DeusExManning
04-15-2007, 02:16 AM
Interesting article
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/04/15/gwxduke0415.html
'Another obstacle to conquer'
Duke hopes to return from 4th ACL tear
By John Hollis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/15/07
Wesley Duke is doing fine physically.
It's the mental aspect of his latest knee rehabilitation that has tried the patience of the former Meadowcreek athlete and Denver Broncos tight end.
Duke admitted getting frustrated at times over the last year as he's mended from his fourth tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.
But things could be looking up for Duke, who got married last weekend.
"This means I have a family to support," he said, "so I'll have to work even harder."
Once confined to his Denver-area home for long stretches after undergoing another surgery last fall, Duke was recently cleared to resume running pass routes on a limited basis. He began catching passes from former Broncos teammate Matt Mauk last week.
"It's just another obstacle to conquer," said Duke, who hopes to be ready by the start of the upcoming NFL season. "If I want to play football, I've got to do what I've got to do to get back."
Duke was released by the Broncos days after hurting his knee last spring, but he said about 10 NFL teams have called to express interest in him.
"They're just waiting on him to get healthy," said Virgil Adams, Duke's Macon-based agent. "It's just a matter of him getting ... the opportunity to play. He's been down this road before."
When not busy with his rehab, Duke can be found working part-time as a cashier at a nearby Office Depot.
"I just had to get out of the house a little bit," he said.
His future appeared bright in fall 2005, when the Broncos signed the sculpted 6-foot-5, 245-pounder as a promising free agent —- even though he hadn't played football since his senior year in high school.
He was the surprise choice to be in the starting lineup when the Broncos hosted the AFC championship game against eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh.
Duke, who will turn 26 in June, figured to contend for a permanent starting job.
He had just completed a season in NFL Europe with the Hamburg Sea Dragons when he tore up his knee at a team passing camp in late May 2006.
Duke has been often compared to San Diego's All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates, another college basketball-star turned NFLer, for their physical similarities as much as their backgrounds. Both were power forwards who were a bit undersized for the NBA and lacked great shooting range.
Duke was an intimidating shot-blocker and finished fourth in the national slam-dunk contest at the 2005 Final Four in St. Louis.
"Wes is a football player, no question about it," Adams said. "His future is in football. He was a good basketball player in college, but that's a different type of game."
Still, Duke wouldn't rule out trying pro basketball at some level if his football career hits a dead end.
"It's not closed," he said of a possible return to his college sport, "but right now, it's definitely football. I'm not a quitter."
THE WESLEY DUKE FILE
High school: Meadowcreek (1999), football, basketball and track
College: Mercer, basketball forward through 2004-05 season
Age: 25
Size: 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
Latest position: Denver Broncos tight end (2005)
Notable: Tore his left ACL on the first play of his senior football season, the first of four tears of the same knee ligament ... started 102 of 116 career basketball games at Mercer University, averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds ... finished as the school's career leader in blocked shots (173), eighth in rebounds (687) and 18th in scoring (1,141 points) ... bachelor's degree in computer information, minor in management ... appeared in three games with the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2005, catching two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown ... did not play last season after being released by the Broncos in spring 2006 ... late uncle, Rufus Mayes, played 11 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Bears (1969), Bengals (1970-78) and Eagles (1979).
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http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/printedition/2007/04/15/gwxduke0415.html
'Another obstacle to conquer'
Duke hopes to return from 4th ACL tear
By John Hollis
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/15/07
Wesley Duke is doing fine physically.
It's the mental aspect of his latest knee rehabilitation that has tried the patience of the former Meadowcreek athlete and Denver Broncos tight end.
Duke admitted getting frustrated at times over the last year as he's mended from his fourth tear of the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.
But things could be looking up for Duke, who got married last weekend.
"This means I have a family to support," he said, "so I'll have to work even harder."
Once confined to his Denver-area home for long stretches after undergoing another surgery last fall, Duke was recently cleared to resume running pass routes on a limited basis. He began catching passes from former Broncos teammate Matt Mauk last week.
"It's just another obstacle to conquer," said Duke, who hopes to be ready by the start of the upcoming NFL season. "If I want to play football, I've got to do what I've got to do to get back."
Duke was released by the Broncos days after hurting his knee last spring, but he said about 10 NFL teams have called to express interest in him.
"They're just waiting on him to get healthy," said Virgil Adams, Duke's Macon-based agent. "It's just a matter of him getting ... the opportunity to play. He's been down this road before."
When not busy with his rehab, Duke can be found working part-time as a cashier at a nearby Office Depot.
"I just had to get out of the house a little bit," he said.
His future appeared bright in fall 2005, when the Broncos signed the sculpted 6-foot-5, 245-pounder as a promising free agent —- even though he hadn't played football since his senior year in high school.
He was the surprise choice to be in the starting lineup when the Broncos hosted the AFC championship game against eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh.
Duke, who will turn 26 in June, figured to contend for a permanent starting job.
He had just completed a season in NFL Europe with the Hamburg Sea Dragons when he tore up his knee at a team passing camp in late May 2006.
Duke has been often compared to San Diego's All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates, another college basketball-star turned NFLer, for their physical similarities as much as their backgrounds. Both were power forwards who were a bit undersized for the NBA and lacked great shooting range.
Duke was an intimidating shot-blocker and finished fourth in the national slam-dunk contest at the 2005 Final Four in St. Louis.
"Wes is a football player, no question about it," Adams said. "His future is in football. He was a good basketball player in college, but that's a different type of game."
Still, Duke wouldn't rule out trying pro basketball at some level if his football career hits a dead end.
"It's not closed," he said of a possible return to his college sport, "but right now, it's definitely football. I'm not a quitter."
THE WESLEY DUKE FILE
High school: Meadowcreek (1999), football, basketball and track
College: Mercer, basketball forward through 2004-05 season
Age: 25
Size: 6-foot-5, 245 pounds
Latest position: Denver Broncos tight end (2005)
Notable: Tore his left ACL on the first play of his senior football season, the first of four tears of the same knee ligament ... started 102 of 116 career basketball games at Mercer University, averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds ... finished as the school's career leader in blocked shots (173), eighth in rebounds (687) and 18th in scoring (1,141 points) ... bachelor's degree in computer information, minor in management ... appeared in three games with the NFL's Denver Broncos in 2005, catching two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown ... did not play last season after being released by the Broncos in spring 2006 ... late uncle, Rufus Mayes, played 11 seasons in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Bears (1969), Bengals (1970-78) and Eagles (1979).
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