McDougle Apparently Shot In Miami Last Night - Breaking News...

[WEST is GOD]

He's supposed to miss at least 4 weeks so looks like he could very well be there for opening day.

[PhillyGirl]

McDOUGLE RELEASE WITHIN WEEK

July 30, 2005
By CHRIS McPHERSON

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Great news for defensive end Jerome McDougle.

The defensive end will be released from Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in 5-7 days after suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen Thursday night in Miami.

He can begin active football rehabilitation in four weeks. There is no damage to his internal organs, according to team spokesman Derek Boyko.

His timetable to returning to the field is still unknown. Eagles team internist Gary Dorshimer has been in contact with McDougle's doctors in Miami. The Eagles have not spoken with McDougle.

Stockar McDougle, Jerome's brother and an offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, has returned to training camp after leaving to be with his brother.

"I want to thank Coach (Nick) Saban for giving me the time off I needed to be with my brother and the rest of my family," McDougle said in a statement. "I'm just glad to be back on the field with the rest of my teammates.

""I also want to thank everyone for their prayers and concern for Jerome's health, and fortunately, it looks like he is on his way to making a full and speedy recovery."

In the meantime on the football field, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said N.D. Kalu will take over the starting spot in McDougle's absence.

Head coach Andy Reid updated his situation during his Friday press conference and said that McDougle is in stable condition.

"I'm glad he is doing very well," Reid said. "I'm optimistic that he'll recover and be ready to play football."

McDougle was scheduled to report for training camp with the other veterans on Monday night. Reid acknowledged that McDougle spent a lot of time in the offseason working out and that he was in great shape.

According to the Associated Press, three armed robbers approached McDougle in his silver Mercedes. After demanding his property, McDougle was shot by one of the robbers.

Two more shots were fired at McDougle as he tried to get out of the car, but the shots missed him and hit inside the door of his car. The robbers, who are likely in their teens, are still at large.

McDougle was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital's Ryder Trauma Center, where he underwent emergency surgery.

As for the impact of McDougle's injury on the team, Reid said that teammates had contacted him and were concerned. But once the rookies and selected veterans take the field for practice football, Reid said everything will be fine.

"It's tragic," said rookie WR Reggie Brown, who reported with the rookies and selected veterans Friday. "I just hope he'll be alright. I really don't know how serious it is. It's something you don't want to hear.

"I think everyone will be able to rest easy as long as he's going to be alright."

McDougle spent most of the offseason woking out at the NovaCare Complex with hopes of taking over the starting spot at defensive end opposite Jevon Kearse this season. He had two sacks in 2004.

McDougle was selected as the Eagles first-round draft pick and the fifteenth overall selection of the 2003 NFL Draft. The Eagles traded up 15 spots in order to draft the star defensive end from the University of Miami.

In his two NFL seasons, McDougle has been plagued by injuries - an irregular heart beat and a knee sprain. In all, McDougle has missed 13 games.

Active football rehab doesn't mean putting on the pads and getting on the field and hitting. So, I highly doubt he'll be there and playing for opening day.

This is, however, great news and I'm so happy for the guy that the prognosis is so good. He's one lucky SOB.

[BigEd76]

Told you he'd play this year.... 

[MURP]

glad he will be able to play at some point. 

[Geowhizzer]

According to the Inquirer, the area of Miami McDougle was in was middle-class:

The shooting took place in a residential middle-class neighborhood 25 miles southwest of downtown Miami. McDougle reportedly was visiting a friend in Habitat Villas in the South Miami Heights area.

The community with winding cul-de-sacs, which is surrounded by stucco walls and neatly trimmed bushes, was described as typically quiet by local residents and police.

Rest of article

[Rome]

Told you he'd play this year.... 

Big Ed knows gun shot rehabilitative time tables...

[Eaglez]

It will be interesting to see how productive he is though. He seemingly has a ton of talent but just has incredibly bad luck with nagging injuries that really cut into his playing time.

[MURP]

from PFT

McDougle, we're told, was shot with a .22 caliber handgun, and the bullet was lodged in his pelvic bone.

[mussa]

damn lucky...he'll be back. 

[NGM]

"Dirk Johnson, surgery on his Dirked Johnson - doubtful"

Funniest post ever.  Get well Doogs.

[MURP]

on eagles site:

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Head coach Andy Reid updated the situation of one defensive end and sent another home Sunday - but for a good reason.

Defensive end Jerome McDougle will remain in the hospital until next week. Reid said that McDougle is in good shape. However, the Eagles will not know anything about his playing status for four weeks. And even after that, Reid added it will probably take more time for him to be football ready.

DE Hugh Douglas' hard work in the offseason earned him extra time at home
"For those four weeks he can move, yes, but he has to stay away from heavy exercise," Reid said.

But McDougle will re-join the team for meetings. Whether it is at Lehigh or back in Philadlephia, depends on where the team is at the time.

[Don Ho]

According to the Inquirer, the area of Miami McDougle was in was middle-class:

The shooting took place in a residential middle-class neighborhood 25 miles southwest of downtown Miami. McDougle reportedly was visiting a friend in Habitat Villas in the South Miami Heights area.

The community with winding cul-de-sacs, which is surrounded by stucco walls and neatly trimmed bushes, was described as typically quiet by local residents and police.

Rest of article

Sounds like Knot's Landing. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

from PFT

McDougle, we're told, was shot with a .22 caliber handgun, and the bullet was lodged in his pelvic bone.

He's lucky. Although all gunshots are bad (obviously) the .22's are soft and they like to bounce around inside and turn the innards to mush. So I guess he was lucky that it lodged in his pelvis and wasn't allowed to rip thrugh any more soft tissue.

[PhillyGirl]

According to CSN, the authorities in Miami are making progress. They've arrested one suspect and are looking for the other 2.

[jeffreyjpa]

According to CSN, the authorities in Miami are making progress. They've arrested one suspect and are looking for the other 2.

The Inquirer reported this morning that the Miami-Dade robbery unit reported making a second arrest yesterday, so it looks like they had a pretty good bead on who was involved. I'm sure the first two will give up the third shortly, if they haven't already.

Just glad that McDougle is ok, and sounds like he's making a remarkable early recovery so far.