Eric Berry has a Haglund’s deformity on his heel

[DaFace]

Yes, it's in the other thread. Bite me.

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2018/...ty-on-his-heel

REPORT: Eric Berry has a Haglund’s deformity on his heel
New information on Berry’s sore heel injury emerged on Saturday.
By Pete Sweeney Sep 29, 2018, 1:15pm CDT

Eric Berry has not practiced or played for the Kansas City Chiefs since August 11 in St. Joseph, Missouri, because of what the team has described as a “sore heel.”

The last we heard from the Chiefs athletic training staff was in early September, when head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder described the injury as “literally day to day.”

More information on Berry’s injury emerged Saturday morning, via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:

Mike Garafolo: “My understanding, and I’ve spoken to people familiar with his injury situation. He’s got what’s called a Haglund’s deformity in that Achilles. That’s a bone spur that basically digs into the Achilles. Shaun O’ Hara, our colleague at NFL Network, he had it. I spoke to him this week. He said it is extremely painful. He actually used a more colorful word that I won’t use here. It’s just something that continues to irritate the area. Some guys have been able to play with it—you get a shoe here or there, you can adjust … but that’s what’s going on. It’s going to be a pain management thing. It’s not like this thing will tear the Achilles necessarily. A lot of these cases don’t result in a tear, but that’s why with Berry right now, he has not played, and they’ve been doing OK. That’s going to allow them a little bit more patience with Berry, but it is extremely painful.”

This provides a little more clarity than Berry’s injury simply being a “sore heel,” which is good, but what’s bad is there still seems to be no timetable. Remember, Berry missed nearly the entirety of the 2017 season due to a ruptured Achilles on the other leg.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was mum on the injury when asked about it Saturday afternoon after the Chiefs’ final practice of the week.

Berry is officially ruled doubtful heading into the Monday night game against the Denver Broncos.

----

Here are the notes from our in-house medical expert, Aaron Borgmann:

A lot of talk today regarding something known as a Haglund’s deformity. It was reported by a media source that the player in question suffers from this condition. This discussion is not to confirm or deny that possibility, as I can only explain the available information that we have been given. To be clear, the team has not confirmed this diagnosis and I have no advance knowledge of the player’s current condition.

The simple explanation here that it is indeed a bone spur on the backside of someone’s heel. This is frequently known as a “pump bump” from the occurrence that it is often seen in women’s fashion from the shoes that they wear. However, incidence in football players is also common, sometimes referred to as “retrocalcaneal bursitis” as well.

The bone spur irritates the bursa (fluid-filled sac) that sits between the bone and the tendon or even the tendon itself directly. This can cause a great deal of inflammation and discomfort with any sort of dynamic ankle/foot movement, worse with pressure on the spot itself.

Having one in and of itself it not uncommon, but the degree to which it bothers someone is the issue. Depending upon demands of movement, these can range from debilitating to just a nuisance. Obviously, in football players, the degree of inflammation is what dictates the level of function.

These are diagnosed both visually and radiographically and it is a situation where if you see it and player complains of certain symptoms (pain with movement in that exact spot, swelling, redness) then you can be pretty sure that is what it is.

Treatment focuses on reduction of inflammation obviously directly over the spot. This can be done both topically and through systemic medication. Soft tissue lengthening in both the calf and bottom of the foot is also done to alleviate the issue from both sides – this is due to the fact that both the calf and plantar fascia connect to the calcaneus (heel bone) on either side.

Not to be forgotten is footwear modification and adjustment. Very rigid shoes can cause this irritation, and in some athletes, I would even cut the shoe in the heel to allow room for the bump. Other options include specialized padding and friction reduction methods. Heel lifts have been shown to be helpful in some.

For this condition, non-surgical intervention is preferred to reduce the inflammation as opposed to surgical due to the immobilization period.

If the inflammation can be reduced and the function level high, many players learned to adapt their daily routines to accommodate. They may have to put in a bit more time in order to get ready due to the condition’s demands but can nonetheless get by and still perform at a high level.

[O.city]

They just brought Lucas in a month or so ago

Look at what they did with Ragland last year

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

By putting Murray on the field instead of Lucas, Reid/Sutton/Veach are answering affirmatively.

Lucas just got here. I'm sure that factors in.

[TwistedChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Lucas just got here. I'm sure that factors in.

Totally agreed. But whose roster spot is he taking that is an obvious upgrade versus what we’re putting on the field now? If the Chiefs were fully convinced the guy is broken, he’d be on IR already and we could fill the spot with some other likely mediocre/project safety.

The Chiefs are probably hoping he comes back. A lot. It explains the muddled communication, the soft Earl Thomas discussions, etc. That article didn’t expressly indicate that he wouldn’t come back but unfortunately did make it seem like he wouldn’t be 100pct if he did. But Berry at 80pct can still find a way to not blow assignments better than Murray.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Wow - it’s amazing how quickly this board turns on someone like Berry. He’s been a true professional his entire career and everyone is questioning his motives and determination. I guess he never beat cancer or anything like that and came back with an epic season where he was far and away our most impactful defensive player.

I’m as disappointed as anyone that he’s not on the field and you can blame Dorsey and the Chiefs for giving him that contract. But people are talking about Berry like he’s a guy who just got his big money contract and mailed it in after that. Like he’s a guy with character issues. Amazing.

Originally Posted by DaFace

It's not his fault necessarily, but his inability to stay healthy may be the reason we miss a Super Bowl run. He got a huge contract and has been useless since.

It just sucks and is hard to swallow since he fought the team so hard on that contract.

Yep, you're missing the real point about Berry, TC

No one is questioning his desire, or hating anything about him... but this also a business, and right now the man is a sunk cost

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by dannybcaitlyn

Think they could just inject a shot before the game and be good. They said it couldn’t tear his Achilles.

Not a really good option in this case. Options would be corticosteroids or NSAIDs.

Corticosteroid injections increase the risk of tendon rupture, especially the Achilles tendon.

NSAIDs are associated with the impairment of healing of cartilage, bone, and tendons.

You obviously don't want a player out there stoned on opiates, either. You could try something like a topical lidocaine patch, but they become less effective over time.

[bigjosh]

Originally Posted by TwistedChief

Wow - it’s amazing how quickly this board turns on someone like Berry. He’s been a true professional his entire career and everyone is questioning his motives and determination. I guess he never beat cancer or anything like that and came back with an epic season where he was far and away our most impactful defensive player.

I’m as disappointed as anyone that he’s not on the field and you can blame Dorsey and the Chiefs for giving him that contract. But people are talking about Berry like he’s a guy who just got his big money contract and mailed it in after that. Like he’s a guy with character issues. Amazing.

You can love a player, his will, and his perseverance, and still believe that he puts his paycheck above the team.

Berry is a great player, when he plays. But for christs sake he got paid his full salary (highest in the league) against the cap for missing 3/8 of his games. They could have NFI'd him for cancer treatment, but they paid him 11m instead.

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using Tapatalk

[pugsnotdrugs19]

I bet he plays against Jacksonville.

Seems to me that they plan on just managing it to the best of their abilities and Garafolo even mentioned that their early success has allowed for more patience with it.

Jacksonville and New England are big games though. They didn’t put him on IR, so surely they think he could play if he had to and they just didn’t want to take any chances in practice or a game these past couple of weeks.

Hopeful but I think it makes sense.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by JakeF

Clark Hunt had to fly to KC to get it done because Dorsey pissed Berry off about the medical stuff. I guess Dorsey wanted some kind of medical insurance or something. I think part of the reason why Dorsey is gone is that he didn't want to give Berry and Houston the big contracts they were demanding. Andy Reid wanted to keep them, along with Maclin and Jamaal Charles.

Reid won.

For god's sake WHY? I mean, I can somewhat see the value of Maclin but Charles???
No.


No ****ing way.


The club cHunt gambled on Berry/Houston to be core and soul of this defense, and the club cHunt lost.

Originally Posted by RunKC

No way in hell should this guy get $16.5 million next season. I don’t care if he comes back this year and plays wel.

Restructure the contract or cut your losses.

Absolutely. Do NOT repeat the mistake. The Chiefs are currently riding the crest of a long-overdue wave where the mistakes of the past are being cut like cancer from the collective host.
No need to put the vehicle in reverse.

Originally Posted by BlackOp

That's my guess too...so they started this whole "week to week" spiel.

They are hoping he can play through it at some point...maybe at least get a game or two for $14 million.

It would make CHunt look like a dope if the contract, he brokered against his GM's wishes, resulted in the player missing 31 games immediately following the signing.

Ya' think??? And what the **** is he doing back-ending the person he hired for that job and responsibility? That's not a good precedent, and this was HARDLY a "Save Our Chiefs"-scenario. You know, a scenario that would actually REQUIRE the hand of ownership to intervene???
( If we believe the stories, Hunt didn't want to touch such a "distasteful" event, much less fire the prick who caused it )


Let him wear his "dope crown"; he's earned the mother****er.

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Dorsey is still shitty. Example numero uno, look at the complete lack of talent on defense because of his inability to draft defensive players.

The issue currently on the table is not Dorsey's ability or inability to draft; it's about a GM looking out for his team financially both in the present AND future, and being blamed for cap woes and contracts that in hindsight were not of his creation.

[ChiefsFanatic]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Not a really good option in this case. Options would be corticosteroids or NSAIDs.

Corticosteroid injections increase the risk of tendon rupture, especially the Achilles tendon.

NSAIDs are associated with the impairment of healing of cartilage, bone, and tendons.

You obviously don't want a player out there stoned on opiates, either. You could try something like a topical lidocaine patch, but they become less effective over time.

So, this is a little off topic, but it deals with player pain. I know the NFL has marijuana on its banned substance list. Do they also list Kratom as a banned substance?

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by bigjosh

You can love a player, his will, and his perseverance, and still believe that he puts his paycheck above the team.

Berry is a great player, when he plays. But for christs sake he got paid his full salary (highest in the league) against the cap for missing 3/8 of his games. They could have NFI'd him for cancer treatment, but they paid him 11m instead.

Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using Tapatalk

Berry has always treated the Chiefs like a business and hasn’t discounted any of his pay a dime in any way shape or form since the moment he was drafted in KC.

**** you, pay me.

KC has treated the man like family since day one.

Hopefully this heel situation won’t end his career and we can get 3 more years of top shelf play from the man.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFanatic

So, this is a little off topic, but it deals with player pain. I know the NFL has marijuana on its banned substance list. Do they also list Kratom as a banned substance?

Sent from my LG-H932 using Tapatalk

Kratom is legal as far as I can tell

[BlackOp]

Originally Posted by Claysexual

Let him wear his "dope crown"; he's earned the mother****er.

Yes..he certainly has.

I believe if the "Mahomes Invasion" had started a few years earlier, Berry wouldn't have sniffed that amount of money. At the point of his contract, he was riding the crest of Comeback Player of The Year and his cancer story. He was the national face of the franchise. CHunt saw him as PR investment for a small market team.

A $16 million dollar safety...GTFOH with that nonsense.

I think Berry or his agent used this hype as leverage against Dorsey...which ultimately led to a LR issue, bad media press and his firing. JD didn't draft Berry...so he looked at it pragmatically and saw a huge risk...not only by positional value but his cancer treatment. I really do think Dorsey got fired because of this situation coupled with him saying "**** you for going over my head" and using Maclin as a revenge chess piece. He knew that would piss off Reid...how could he not...and why nobody even knew he was going to do it. I think he wanted out if he didn't have control of his team. I think he wanted to roll with Hill and Reid wanted to keep Maclin. Shows who really wears the shorts in KC..

So yes..I inadvertently blame Berry's contract tactics for JD being gone. It doesn't take a genius to see how a rift between Hunt/Dorsey happened because of this. JD is all about football and building a team....Chunt is about corporate branding and growing his franchise's value. Dorsey didn't want to sign Berry and Chunt did for reasons outside of the football field...Reid wanted a LR without issues.

[Steron]

Sadly, I think Berry has played his last down. Time to hang em up, Eric. You had a nice run.

I lost a lot of respect for him when he held out after the Chiefs stuck by him when he was dealing with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He repaid the loyalty by holding out. Dorsey was absolutely correct asking for assurances to be built in to the contract. Clark caved and now we're saddled with a broken player with an monster contract that we can't get out of.

[JakeF]

Originally Posted by wazu

This sounds like he's done. Not gonna hate on the guy. I do believe he's done what he can, but it's just really disappointing. When the Chiefs win the Superbowl this year without him, the score will probably be closer than it would've been with a healthy Eric Berry.

Another poster said it best, "Berry has been treating this like a business and the Chiefs have been treating Berry like he's family" Berry won't retire until the Chiefs pay him a bunch of money. He will continue to hold the organization over a barrel until he squeezes them for as much money as he can. The moment we sign Berry's new contract without the insurance policy Dorsey wanted Berry to pay for, we were toast.

Houston isn't worth 20 million a year either. We can get a coverage linebacker for 5 million. Part of that is on Bob Sutton though, he should send Houston after the QB more. He should also be more inventive about how he uses Houston. Offenses shouldn't know where Houston is going to be until they get ready to snap the ball.

[JakeF]

Originally Posted by Claysexual

For god's sake WHY? I mean, I can somewhat see the value of Maclin but Charles???
No.

No ****ing way.

The club cHunt gambled on Berry/Houston to be core and soul of this defense, and the club cHunt lost.

Absolutely. Do NOT repeat the mistake. The Chiefs are currently riding the crest of a long-overdue wave where the mistakes of the past are being cut like cancer from the collective host.
No need to put the vehicle in reverse.

Ya' think??? And what the **** is he doing back-ending the person he hired for that job and responsibility? That's not a good precedent, and this was HARDLY a "Save Our Chiefs"-scenario. You know, a scenario that would actually REQUIRE the hand of ownership to intervene???
( If we believe the stories, Hunt didn't want to touch such a "distasteful" event, much less fire the prick who caused it )

Let him wear his "dope crown"; he's earned the mother****er.

The issue currently on the table is not Dorsey's ability or inability to draft; it's about a GM looking out for his team financially both in the present AND future, and being blamed for cap woes and contracts that in hindsight were not of his creation.

I'm just going by the rumors and media stories out at the time. I guess Reid and Dorsey argued about keep Maclin and the big contracts to Houston and Berry. Rumor has it that Reid left for a meeting or something. Dorsey cut Maclin while he was gone. He cut Charles too even though Reid really wanted to keep him.

All this contract stuff led to a dispute about who had the power. It could all be crap, it could all be true. Looking from the outside, it certainly fits what happened though.

We definitely heard leaks about Dorsey wanting Berry to pay for an insurance policy with his new contract. Berry got pissed, Dorsey basically refused to sign a contract without protection for the team. Clark Hunt flew up just to talk to Berry and work on the contract. A few days later Berry signed this big contract without any insurance or protection for the team. I don't think that Dorsey was even in the room.

Houston and Berry's contracts both took a long time to complete because I don't think that Dorsey thought they were a good idea. What it appears like from outside of the organization.

Dorsey comes from Green Bay, where they build from the draft and are careful who the pay big money. It makes sense that after Berry's cancer and Houston's persistent knee issues that Dorsey would be hesitant.