Football - Broken Neck Leaves Bengals Linebacker In

Broken Neck Leaves Bengals Linebacker In Limbo

After a recent surgery for a cracked bone in his neck, Bengals linebacker, David Pollack is still to decide whether he will try to resume his NFL career.

Pollack hurt himself while tackling Cleveland’s Reuben Droughns during the second game of the season. Pollack was in a protective halo brace that immobilized his neck but the bone did not heal as well as expected. This spurred the surgery that took place on January 3.

In a statement released through the team, Pollack said that he was extremely encouraged by the recent surgery and the doctors had assured him that the surgery went well. Pollack further went on to say that he had not given up hopes of playing football again though his recovery is not complete as yet, and he still has a long way to go.

Neither Bengals nor Pollack disclosed what the doctors did during the surgery. An update on website for Pollack’s foundation mentioned that the surgery was done to correct the disc space in his neck.

Pollack was the Bengals’ first round draft pick from Georgia in 2005. They moved him from defensive lineman to linebacker. This transition was slowed due to a contract holdout during the training camp.

Bengals had hoped that Pollack and Odell Thurman, middle linebacker, would anchor the defense. Thurman was Pollack’s former teammate from Georgia and was taken in the second round draft in 2005. Thurman had an impressive rookie year but was suspended in 2006 season when he repeated violated NFL’s substance abuse policy.