Theismann suffered the exact same injury in 1985– and was in the stands when Smith broke his leg 33 years to the day Theismann was injured. Theismann needed only one surgical treatment on his best leg to clear up an infection; Smith needed 17.” He has gone through a lot more than I had to go through,” Theismann said. Theismann said it went beyond a financial consideration.” You know how hard Alex has worked,” Theismann said.
” You know how tough Alex has worked,” Theismann said. “Before his injury the guy brought rocks under water as part of his training. Its not about the cash, its about the love of the video game and the love of competitors.
And by pressing himself to reach this point, Theismann stated Smith has actually set up the rest of his life.
” What hes been able to do is develop a lifestyle for himself at some point when this is over,” Theismann stated. “He pressed himself so hard, he can do things he wants with [his better half] Elizabeth and with his kids because he pressed himself so hard. That is to me the ultimate thing that occurred.”
When Smith broke his leg 33 years to the day Theismann was injured, Theismann suffered the same injury in 1985– and was in the stands. In both cases, the bone protruded through the skin. But their stories diverge from that point. Theismann needed just one surgery on his best leg to clean up an infection; Smith required 17. He nearly needed to have his leg amputated, as he talked about in ESPNs E:60 documentary called Project 11.
” He has actually gone through a lot more than I had to go through,” Theismann stated. “For me it was a concern of the leg recovery and then attempting to do certain things needed of the quarterback position. Alex came within 24 hours of losing his leg.
” No matter what happens hes currently won the award for resurgence player of the year.”
Smith, who has actually started 161 video games in 13 seasons, also had actually a rod positioned in his leg to additional protect his bone, something that Theismann did not have. Theismann stated another difference is how accepting the NFL has become with older quarterbacks.
Theismann was 36 years of ages when he suffered his injury in a Monday night video game. He also was not playing as well as he had in the past with eight touchdowns to 16 interceptions– a plain difference to his 1984 statistics (24 goals, 13 interceptions).
Theismann attempted to come back in 1986 however was waived. A year later on he said he was throwing passing drills for some groups– while attending practices in his function as a nationwide broadcaster– which he was moving “truly well.”
” You might state medical advancements however … it was a various age of football,” he stated. “If you were 35 in 1985 they could not get you out the door fast enough. Now if youre 35 and you can play the video game decently, youve got a 3- to four-year career ahead of you.
” I had the ability to do [anything] two years after, however I was 37.”
John McDonnell/The Washington Post by means of Getty ImagesIn his very first season with Washington in 2018, Smith had struggled to adapt to Jay Grudens offense however had actually tossed 10 touchdowns to 5 interceptions prior to the injury ended his season. Theyre 4-19 considering that his injury.
Even now Smith would count $32 million vs. the cap if launched, though Washington has a $12 million insurance coverage policy that would decrease his number if he was done playing. There was no wage cap in the mid-1980s; Theismann was arranged to make $1.2 million.
But Theismann stated it went beyond a monetary consideration. He indicated Smiths work throughout the process. Since of their shared injury history– and since Smith bet Washington– the 2 spoke typically during this procedure. Theyve discussed their injuries; theyve talked about the on-field movements he must show to persuade others he can be effective.
” I was pulling for him from day one,” Theismann said. “In the beginning everyone stated hell never ever play again. Now he has a possibility to go out and do certain things.”
” He has gone through a lot more than I needed to go through,” Joe Theismann said in comparing his injury to the one Smith suffered. Nate Fine/Getty ImagesWhether Smith really contends for the beginning job stays to be seen. He was cleared for football activity Sunday, however the organization still isnt sure about the level at which hes capable of playing. They are going to reduce him back into football action, per several sources. Coach Ron Rivera and quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese have stated the No. 1 thing they desire to see is Smiths capability to protect himself.
” Without any preseason games and with no genuine live contact, that still stays an open-ended concern,” Theismann said. “That, to me, is the only thing Coach Rivera needs to evaluate is: Will he be able to do that?”
Theismann said he can also associate with Smiths desire to play again after such a gruesome injury.
The one previous NFL quarterback who understands the injury Alex Smith has actually conquered admits hes living vicariously through him.
” Heck yeah!” previous Washington quarterback Joe Theismann told ESPN in a telephone interview. “Go, Alex, go.”
Washington triggered Smith off the physically not able to perform list Sunday morning, an exceptional advancement given that he broke the tibia and fibula in his ideal leg in a November 2018 video game against Houston.
