Bruschi Questionable; Pats-Fins Injury Report

OK, you got me. There's nothing new here (hint: there really is) that you probably already haven't heard or read elsewhere.

The primary concern of Patriots Nation is Tedy Bruschi's calf injury. I wish I could tell you something new, something different, something positive. I have nothing. My question, which I think I can also answer is: Is it an injury to the calf muscle or is it a bone bruise?

The answer is probably an injury to the calf muscle. A bone bruise probably would have been classified as a "lower leg injury." You know how the Patriots like to be precise without telling you anything. (A lot of people say Bill Belichick never tells you anything, but he often tells a lot if you know what to listen for.)

So, OK, it's a calf muscle injury. What's that mean?

Well, according to sportsinjuryclinic.net, there are two types of calf muscle injuries: Intra-muscular and Inter-muscular.

An intra-muscular calf injury means the muscle has torn within the surrounding protective sheath. This means any bleeding may stop early because of the pressure of the sheath, but that excess fluids cannot naturally drain from the area, possibly inhibiting healing. "The result is considerable loss of function and pain which can take days or weeks to recover." Recovery time is marked as "days or weeks." Observable bruising is not likely.

An inter-muscular calf injury means that the sheath may have torn with the muscle, which allows bleeding longer. However, recovery is often faster because blood and fluids can flow away from the wound through the tear in the sheath. Bruising is likely.

Now, in addition, there are also three grades of injury. Grade 1 being the least severe. The symptoms are that you can walk properly, there is limited swelling, and you should have a full range of motion. Treatment consists of rest, ice, compress and elevate (RICE).

Grade 2 says you cannot walk properly, compression causes pain, swelling exists, you have limited range of movement. Treatment includes RICE and recommended use of crutches for 3 to 5 days.

Grade 3 says inability to walk properly without crutches, bad swelling, compression will cause a bulge in the muscle. Treatment includes RICE (with rest from 3 to 12 weeks), extended use of crutches, etc.

All grades recommend a rehabilitation program.

With this in our information banks, I think we can deduce that Bruschi probably has a Grade 1 injury. He couldn't walk off the field, but with immediate treatment, he was able to leave the facility limping, without crutches and with no visible compression wrap on the calf.

The average person probably could not recover that quickly, but remember that Bruschi is a fantastically conditioned athlete and he has some of the best athletic trainers and sports medicine experts at his disposal. I also don't expect Bruschi, Belichick or anyone else would have had Bruschi limp out to the bus as a show knowing that it would inhibit healing two weeks before the playoffs.

Where else do you get analysis like this?

Draw your own conclusions. I think Bruschi would probably be able to play this week in an emergency. I would expect, like most others, that he will roam the sidelines and prepare for Wild Card Weekend. And I hope someone tells him to sit on the bench, for Pete's sake.

Here's the rest of the uninteresting injury report:

Miami Dolphins
QUESTIONABLE
Ronnie Brown (RB) Ankle

New England Patriots
QUESTIONABLE
Tedy Bruschi (ILB) Calf
PROBABLE
Tom Brady (QB) Shoulder
Corey Dillon (RB) Calf
Heath Evans (FB) Shoulder
Christian Fauria (TE) Foot
Daniel Graham (TE) Shoulder
Jarvis Green (DE) Shoulder
Artrell Hawkins (CB) Thigh
Bethel Johnson (WR) Knee
Nick Kaczur (T) Shoulder
Patrick Pass (FB) Hamstring
Asante Samuel (CB) Head