Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury

By: Adam Gretz

Sidney Crosby hasn't appeared in a game for the Penguins since December 5, and at this point there is still no timetable for his return. Which is pretty much business as usual. It's been assumed that his current absence has been the result of another concussion, but he was also reportedly dealing with an injury to his C1 and C2 vertebrae, according to Bob McCown of Sportsnet 590 the Fan and Elliotte Friedman of CBC.

Said Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson, via Friedman, "Sid did suffer a concussion, but last week, the possibility of two fractured vertebrae (C1 and C2) was discovered. A third doctor is being consulted to determine the exact diagnosis."

The Penguins released the following statement on Saturday night, including that the vertebrae injury has apparently already healed: "The diagnosis of Dr. Robert S. Bray, a neurological spine specialist based in Los Angeles, is that Sidney Crosby had suffered a neck injury in addition to a concussion. Dr. Bray reports that the neck injury is fully healed. Those findings will be evaluated by independent specialists over the next few days. The most important goal all along has been Sidney's return to full health, and we are encouraged that progress continues to be made."

Crosby had been in California this past week visiting Dr. Bray, so this news shouldn't come as a total shock (the fact he was seeing a specialist that deals with the spine, instead of a specialist that deals with concussions, should have been somewhat of a tip), but it does add a few more questions to the mix. Like, how didn't anybody know about this before?

What's interesting is that the injury was originally discovered, according to the Sportsnet report, when Crosby visited a specialist in Utah for an MRI after getting some advice from a friend ... New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.

Earlier in the day on Saturday Penguins general manager Ray Shero remained hopeful that Crosby will play again this season.

"We'll see, Hopefully, next week where he is after we get the reports from California," said Shero. "The thing with Sidney is we want to continue to look to see how we can get this under control and manageable ... hopefully we'll have him back here at some point soon."

This latest report may not change that, but it does simply add to what he has been dealing with, while the uncertainty continues to grow.

He appeared in eight games this season, scoring two goals and 10 assists after missing the second half of last season and the first part of this season due to a concussion.

Photo: Getty Images

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CrowDog Since: Jan 26, 2007	Posted on: January 30, 2012 5:49 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury As as I said, I'm not sure on all the criteria. I just know that because of the said criteria, which was not limited to the previous season played, that the Penguins got the most balls in the lottery basket From NHL.com, here is the criteria that was used ... http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=26401 The Pens had the same chance as the Sabres, Blue Jackets and Rangers ... those four teams had a 6.3% chance. The reason is that they had failed to make the playoffs for three seasons (2001-02 thru 2003-04), AND they had not had a 1st overall pick during that same time period. These four franchises had three balls in the bin. The Pens didn't suck for 10 years ... that's all I'm saying. In fact, from the 1990-91 season through the 2000-01 season (11 years), they made the playoffs every year, and I "think" were third behind the Red Wings and Devils in winning % over that time period. The Pens were just really bad for three years, and then really lucky. [ Reply to Comment ]
Blitzylvania Since: Nov 3, 2006	Posted on: January 30, 2012 4:22 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury Another was the points percentage of the last 10 years of each team (Pens were last). What does that say? Nothing really, except that the Penguins reaaaalllly sucked for the 10 years leading up to the Crosby draft. This criteria may have been used, but saying the Pens were last is far from accurate. For the 10 years leading up to the lock out ... starting with the 94-95 season and ending with the 2003-04 season ... the Pens averaged 81.1 points a season. (Keep in mind that the 94-95 season was only a 48-game season.) I'm not sure where 81.1 points/season ranks, but it is definitely not last. Over that same 10-year period, the following teams averaged these points per season ... Islanders - 66.8, Lightning - 67.1, Panthers - 73.7, NY Rangers - 74.6, Whalers/Hurricanes - 75.5, Kings - 77, Canadiens - 78.2, Oilers - 79.9, Sabres - 81.8. The Pens made the playoffs 7-out-of-10 years. It's not like they were terrible for a decade. They were bad for three years ... 2002-04. They were really bad for those three years. But to say they really sucked for 10 years is simply not accurate. In fact, their average points-per-season for the first 7 years of that 10 year span was 88.4 points. I would be willing to bet that was among the best in the league over that 7-year period. As as I said, I'm not sure on all the criteria. I just know that because of the said criteria, which was not limited to the previous season played, that the Penguins got the most balls in the lottery basket. [ Reply to Comment ]
pete5597 Since: Dec 7, 2008	Posted on: January 30, 2012 3:47 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury Look at what Peyton Manning is going through right now, same cenario. Not entirely true. Peyton is 35 and nearing the age of when QB's start to decline. Crosby is 24 and nearing his prime. Sid could sit out a year or 2 and come back in middle of his prime. If Peyton would miss another year, his career would practically be over. Crosby is young enough that he can come back from this. Eric Cole had fractured vertebrae and came back. Granted he missed just about an entire year, but still. Mason Raymond had a spinal injury during last year's finals and he's back playing. The Penguins, doctors, and Crosby himself need to be smart about this though. People can recover from concussions and fractured vertebrae, but they are risking his career and longterm well being if they let him play before he is recovered...again. Send him to every specialist that is even remotely related to the head, spine, neck, back, equilibrium, nerves, ears.....When all checks out, then let him play. Don't just assume that when the symptoms are gone he's better. They already made that mistake. [ Reply to Comment ]
4.3 forty Since: Mar 19, 2008	Posted on: January 30, 2012 3:06 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury I am not a Crosby fan, but that being said, he is a fantastic talent and the NHL is better with him in it. I hope he is able to recover soon [ Reply to Comment ]
06restoirtheroa Since: Sep 20, 2006	Posted on: January 30, 2012 2:18 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury See Avatar. nuff said. [ Reply to Comment ]
CrowDog Since: Jan 26, 2007	Posted on: January 30, 2012 10:54 am Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury Another was the points percentage of the last 10 years of each team (Pens were last). What does that say? Nothing really, except that the Penguins reaaaalllly sucked for the 10 years leading up to the Crosby draft. This criteria may have been used, but saying the Pens were last is far from accurate. For the 10 years leading up to the lock out ... starting with the 94-95 season and ending with the 2003-04 season ... the Pens averaged 81.1 points a season. (Keep in mind that the 94-95 season was only a 48-game season.) I'm not sure where 81.1 points/season ranks, but it is definitely not last. Over that same 10-year period, the following teams averaged these points per season ... Islanders - 66.8, Lightning - 67.1, Panthers - 73.7, NY Rangers - 74.6, Whalers/Hurricanes - 75.5, Kings - 77, Canadiens - 78.2, Oilers - 79.9, Sabres - 81.8. The Pens made the playoffs 7-out-of-10 years. It's not like they were terrible for a decade. They were bad for three years ... 2002-04. They were really bad for those three years. But to say they really sucked for 10 years is simply not accurate. In fact, their average points-per-season for the first 7 years of that 10 year span was 88.4 points. I would be willing to bet that was among the best in the league over that 7-year period. [ Reply to Comment ]
sstambaugh Since: Jul 26, 2009	Posted on: January 30, 2012 10:50 am Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury Shocking to see some of the attacks on this issue with Crosby. First of all, anyone who has ever played Hockey professionally or at least at a competitive level knows, it's an extremely physical sport. Football is a very hard hitting collison sport just like Hockey, only difference is that in Football you are more protected with better pads than you are in hockey. Can you imagine the results of some of the hits in football if they had pads like the Hockey players do? To draw the conclusion that Crosby is in anyway soft or can't take the hits is just plain ridiculous. And keep in mind, I am NOT a fan of the Penguins or Crosby, but realize that this guy is important to hockey and to his team. But on a personal level, Crosby has got to look out for himself and his overall well being. Look at what Peyton Manning is going through right now, same cenario. Why would you put yourself at risk of being either permantly disabled or paryalized for your job? These guys do have lives to live outside of the sports world and their own safety should come first no matter what amount of money they are being paid. [ Reply to Comment ]
Blitzylvania Since: Nov 3, 2006	Posted on: January 30, 2012 1:36 am Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury LOL!!! Dfence wants to talk about FACTS but he fails to mention that the lottery was NOT equal for all the teams to win Crosby. The teams that had the poorer records during the season that was played prior to the work stoppage received more ping pong balls than the teams with the better records genius. Thus the Penguins had a better chance than most teams to win it! There was a mixture of factors deciding who got how many balls, one weighing factor was the previous season's record. Another was the points percentage of the last 10 years of each team (Pens were last). There were a few other factors as well, and the Pens were at or near the bottom of each one. What does that say? Nothing really, except that the Penguins reaaaalllly sucked for the 10 years leading up to the Crosby draft. The determination used to decide which factors would have an impact on how many balls a team got is still a mystery. Keep ripping the guy to shreds though, and he'll do the same back. Watching the mixed truths between both camps is really quite amusing. [ Reply to Comment ]
Squizza Since: Apr 11, 2008	Posted on: January 29, 2012 7:01 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury Not equipped to deal with the physical hammering? He took two blindside hits in two games, one of which may well have broken his neck or cracked his vertabrae. Concussions are one thing and anyone who has ever been blindsided knows you're going to have more damage than a hit you're expecting and braced for. A broken neck is something entirely different. [ Reply to Comment ]
saint27xxx Since: Nov 30, 2009	Posted on: January 29, 2012 4:59 pm Sidney Crosby had vertebrae injury If I was Sid I'd retire and spend the next couple years getting as healthy as possible. If he wants to make a comback he's stil only 26 or 27 and by then, who knows. With Sid out and Malkin playing at an elite level, this should close the "trade Malkin" discussions I've heard so much about the last few seasons. [ Reply to Comment ]

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