Julian Peterson's season is over
LINEBACKER SUFFERS TEAR OF ACHILLES'
By Dennis Georgatos
Mercury News
Julian Peterson felt the stabbing pain in his heel and thought at first it was just a bruise or a cramp. Within minutes, the 49ers' doctors told the two-time Pro Bowl linebacker otherwise.
``They said I was done,'' Peterson said. Not just for the day, but for the season.
Peterson tore his left Achilles' tendon Sunday late in the first quarter of the 49ers' 31-28 overtime victory over the Arizona Cardinals. According to Peterson, he was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam today and soon will undergo surgery to repair the tear.
Peterson was playing on a one-year, $6.1 million tender extended to him as the club's exclusive franchise player. He and his agents, Kevin and Carl Poston, had turned down a multiyear offer that General Manager Terry Donahue said would have made him the second-highest-paid linebacker in the league and included a $15 million signing bonus.
``It is the worst-case scenario,'' Peterson said, quickly adding that he has no regrets. ``I feel if I can rewind the hands of time, I'd do the same thing. It is what it is. All I can do is let it heal, hope for the best and come back in shape ready to kick butt next year.
``The doctors said it wasn't that bad of a tear and I should be able to come back stronger than ever. And I'm still going to be here to cheer on my teammates and give them great support. This is a team event. It's bigger than me.''
That was especially evident in the frantic final moments of Sunday's game, when Peterson, who watched the second half from the sideline, on crutches and in street clothes, hopped on the team bench and waved a towel to whip up support from the few fans who hung around.
``I don't expect nothing else,'' linebacker Jeff Ulbrich said. ``Julian's the ultimate team guy. There's a reason he got the franchise tag. There's a reason he can demand as much money as he demands.''
Peterson, who missed training camp as part of a contract holdout, said he had not had a chance to speak with his agents but did speak briefly with Donahue and other team brass. ``They said they were sorry to see that happen to me, stuff like that, and hope for the best for the next year,'' Peterson said.
When a reporter asked if they planned do anything special for him, Peterson laughed and said, ``They've got to do something special for me, a basket of food, or something.''
Donahue was not available for comment.
Coach Dennis Erickson said: ``Here's the leader of our defense that makes a lot of plays for us and has played very well. When you lose a guy like that, it is hard. We have to make up for him being gone. It's a devastating loss for us, but for him especially.''
Peterson, who entering the game had a team-high 2 1/2 sacks and was among its leading tacklers, was hurt as he blitzed the Cardinals' Josh McCown. He got around L.J. Shelton's cut block but as he closed in on the quarterback, the tackle whipped his leg around, striking Peterson's heel.
``He swung his leg and just kind of hit me,'' Peterson said. ``He just happened to get a good piece of my Achilles' tendon and it pretty much ruptured.''
Though Peterson described the cut technique as ``kind of a cheap block,'' he said he did not believe Shelton tried to hurt him intentionally.
``Stuff like that happens,'' Peterson said. ``It's part of the game.''
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