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Crawford fractures pelvis

Michael Traum

Mike Crawford has a fractured hip and will likely miss the remainder the Miami Dolphins’ offseason workouts.

The former Whittell High and University of Nevada, Reno star, who was working toward a second season as a special teams contributor and reserve middle linebacker for the Dolphins, said the injury occurred while doing squats during a mid-May weight lifting session in Miami.

Crawford (6-1, 235) continued participating in on-field workouts with the team but said the pain forced him to see a doctor. X-rays, MRIs and bone scans revealed a stress fracture of the pubic ramus.



“I was busting my butt to get ready for next season. At first, I thought it was just a muscle strain. Finally, I knew there was something seriously wrong,” said Crawford on Wednesday from his Miami home.

Dolphins’ trainer Kevin O’Neill told the Miami Herald on May 28 that the team is “monitoring it and will re-evaluate it in a month.” The article contended the team would let the injury heal naturally, a process that would take the better part of the summer.



Crawford already missed a Miami camp in early June and will almost surely miss the next camp in mid-July. He said Wednesday that he expects to be sidelined for at least four more weeks, making him ready to resume play about the time the team opens its regular training camp in August.

“I can do all upper-body conditioning. I just can’t run, it hurts – no running, swimming or bike riding,” said Crawford, who has gained about 15 pounds since suffering his worst injury as a football player. “I was getting into great shape. I can’t deal with it. It’s something unfamiliar to me. It’s really, really, really frustrating.”

But the injury may be just the beginning of Crawford’s angst.

On Wednesday, the Dolphins signed free agent middle linebacker/special teamer Robert Jones. The 6-3, 250-pound Jones led St. Louis last year in tackles, was a first-round draft pick by Dallas in 1992, won three Super Bowls with Dallas (two with Jimmy Johnson, then of Dallas, now with Miami), was a USA Today All-Pro in 1994 and was a United Press International Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1992.

Crawford, who posted very limited statistics in 1997, said he’ll welcome the added competition once he’s ready to resume play.

“This isn’t a good deal. But there’s always going to be competition no matter where I go. I should be back to 100 percent and heal just in time for training camp. I’ll come in ready to battle. I’ll be alright,” said Crawford, who was encouraged by coach Johnson. “He’s been cool. He said he was happy with my progress and just wants me to get healthy.”

Johnson seemed to echo those thoughts in an Internet interview with NFL.com on Wednesday.

“(Jones’) acquisition gives us good depth at both inside and outside linebacker, and his presence will provide additional competition at those positions during training camp,” he said.

Crawford said the Dolphins had not talked to him further about his status with the team.

Tahoe Daily Tribune E-mail: tribune@tahoe.com

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