MLB Lofa Tatupu talked to reporters for he first time since traveling to Alabama last Thursday to have surgery performed on a torn left pectoral muscle that he injured in the second quarter against Arizona. Tatupu, the team's defensive captain, said when he traveled to Alabama to see Dr. James Andrews last week he was leaning toward having surgery. But he still planned on keeping his options open, holding out hope he would not need surgery and could play through the injury. However, Dr. Andrews advised that surgery was the best option for Tatupu's future playing career in the league. Tatupu said he'll be in a sling for about a month, but is hopeful to be back and ready to go early next year and the beginning of the team's off-season workouts. Tatupu said he's ready to serve a role as a mentor for the team, now that he's on the injured reserve for the rest of the season. "It's a role that I accept," he said. "I'm one of the captains on this team. It was tough for me to leave last week just to get surgery, to leave my men. So I hope that they let me travel with the team and be around the team as much as possible. This is my life. I love this game, but at the same time I'm frustrated I can't be out on the field with my guys." 1//4/2009

Tatupu was placed on injured reserve Friday.
10/18/2009