Three Other NFL Stars Still Haven’t Returned From 1984 Injuries

Medical people make the point that with every stride a man takes on a football field, his athletic career is in jeopardy. It can be interrupted for a year, or more, or it can end.

That is why Ram holdout Eric Dickerson wants some provisions of his contract guaranteed or insured.

Three other young National Football League stars know why. They are San Diego tight end Kellen Winslow, Detroit running back Billy Sims and Atlanta running back William Andrews.

All were injured last year. All are still out of football. And all had some form of contract guarantee.

They don’t face the problem that Dickerson faced in every game last year--the possibility of a lifetime as a cripple without adequate remuneration.

Statistically, Dickerson’s fears are well grounded. An average of 6 to 10 NFL players go down with serious knee injuries each year. Last year, Seattle running back Curt Warner was in the group with Winslow, Sims and Andrews.

But Warner has returned to the game. Winslow, Sims and Andrews haven’t, and may not, for another month or two, or another year, or more.

The knee is the most vulnerable portion of a pro’s anatomy. It is a remarkable joint but it is held together by four ligaments--one on each side, one each in front and back--which are not meant to handle the strain football players put on them. The knee takes a beating in football regardless of whether the player is in contact at the moment of strain.

Warner, Andrews and Sims were not being tackled when their ligaments were torn. On indoor carpets, Warner and Sims had planted their feet to make cuts. On natural grass, Andrews was trying to avoid a tackler when he landed awkwardly.

Winslow alone took a blow. He was in the grasp of a tackler in the Raider game last Oct. 21 when linebacker Jeff Barnes also hit him.

Winslow, however, wasn’t hurt as seriously as Andrews, who damaged a nerve as well as three ligaments.

Winslow injured ligaments in the back and on one side, and Sims tore his in front and and one side.

Warner’s injury was limited to his front ligament. Even so, that injury has ended the career of many another football player. Warner’s dedication to rehabilitation--painful months of it--helped restore Warner’s knee to its former vitality.

The drudgery and agony of rehabilitation are discouraging to knee victims.

Said Sims: “The first thing I thought of (when injured) was going through all the rehab.”

The Chargers have wondered at times if Winslow is applying himself diligently. But those who know him well say he is, and will continue to do so.

Winslow said: “They (his critics) misunderstand because rehab is something you do in private.”

Andrews is trying, but his nerve injury left him with at least a temporary loss of feeling. “(The foot) is still a little numb,” he said.

Andrews is walking without a limp now, as is Winslow, but Sims is still limping. Still, some doctors have predicted that he will be the next to return to football.

In the meantime, Sims isn’t looking at the rest of his life on the breadlines. The Lions had taken out injury insurance on his five-year, $4.5-million dollar contract.

Andrews’ longer term $8-million contract includes an annuity feature that will give him guaranteed payments of $200,000 annually until medicare.

Winslow’s contract is smaller but better. In case of injury, it provides for $3 million guaranteed.