*** DOLPHINS NEWS ***

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Jul 26, 1996: -- Barnett Has Surgery, Could Be Gone... --

Wide Receiver Fred Barnett, the heir-apparent to Irving Fryar as Dan Marino's main receiver, had arthoscopic knee surgery this afternoon to repair cartilege damage to his knee suffered in the scrimmage against the Redskins yesterday.

It was originally thought that he would be out just 2 to 3 weeks, but now it appears that he may miss the entire season. The doctor who performed the surgery said that the damage was more severe than first thought and one report said that there was some ligament damage in addition to the cartilege problems.

Barnett's condition will be re-evaluated in several weeks, but right now, it doesn't look very good.

In other news, the Dolphins waived defensive tackle Demetrius Edwards, who they had signed just a ten days ago.

My Comments:

This is not quite a disaster of biblical proportions (ie, not quite as much a threat to our society as having cats and dogs living together), but it sure ain't good.

What it probably does is catapult Charles Jordan into the starting wide receiver slot opposite OJ McDuffie. We'll have to wait and see, of course, how bad the injury really is, but I'm afraid that Barnett may have just completed his first year with the Dolphins.

Related Info:

Sportline USA:

Wr Barnett Undergoes Knee Surgery, May Miss Season

ESPNet:

WR Barnett undergoes knee surgery, may miss season