Friday, March 24, 2000
Copeland dealing with ankle
BY GEOFF HOBSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Bengals don't expect defensive end John Copeland's sore ankle to interfere with training camp.
A bone spur on Copeland's left ankle could be removed in time for him to be ready on a limited basis for the April 28-30 mini-camp.
Copeland said Thursday he started every game last season despite persistent soreness in his foot. Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said the spur has nothing to do with the ruptured Achilles tendon that wiped out most of Copeland's 1998 season.
“I played with it, and I probably could play with it right now,” Copeland said. “But right now, I feel like I want to get it out of there and move on. It's early enough, so why not be 100 percent?”
Copeland will get a second opinion next week, but he's leaning to arthroscopic surgery to remove the spur in a procedure that would shelve him four to six weeks.
“He played with it last year, but when he started heavy running a few days ago, the symptoms were more pronounced,” Sparling said. “When he pulls up his toes, (the spur) pinches the soft tissue. The other option is to do nothing.”
Copeland, who turns 30 this season, led the defensive line by playing on 830 of a possible 1,059 snaps. He became the first Bengals lineman to log two interceptions in a season.
He's projected to move to right from left end to make way for free-agent pickup Vaughn Booker.
Copeland's injury apparently has no impact on the Bengals' draft plan with the fourth pick, as they mull Penn State defensive end Courtney Brown along with Penn State linebacker LaVar Arrington, Florida State wide receiver Peter Warrick and Alabama left tackle Chris Samuels. “Any one of them is going to help us,” Bengals President Mike Brown said.
Bengals Stories
 Copeland dealing with ankle
|
Channel 5 airing opener
Harnisch looks like Opening Day starter
No answers for No. 5 spot
Radke may be back on market
Reds Game Report
Parity saps star power from NCAAs
Iowa State 80, UCLA 56
Michigan State 75, Syracuse 58
Purdue 75, Gonzaga 66
Wisconsin 61, LSU 48
Men's NCAA Tournament
Men's NIT
N. Dakota St. between NKU and title
NKU women make Division II finals
Women's NCAA Tournament
Women's NIT
St. X plays it cool for state semis
Larkin's leadership carries St. X
Purcell Marian reaches state final
Warrensville to meet Purcell for title
Highlands loses in Sweet 16
Kentucky girls Sweet 16
Ohio boys state tournament
Munoz leads girls all-star team
Enquirer's Girls Basketball All-Star Team
Antley pulled off Spiral favorite
Cyclones 4, Orlando 3
Ducks broadcaster resigns
Lorenzen to get shot to QB UK
Stuff 91, Baltimore 88
UC reorganizes football staff
