The Andy Katzenmoyer saga took another turn Monday morning when the linebacker showed his face for the first time since leaving campus just before the start of morning practice last Friday. Katzenmoyer said he experienced pain during practice on Thursday, the first full-scale workout of training camp, and the discomfort caused him to panic.
"[The pain] was basically the same as I had before surgery," the linebacker said. "Coming into camp I thought everything was fine. I was looking forward to the first day and then this happened and I panicked. It got worse and worse and then I just freaked out."
Head Coach Bill Belichick said Katzenmoyer returned on Sunday and voiced his concerns with the injury. Since then, he's been receiving treatment from the team's medical staff and went to Massachusetts General Hospital during the afternoon for further tests. His future with the team remains uncertain, but at least the Patriots now know for sure what Katzenmoyer's problems are.
Belichick stressed that anytime a player is dealing with injuries to the back and neck, it's best to play it safe. "I don't want to be insensitive to his situation," the coach said. "Rather than address it [immediately], he left. Now he's addressing it. I don't know the extent of his injury so for me to guess when he'll return is impossible."
