[CBFF] Holdman taken to hospital with apparent head or neck injury

[Jerry Madsen]

 Thursday, August 2, 2007
Holdman taken to hospital with apparent head or neck injury
Associated Press

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos linebacker Warrick Holdman was
carted off the field and taken by ambulance to a hospital Thursday
with an apparent head or neck injury.

Players and coaches were encouraged that he had movement in his arms and legs.

"He went numb for about 30, 40 seconds out there. He got his feeling
back, which is a good sign," coach Mike Shanahan said. "I don't know
anything for sure. ... It was a good sign when he could move his
fingers, move his toes and was able to sit up. We'll keep our fingers
crossed."

Holdman, who was transported to Sky Ridge Medical Center for tests and
treatment, appeared to hit the crown of his helmet on another player's
helmet and crumpled to the grass midway through the morning workout.
He was rolled over onto his back after a minute, but stayed down for
eight minutes.

His teammates gathered around him as he was strapped to a headboard
and carted off the field to a waiting ambulance.

"That's the one thing you don't want to see whether it's a teammate or
whether it's an opponent," cornerback Dre' Bly said. "We don't play
this game to get injured, we play this game to entertain and have fun.
So, whenever you see a guy go down, especially injuries like that when
you're not moving and stuff like that, everyone immediately goes down
and prays."

Holdman is a ninth-year pro in his first season in Denver after
spending the last two years in Washington. He was working with the
starters at strong side linebacker Thursday. Holdman, D.D. Lewis and
Nate Webster are among a handful of players vying for the position in
one of the most heated competitions at camp.

Shanahan said Holdman was playing "pretty good. We've got a lot of
guys in the thick of things competing for that third spot. To be
honest with you, I can't tell you who is ahead right now. That changes
day by day, and that's a good sign."

D.J. Williams was the "Sam" linebacker last season, but moved to the
middle when team captain Al Wilson, the team's leading tackler a year
ago, was waived for health and salary cap concerns.

Wilson injured his neck in a game against Seattle last December and
failed a physical this spring that nixed a trade to the New York
Giants before his release.

Holdman's injury brought flashbacks of Wilson getting hurt and carted
off the field on Dec. 3 -- especially with Holdman wearing Wilson's
old No. 56.

"You never want to see one of your teammates down," safety John Lynch
said. "It brings back memories of Al Wilson. It's the worst thing
about football. I thought about Al when he was down.

"It was a somber mood after it happened and we managed to get through
the practice."

About 15 minutes after Holdman was injured, defensive lineman Demetrin
Veal went down for a minute after getting poked in the eye. He said he
was fine and wouldn't resort to wearing a visor.

The Broncos began the practice with eight players out of pads:
defensive tackles Sam Adams (knee) and Marcus Thomas (calf); wide
receivers Rod Smith (hip), Brandon Marshall (thigh), Glenn Martinez
(thigh) and Marquay McDaniel (hamstring); and tight ends Tony
Scheffler (foot) and Chad Mustard (hamstring).

With so many players banged up and another unseasonably hot day on
hand, players welcomed the news that Shanahan had canceled the
afternoon workout.