Thursday, April 06, 2006
Kinzer's career stung and likely done
Randy King
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BLACKSBURG -- So what are Virginia Tech tight end John Kinzer's odds of playing another down of college football?
The answer sounds like slim and none. And slim may have already skipped town.
While he says he hasn't yet totally ruled out his chances of playing this fall, Kinzer sounds like a guy who has come to grips with the fact that his football career is over.
"Not real good, I think," replied Kinzer, when I asked him last week to calculate the odds on him suiting up this season. "Obviously, I don't know yet, but I'm pretty sure ... put it that way."
Football has become a real pain in the neck for the junior from Fairfax. That's literally, not figuratively, folks. A rash of "stingers" -- a condition that affects the neck nerves and transmits pain and numbness into the upper extremities -- suddenly has Kinzer currently thinking about a whole lot more than simply playing a game that earned him a free ride to college.
Kinzer is scheduled to undergo additional tests later this month. Once those results are in, it will be up to Kinzer as to whether he wants to possibly undergo surgery to try and rectify the problem.
"I've done a lot of research on it," Kinzer said. "The only way to fix that is to go in there and drill out the bone and then fuse two cervical vertebrae together. It's a real complicated surgery and it's not conducive to playing after it's done so ... "
So ... Kinzer's career may be done. History. Finished. A wrap.
It's a tough hand of cards for anyone to be dealt, especially a 21-year-old in the prime of life who was looking at being Tech's No. 1 tight end the next two seasons.
Kinzer never knew what a "stinger" was until the 2004 season.
"I remember the first one was that year in the West Virginia game when we were playing in the rain here," Kinzer recalled. "That's when it started, and from then on, it's been getting worse."
Kinzer was stung again three games later, forcing him to the sideline for Tech's final four regular-season games. Last season, Kinzer managed to play in all 13 of Tech's games despite several flareups of the nagging injury.
"We just kept trying to put [neck] collars on," Kinzer said. "I had two collars on at the end of last year. I started out with the small one and as the year went on it it would get bigger."
To his credit, Kinzer has continued to attend the team's workouts this spring. Looking much like your average college student in his street clothes and wire-rimmed glasses, Kinzer has been onhand to try and help the pair of redshirt freshmen -- Blacksburg's Sam Wheeler and Ed Wang -- fighting for what would have been his job.
"I still enjoy coming out here and I'm helping out with the younger guys as much as I can," Kinzer said. "Those two have got a lot to pick up but they're coming along. Actually, they surprisingly look really good. They are both great athletes ... now it's just a case of the mental side needing to be there to meet their physical abilities. Wheeler and Wang look great, and [Richard] Graham [a converted redshirt freshman offensive line moved to tight end] is looking good, too.
"I try to go to all the meetings with them and offer little tips and help out Coach [Bryan] Stinespring because he's sort of double-timing with the line and tight ends. I'm sure somebody will step up and fill the tight end role very well.
"In regards to me, I think it's the best decision for the team, I really do believe that. I believe those guys who are healthier can do a good job. For me, I just didn't feel I could play 100 percent with it. And even then I would be going out and getting 'stingers' and miss a game."
And, of course, life is much more than a game.
"Yeah, you're right," a grinning Kinzer said. "Believe me, that has crossed my mind."
DRAFT READY: So how many Hokies will hear their names called in the NFL Draft on Apr. 29-30? One member of Tech's football coaching staff was calling for a six-pack. That's names, not Budweisers.
"Jimmy Williams [cornerback] will be the first to go, followed by Darryl Tapp [defensive end] and then James Anderson [linebacker], who really raised his stock with a hell of a workout at the combine," he said. "After that, I think you'll hear Will Montgomery [center-guard] next, followed by Jonathan Lewis [defensive tackle] and Jeff King [tight end]. That's the six I think will be drafted."
Of course, 2005 seniors such as offensive tackle Jimmy Martin, guard Jason Murphy, tailback Cedric Humes, and possibly, tailback Mike Imoh, are virtually assured of getting free-agent looks by some teams.
And what the prospects of ex-Tech quarterback Marcus Vick being selected in the draft?
"Who knows?" the coach said. "Somebody might take a shot at him. I know this, the kid can play."
NO TAPP THONG: When I ran into Tapp recently, I couldn't resist asking him his trip six weeks ago to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. As we chatted, I happened to recall a story that former Hokie standout Chad Beasley told me about his combine experience. Beasley, always looking for a laugh, swore up and down to me that he and the rest of the players were donned in a only a thong as they strutted on stage for the NFL brass.
"Yeah, we had to parade on stage, but it wasn't in thong underwear!" said Tapp, laughing uncontrollably. "We had our shorts on! You're not going to catch me wearing a thong in front of bunch of guys, believe me."
