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Originally Posted by chagrin
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Rolle’s spine concerns Chiefs
Terry McCormick, Nashville City Paper
A medical concern from his physical last week is apparently holding up and could possibly derail altogether a deal between former Tennessee Titans cornerback Samari Rolle and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rolle, a salary cap casualty with the Titans two weeks ago, visited with the Chiefs last Wednesday and Thursday and was believed to be the frontrunner on their list at cornerback as they tried to upgrade their overall defense and the secondary.
Rolle missed the final four games of the 2004 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. According to sources in Kansas City, Rolle’s knee was not the issue regarding his physical condition.
Sources with ties to the NFL said the Chiefs’ apparent concerns about Rolle have to do with his neck and a narrowing of his spinal cord or stenosis.
The former Florida State star had two separate issues regarding his spinal cord during his seven-year career with Tennessee.
First, Rolle collided on the practice field with receiver Derrick Mason during a training camp walk-through on Aug. 14, 1998, as a rookie. He had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after experiencing numbness and spent time in the hospital. He missed the final three games of the preseason and the season opener that year, but returned to play in 15 games.
Rolle then suffered a spinal cord concussion on Oct. 7, 2001, at Baltimore and was taken off the field that day on a stretcher as well as a precaution. He subsequently missed two games as a result of the injury.
If Rolle does indeed sign with the Chiefs, there is speculation the team could ask him to sign a waiver regarding his spinal condition.
Rolle, 28, is a former Pro Bowl selection, had one interception in 2004 and has 23 in his career.
