Chris Cooley’s knee never responded after his surgery this offseason.
That slowed him down to start the year, and ultimately ended his season early. Cooley believes the lockout is largely to blame.
“I feel 100 percent – and I’m not blaming anybody. I feel one hundred percent that I am a casualty for the season, of the lockout,” Cooley said via the Washington Post. “I think it was a shame that they didn’t let players who had surgery spend time with the doctors and trainers that they trust on a daily basis.
“I wish I could’ve. I think what I went through in July, I could’ve went through in March.”
It’s hard to disagree. Cooley and Peyton Manning come to mind as two players hurt by time away from team doctors.
Cooley felt differently about the lockout in March. He said then the lockout didn’t matter to him because he was set financially and that he would be ready to play when the work stoppage ended.
Cooley underestimated the value of the medical care he missed while away from the team.
The question now becomes whether Cooley will be back in Washington. Cooley and Mike Shanahan expressed full confidence Cooley would be with the team next year, when he is due $3.8 million.
Fred Davis is a free agent, so the team may have to choose between keeping Cooley or spending big dollars on Davis.