DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Baxter soon?

This will be truly amazing if GB is able to come back and play to the level everyone expects of him to play.

Savage said cornerback Gary Baxter, coming off twin torn patellar tendons, could be activated off the PUP list by Monday, but will be worked in gradually.

"He'll tell you that his knees feel better than they did before the injury, which is quite amazing," said Savage. "I have a connection with Gary going back to our days in Baltimore and Baylor. I knew he was going to be back the day he was in the hospital and told me he'd be back.

"It's something that has never been done before with both patellar tendons. Everyone has been excited with the progress he's done throughout the past year."

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

I'm still in shock that this is even possible... I'm amazed at Baxters toughness... whether he actually makes it back all the way or not, I'll always appreiciate his effort and heart....

WOW is all I can say

Here's to an injury free '07 for Baxter. There's nothing I'd rather see more than to see him have just a stellar year. And talk about amazing!

I would be more concerned (and want to know) what caused both to snap at the same time on a non hitting play. All he did was jump up... How likely are they to do the same thing or to other areas like his shoulders did two times.. He may be just wound too tight, if thats possible...

I really believe there isn't a reason for those injuries,,, None that anyone has spoken about anyway.. And I have to believe that if there was a reason such as some kind of bone weakness that Baxter may have, then someone would be telling him,, you are done playing football.. I don't think I've heard that reported so, probably nothing to worry about there.,

No, I just think this one of those fluke type deals,, to my knowledge, in Pro Football, this has only happened 3 times,,, once to a receiver for Chicago in the 90's who never really was anything good after that..and once to someone else but I believe it was quite a while ago and I just don't remember who it was.

The way I looked at it when it happened, and even after seeing replays, it looked it they snapped as he planted to jump, cause he never really got off the ground.

I hope he pulls this off, if he makes it just back on the field on sunday is an accomplishment worth noting in Browns lore.

That would indeed be an amazing comeback, and you have to admire the guy's heart and determination. Some people can take that extra year off knowing that is how long is always takes to rehab, where Gary vowed to return the next season- and it looks like he has. You gotta love guys like this playing for us.

Baxter returns to practice
Zac Jackson, Staff Writer
07.30.2007

Gary Baxter has returned to the practice field.

At 5:33 p.m. Baxter left the locker room and was greeted by warm applause and hugs from teammates Shaun Smith, Andra Davis, Kamerion Wimbley and Sean Jones.

Baxter watched practice from the sideline Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, anda buzz about his impending return spread throughout training camp.

Over the last few days head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage spoke of Baxter's hard work towards completing a remarkable comeback just 10 months after tearing both of his patellar tendons while breaking up a pass against Denver.

"The fact that we're even talking about having him in a day or two speaks to his resolve," Crennel said earlier Monday.

The Browns are scheduled to practice from 5:30 to 7:30. Stay tuned to ClevelandBrowns.com for full coverage of Baxter's first practice.

Crennel said Baxter has worked "fanatically" to rehab and prepare himself to return. Baxter couldn't walk without assistance for months after the injury but has been working at Browns Headquarters almost every day since.

"His mission was to prove everybody wrong," Crennel said. "Even when he was in the hospital he said he was coming back. He worked hard at it."

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/article.php?id=6992

Go Gary, Go! Welcome back! You are the man!

Gary IS the man. I don't even care that we overpaid for him. That kind of determination is awesome. I hope plays again and plays well.

What a Story, Thats Some Serious Determination On His Part

On Another Not, I Cant See Him Beating Out Bodden or Wright After All This

Didnt We Convert Him To Corner??

What Else Can He Play?

More Like a Situational Player

on wikipedia it says he can play safety and corner

If he doesnt start at corner, he'll see lots of time in nickel/dime and a rotation between corner and safety to spell the starters. What a comeback!

Absolutely amazing.

This brings a smile to my face. I never, EVER thought it was possible. If you asked me last year I would have plunked down $20 that said his career was finished.

I'm glad I'd be out that $20.

i was watching all bets are off yesterday and the guy said that his comeback is really underrated, go from blowing out both knees and being back to normal in less then a year is amazing

DPD,, no we didn't convert him to CB,, he was a CB in Baltimore and they talked about moving him to Safety.. at least that's what I seem to remember,

At any rate, this guy wins the battle because he can even walk. That's a bit of a miracle in and of itself.

This is about the greatest come back effort ever,,,, I really hope he makes it

Good luck Gary

His story is simply amazing. His determination has made him one of my fav players

Funny how i remember just few months ago ppl on this board were calling me a unrealistic person for hoping he does actually make a come back....

This is a great story for the browns....exactly what the team needs...something to believe in...something to fight for...and yes one player can make a difference....

Go Gary! i wish you a safe and healthy season!

Heaven forbid you put this in the thread called "Baxter soon" that was already in existence near the top of this forum.

Welcome to the board....and please post on existing threads as opposed to starting a new one if there is already a thread running on your chosen topic.

When you are not disguised as shepdawg, you must be one of the referees.

If not, you should apply for the job.

Personally, I think he'd make a good one.

So do I.

Welcome back #23...

When you are not disguised as shepdawg, you must be one of the referees.

Been there. Done that.......

I never thought he would play again, I hope he is healthy enough to play again.

Man... if this guy doesn't inspire his teammates, we still don't have a team at all.

One of my side jobs is to teach private music lessons on the cello. About 10 years ago, my Pops-In-Law sent me a newspaper clipping of a kid in Wisconsin. He was born a paraplegic- and played this damnnably difficult instrument with his feet. Whenever one of my students whines about the music being too hard, or wails, "I caaaaan't!!!" I say absolutely nothing. I fix a blank stare on them for a good 5 seconds, go to the bulletin board, and set that picture on the music stand in front of them. I let them look at it (for about 5 good seconds), and then say, "I wonder if this kid says, 'I can't' as easily as you do...." I've used that pic at least a dozen times over the last 10 years, and it never fails to bring about the same reaction- they look at the pic, they look at the floor in embarassment, then they look at the music with a new expression... resolve.

Gives me chills every single time.

____________________________________________________

What Baxter has done inspires the hell outta me, and I've never even met the man. I can't imagine how much more inspired I'd be if I were a teammate of his, and saw him make this amazing recovery.

This team has a chance to rally itself, with this impressive young man as it's Poster Child. If only a little of his resolve rubs off on the people around him, these men could do amazing things.

The first player who complains about ANYTHING should be taken directly to Gary Baxter, and required to repeat himself, word-for-word. I guarantee it would only have to happen once. Humiliation can be a powerful motivator... almost as powerful as the inspiration of seeing this man actually run back onto a football field.

Welcome back, Mr. Baxter. In my book, you've already earned the "Comeback Player of the Year" award.


.02,
Clemdawg

Why Do You Capitalize The First Word Of Every Sentence? It's Really Annoying To Read.

just watched his raw footage on main site, wow, amazing that he can walk, then alone run, cut, pivot and do everything he needs to. Awesome story, need a few more players like him

Gary is an amazing man... he is full of life... full of everything... Its like he's standing on top of the world...

He is truly blessed..

I thought he was done, to be honest. Good job, baxter.

Clem, excellent post. Are you still playing through a fuzz box?

Thanks, Lampy!

Quote:

---

Are you still playing through a fuzz box?

---

(hehe)

Ah... my little "fuzzbox"... what a sweetie.
We made some beautiful music together for awhile, but my wife got jealous...

I don't know if Baxter will make it all the way back or not .... but just to get to this point is truly impressive. It is a testament to his determination and relentless hard work.

If someone wants a role model, they could definitely do a lot worse than Mr. Baxter.

I hear ya.

My wife got mad couple months ago when I found a new girl (acoustic, she's got great action)

But as Stompin' Tom Connors sings,
"That woman of mine
will be in a box of pine
Before I hock my old guitar"

Holy crap, I just saw this on Browns training camp daily on STO. I said aloud, holy ****!

He was up running around and doing several cuts, looking great! I am simply amazed way to go Gary, everyone in Cleveland is pulling for you man.

Did he punch a player, too?......

Teammate weighs in on Baxter
Steve King, Staff Writer
08.01.2007
To the non-player, what Browns cornerback Gary Baxter is doing is truly amazing.

Getting back onto the field for the first time on July 30 after tearing the patella tendon in both knees last Oct. 22 is, as Baxter says, historic.

But what do the other players think? Is it as impressive to them as it is to the fans and media.

Yes, or so says Kenny Wright. And he should be a good barometer, since he plays the same position as Baxter and, at 29 and entering his ninth season, is the oldest and most experienced member of the Browns secondary. Thus, he's seen a lot.

Plus, earlier in his career, he tore the posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments on the same knee and worked to return for the start of training camp the following year.

"Sure, what Gary has accomplished so far is significant -- very much so," Wright, signed by the Browns as a free agent from the Washington Redskins in the offseason, said following Tuesday's training camp practice. "It's tough to come back from that. And as tough as it is physically, it's even tougher mentally.

"But the mental part is where he really stands out. You hear that old expression that if you put your mind to something, you can really do it. Well, Gary is living proof of that."

Probably like most others, Wright, when he first came to the Browns, had some doubts if Baxter would be able to make good on his constant promise to defy medical science and return in 2007.

"But after I talked to Gary and get to know him, he made a believer out of me," Wright said. "I had no doubt in my mind that he would do it, so while it's unbelievable to many people what he's done, it really doesn't surprise me knowing Gary's personality and determination."

INJURY UPDATE: Nothing new here, as cornerback DeMario Minter (foot) and wide receiver Mike Mason (knee) continued to sit -- or, as it were, ride stationary bicycles.

CAMPER OF THE DAY: Athletic outside linebacker Chaun Thompson, the Browns' second-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, had no trouble eluding blockers time and time again in one drill. A good pass rusher, he's doing his best to try to distinguish himself at what has become a somewhat crowded position.

JUST VISITING: Dan "Mad Rad" Radakovich, one of the more colorful assistant coaches the Browns have ever had, made his annual visit to camp. Radakovich, who tutored the offensive line in 1989 and '90 under head coach Bud Carson, is now a longtime coach at Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh. There, the head coach is Joe Walton, like Radakovich a coach in the NFL for many years. "Sure, Joe and I will talk a lot about our NFL days and our remembrances of the old players and coaches," said Radakovich, who looks younger than his 72 years. "I like coaching the college kids. Coaching is coaching. But I miss the money in the NFL." ... Also at camp was Jay Paterno, an assistant coach at Penn State under his dad, Joe Paterno.

JUST VISITING II: Kay Collier Slone McLaughlin, the daughter of late great Browns head coach Blanton Collier, will be at camp Wednesday with family and friends. One of the nicest persons you will ever meet, she will address the Browns scouts and autograph for them copies of the book she wrote on her father some years ago.

QUOTABLES: "It looks to me like Wimbley is playing pretty well." -- Crennel, using a joke to carefully avoid the delicate subject, when asked who was ahead in the quarterback derby.

"Me, in the left corner." -- Browns tight end Kellen Winslow, walking back to the huddle, pointing out to Frye that the quarterback didn't see he was wide open down the left sideline.

"Look, a media request! Niiiccceee!" -- backup guard/center Lennie Friedman, smiling broadly, when he was asked for an interview by a media person for the first time in camp.

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