Harbaugh Doesn't Care How Suggs Suffered Injury
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he doesn't care how Terell Suggs injured his Achilles tendon, he just wants the All-Pro linebacker on the field.
Suggs has denied reports he suffered the injury playing basketball in Arizona, insisting he got hurt during a conditioning
session. The NFL defensive player of the year had surgery last month to repair the damage.
Asked Wednesday whether Suggs got hurt playing basketball, Harbaugh replied: "That's not a conversation we're even having."
Under the NFL collective bargaining agreement, the Ravens have the right not to pay Suggs for a non-football injury, regardless of how it occurred. However, the Ravens are not expected to try and recover any of Suggs' $4.9 million salary.
"It's not relevant to anything or has anything to do with what we're trying to accomplish," Harbaugh said in reference to the cause of Suggs' injury. "If it were I guess we'd think about it. The relevant conversation with Terrell Suggs is going to be rehab."
Suggs is scheduled to be in Baltimore on Monday for a doctor's appointment.
He's currently in a walking boot and is hoping to begin his rehabilitation process soon.
"He's going to work and get that thing back," Harbaugh said. "Knowing Terrell, he will be back sooner rather than later."
Meanwhile, reserve outside linebacker Michael McAdoo tore his Achilles tendon last week during practice and had surgery Friday. He's expected to miss the entire season.
Harbaugh said the Ravens, who are currently starting rookie Courtney Upshaw and former second-round pick Paul Kruger at the two outside linebacker positions, have no plans to sign anyone for depth at this time.
"Our numbers are OK there," Harbaugh said. "We are comfortable with the outside `backers we have that we can go to
work with next year and play with."
This marks the third consecutive season of football that McAdoo will miss.
A former University of North Carolina player, McAdoo was ruled ineligible for academic violations during his final season in Chapel Hill two years ago and declared for the NFL supplemental draft last summer before being signed by Baltimore when he went undrafted.
He missed his entire rookie season last year due to a knee injury.
Now, he's out again.
"Just disappointed for him," Harbaugh said. "You feel bad. He hasn't played football now in really two years, now it's going to be three years. Yet, he's not a guy we'll give up on. It's just going to be a project for us."
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
