Dan Morgan
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Dan Morgan Update

Aug/13/07 03:28 AM
Word out of Panthers camp is that MLB Dan Morgan, who missed the final 15 games last season after suffering two concussions in less than a month, is wearing a new helmet and mouthpiece aimed at preventing another concussion. In addition, the Panthers are holding Morgan out of all contact drills at training camp, and we hear he won't play much, if at all, in the preseason games.

(pfw.com)

Panthers' concussion-prone Morgan makes risky return

Aug/01/07 08:26 AM
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Dan Morgan strapped on his extra-padded helmet, adjusted his special mouthpiece and ran onto the field, knowing some people think he's making a horrible decision.

The Carolina Panthers' linebacker is trying to return from at least the fifth concussion of his career, the one that forced him to miss the final 15 games last season.

There are disturbing stories of the long-term effects of multiple blows to the head, from memory loss to depression to dementia. But there was Morgan Saturday morning, running around the practice field in a steady rain, knowing that many think he's putting himself at risk.

"I know everybody thinks that and I know that," Morgan said. "Anybody who steps on the field is at risk, but I am more so because I have had more concussions than the average person.

Morgan expects to be ready for opener

Jul/30/07 03:38 PM
SPARTANBURG, S.C. Dan Morgan strapped on his extra-padded helmet, adjusted his special mouthpiece and ran onto the field knowing some people think he's making a horrible decision.

The Carolina Panthers' linebacker is trying to return from at least the fifth concussion of his career, one that forced him to miss the final 15 games last season.

There are disturbing stories of the long-term effects of multiple blows to the head, from memory loss to dementia. But there was Morgan on Saturday morning, running around the practice field in a steady rain.

Agent: Dan Morgan's health paramount

May/24/07 10:01 AM
Colorful, candid NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus talked with the Observer's Charles Chandler before giving a speech at a Charlotte Touchdown Club luncheon Wednesday. In the interview, Rosenhaus discussed controversies involving clients Clinton Portis and Terrell Owens and the prospects for Panthers clients Dan Morgan (linebacker) and Justin Hartwig (center-guard):

Q. Are you concerned about Morgan playing again despite his history of concussions? Of course, I'm concerned. I care about Dan, not as a client, but as a friend, as a brother. I'm concerned because of the severity of the situation, but I want to assure you we've been very thorough. We've been very careful. He's healthy, he's normal. He's got a normal baseline right now.
What may happen in the future? We're hoping for the best. But one thing I can promise you is we are not going to, in any capacity, risk it. If anything should happen, he'll retire.

Q. How does the Panthers picking the draft's top center, Southern Cal's Ryan Kalil, in the second round last month affect Justin Hartwig, who was slated to be Carolina's center when he signed a lucrative free agent deal last year? I talked to the team about it. I think the feeling is that Justin is one of the more versatile linemen. Justin can play guard. He was drafted as a tackle. He has a great deal of versatility. He's not the kind of player that a rookie is going to come in and beat him out. But he's an unselfish player and he'll play any position.

Morgan back at work

May/06/07 09:45 AM
One of the highlights of the Carolina Panthers' weekend minicamp is the return of linebacker Dan Morgan.

It's his first practice time since early last season; he missed all but one game in 2006 because of the latest in a series of concussions.

"I'm excited to be out here," said Morgan, who is reported to have suffered at least five concussions. "Just being around the guys again is really great."

Speculation swirled about Morgan's status for most of last season before doctors cleared him to play again.

"I'm not concerned," he said. "I'm not going to come out and be scared to hit anybody.

Morgan returns to field confident despite concussions

May/04/07 09:56 PM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Just days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ordered all team doctors and trainers to attend a summit on concussions, Carolina linebacker Dan Morgan was back on the field.

Morgan, who has suffered at least five concussions in his career, has heard about the summit and the concussion symposium held last month in California. He knows about the stories of depression and memory loss from numerous ex-players. He knows Leigh Steinberg recently label concussions ``a health epidemic.''

But Morgan is determined to return to the game he loves. And on Friday, less than eight months after his most recent concussion, Morgan took part in the Panthers' opening minicamp practice.

``Obviously the words surrounding a concussion are me and some other guys. But I'm not concerned with it. It's out of my head,'' Morgan said. ``I really don't even want to talk about it. I want to move on and get on with my football career, play and have fun.''

Morgan returns; decision thorough

Apr/01/07 12:19 PM
PHOENIX --There was a time last fall when Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Dan Morgan said he was ready to play football. So did a Pittsburgh-based concussion specialist. Neither opinion really mattered.

"I said, `Dan, you're not going to play on our team until the doctors clear you,' " Jerry Richardson said.

Richardson, of course, is the owner of the Panthers. Richardson admitted Wednesday at the annual NFL meeting at the Arizona Biltmore that he exercised veto power on Morgan's comeback attempt after suffering at least his fifth reported concussion (dating back to college) in last season's opening game.

Dan Morgan Update

Mar/03/07 10:06 AM
Morgan's future with Carolina had been uncertain since he suffered at least the fifth concussion of his career in last season's opening game against Atlanta.

Doctors told him to sit out the final 15 games, and Morgan declared he was cleared to play in 2007 on Jan. 1, the day after the Panthers finished a disappointing 8-8 season.

The middle linebacker was due a $2 million roster bonus Thursday. The reworked deal makes his contract more salary-cap friendly.

Still, there are questions about Morgan's ability to stay on the field. He's missed 40 of 96 games in his six-year Panthers' career because of concussions and other injuries. Studies have shown players with multiple concussions are more likely to suffer additional concussions, and there are concerns about long-term damage.

(news-record.com)

Morgan gets late, but great, Christmas gift

Jan/03/07 07:06 AM
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Dan Morgan said yesterday he's been cleared to return to football next season despite multiple concussions.

Morgan suffered at least the fifth concussion of his career in the season opener against Atlanta and missed the rest of the season.

But Morgan said he was in Pittsburgh last week, where he took numerous tests, and a team of physicians led by concussion expert Dr. Mickey Collins gave him the OK to begin playing again during mini-camps in the spring.

Collins recommended in October that Morgan not return this season.

"It was real exciting. That was a great Christmas present, a late Christmas present," Morgan said yesterday. "I felt great. I felt I was going to do real well and I went up there and did real well on all my testing."

Morgan suffered his first concussion as a pro in 2003. He missed four more games in 2004 with another concussion. He then suffered one in the pre-season and another in the loss to Atlanta in Week 1 this year.

(edmontonsun.com)