Japan Nation-wide Network of Softbank BB Corp.:126.0.0.0-126.255.255.255 Japan Nation-wide Network of Softbank BB Corp.:218.112.0.0-218.143.255.255 Japan Nation-wide Network of Softbank BB Corp.:218.176.0.0-218.183.255.255 SOFTBANK BB CORP:219.0.0.0-219.63.255.255 Japan nation-wide Network of SOFTBANK BB CORP:219.168.0.0-219.215.255.255 Japan nation-wide Network of SOFTBANK BB CORP:220.0.0.0-220.63.255.255 Japan nation-wide Network of SOFTBANK BB Corp.:221.16.0.0-221.111.255.255
CINCINNATI -- Bengals linebacker David Pollack will need surgery for the cracked bone in his neck, likely ending his football career. Pollack cracked the bone while making a tackle against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 17 and was placed in a halo brace that immobilized his neck.
The former first-round draft pick was examined Thursday by a specialist who recommended surgery on the fracture, which is expected in the next few weeks. Pollack wasn't available for comment. All that the Bengals would say is that "no forecast of Pollack's eventual return to football will be made at this time."
The news was released after players were done practicing in the afternoon. During an interview in October, Pollack said that his career would most likely be over if he had to have surgery.
"If it heals by itself, then I'm fine," he said at the time. "It's just like anything else. I'll be fine to play again. It's just a matter of how it heals." He said during the interview that if the crack in the bone didn't heal on its own, doctors would have to fuse two vertebrae to stabilize it. He has full range of motion in his arms and legs, but would be risking paralysis if he tried to play after such an operation and hurt the neck again.