Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Goodman out For The Year

Dolphins CB Goodman has surgery

jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

Joe Rimkus Jr. / Miami Herald Staff
Dolphins cornerback Andre Goodman might not be available to practice until training camp in July.

At this rate, Dolphins cornerback André Goodman might soon forget what it feels like to live without his left arm in a sling.

Goodman, who started 14 games last season, underwent surgery in New York on Monday to repair another injury to his left shoulder sustained during a minicamp workout earlier this month. He remains out indefinitely.

''The doctors were optimistic, but it's too early to tell anything,'' said Goodman's agent, Jason Chayut. ``We really don't have any timetable. He's a fast healer, so we're hopeful he can make a quick, thorough recovery.''

The injury, which occurred on a noncontact play in pass coverage, was an aggravation of a previous injury suffered last season against the Jets on Dec. 25. Goodman underwent an initial procedure to repair the shoulder just five months ago.

The most recent rehabilitation process is expected to last until the brink of training camp in July -- and it could last longer. If that's the case, it would increase cornerback Travis Daniels' chances of surging back into the starting spot.

Daniels also had offseason surgery to repair a nagging ankle injury, but he should be 100 percent by the start of camp. Jason Allen, last year's first-round draft pick, also will compete for a cornerback spot after struggling to grasp the safety position last year.

Because of Allen's position change, the Dolphins at least aren't suffering the same depth issues that could plague the rest of the secondary -- a notion that makes Goodman's surgery slightly less daunting.

Goodman, acquired as a free agent from Detroit last year, became one of the more promising defensive backs in a unit that took several games to mesh. He finished the season with 41 tackles and nine pass defenses.

His contribution was especially helpful since Daniels, who started 14 games as a rookie in 2005, dealt with leg and ankle injuries through much of the season.





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