Pro Bowl defensive tackle coming off first surgery
By JIM COUR AP Sports Writer June 4, 2002
KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -- John Randle is trying to deal with surgery for the first time in his 12-year NFL career.
It isn't easy.
``I asked, 'Why? Why me?''' the 34-year-old Seattle Seahawks tackle said Tuesday.
After playing in the Pro Bowl in Honolulu on Feb. 9, Randle had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove some loose cartilage. He is off crutches now, but is still limping and isn't able to take part in the team's final two-week minicamp that ends next Wednesday.
In fact, he might not be able to take part in the Seahawks' training camp from July 26-Aug. 22 and might also miss the four exhibition games.
``The progress is going really well,'' Randle said. ``You just have to take it a week at a time. You can't rush anything. I've got to take it slowly to see how it feels.''
He's missed only one game in his 191-game NFL career, when he was held out of Game 8 against Oakland last season because of a sprained left knee.
He returned to the lineup the following week against Buffalo and played in the final eight games before playing in the Pro Bowl.
``For me, I've always been competitive and I'm always used to competing,'' he said.
The surgery was required because of ``wear and tear over the years,'' rather than the knee sprain he suffered last Nov. 4 against Washington, he said.
``It finally came out and I had to deal with it. Now, I have to get back to 100 percent,'' he said.
Randle said he's not going to argue with Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren about returning to the field.
``Right now, I'm more concerned with getting my knee right, getting it ready and just going from there,'' he said.
The Seahawks will open their exhibition season against Indianapolis in their new stadium Aug. 10 and end it Aug. 29 in Denver. Their regular-season opener will be Sept. 8 in Oakland.
``He won't play much in the preseason, I wouldn't think,'' Holmgren said. ``Maybe he'll surprise us.''
Holmgren said it will be hard to keep the high-energy Randle off the field.
``I probably won't travel him,'' Holmgren said with a smile. ``I'll just leave him at home and let him bother somebody else.''
Getting Randle back on the field is important for the Seahawks' defense. He led the team with 11 sacks and had 35 tackles last season after being signed as a free agent following 11 seasons in Minnesota. The Vikings made Randle a salary-cap cut.
He made the Pro Bowl for the seventh time last season and increased his career sack total to 125.
Randle realizes he's been fortunate to stay relatively healthy despite the hazards of his profession.
``It's almost like being in a car wreck every Sunday,'' he said.
Randle said he hasn't thought about retirement. All he's thinking about now is his 13th NFL season. When the Seahawks signed him, they gave him a $25 million, five-year contract with a $5 million signing bonus.
``I guess it's the thrill of playing on Sundays,'' he said. ``I still enjoy that.''
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