webster (hamstring) and rookie linebacker Mark Herzlich (ankle).
Missing practice completely was running back Ahmad Bradshaw with a foot problem. Bradshaw frequently has sat out practices or been limited in recent weeks.
Pacman pleads guilty to disorderly conduct
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
Jones entered the plea in Hamilton County Municipal Court just as his non-jury trial was scheduled to begin. A second misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest was dismissed in a plea agreement with prosecutors.
Judge Brad Greenberg ordered Jones to serve a year of probation, complete 50 hours of community service and pay a $250 fine plus court costs. Jones could have received a maximum jail sentence of 30 days.
Jones, 28, was accused in court documents of being disorderly, shouting profanities and trying to pull away as officers arrested him at a downtown bar in July.
Dolphins interview Philbin again
MIAMI — Pushing ahead with his career in the wake of personal tragedy, Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin interviewed for the Miami Dolphins’ head coaching job for a second time Wednesday.
Philbin met with team owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland in New York City, where Ross has an office.
Philbin decided to remain in consideration despite his son’s recent drowning in a Wisconsin river.
After spending a week away, Philbin rejoined the Packers on Sunday for their divisional playoff loss to the New York Giants.
