On the Steelers: Injury fixed ... and the problem, too

[ricardisimo]

On the Steelers: Injury fixed ... and the problem, too
Sunday, September 25, 2011
By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


Poor Daniel Sepulveda. It looked as though the punter's career could have ended Dec. 5 when the ACL in his right knee tore for the third time since his final season at Baylor in 2006 and for the second time in three seasons with the Steelers. What's more, he was an unrestricted free agent entering 2011.
But surgeon Jim Bradley suggested an adjustment before he repaired Sepulveda's plant leg nine months ago.
"I have a naturally hyperextended knee; it bows backward," Sepulveda said. "I wouldn't say it's double-jointed. It just goes farther back than normal."
When Bradley fixed it in December, he allowed for that natural bow whereas previous surgeries did not, which is why Sepulveda thinks the ACL kept tearing.
"It wouldn't let me go back, and I think my body fought against that because it's just my natural physiology."
It's been more physics than physiology, watching Sepulveda punt through the first two games of the season after an excellent preseason.
Sepulveda's 55.1-yard average ranks second in the AFC to Oakland's Shane Lechler, who averages 56.0, and third overall in the NFL. Sepulveda's net average of 46.6 leads the AFC and ranks second in the NFL to former Pitt punter Andy Lee of San Francisco, the league leader in both categories.
The Steelers have had one punter in one Pro Bowl in their history, Bobby Walden after the 1969 season.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11268...#ixzz1YwSUG4ys

[solardave]

He is off to a great start and I hope the problem is solved because he is pretty good when he is healthy. Probably the best we've had since Walden.