Robertson says his knee will not be a problem

[Smizzy]

Robertson says his knee will not be a problem

Monday, August 15, 2005

BY DAVE HUTCHINSON

Star-Ledger Staff

HEMSTEAD, N.Y. -- DT Dewayne Robertson confirmed yesterday that his visit to orthopedic surgeon James Andrews last week to examine his cranky left knee was more for his head than his knee.

"Everybody needs peace of mind," said Robertson, who returned to practice yesterday and will play Friday night against the Vikings.

Robertson sat out Friday night against the Lions after traveling to Birmingham, Ala., last Wednesday to get a second opinion. Coach Herman Edwards said team doctors diagnosed Robertson as having a "bone rubbing against bone" condition that wasn't career-threatening and didn't require surgery.

Andrews agreed.

"I'm good," Robertson said. "My knee is feeling good. ... You are all acting like I broke my leg or something. I'm ready to play football."

Robertson, 6-1, 315 pounds, reported to camp in excellent shape. His condition usually affects older players but the 23-year-old Robertson feels he'll have a long career.

"My knee doesn't have anything to do with what I want to do or how long I want to play," said Robertson, who had a breakout year with 60 tackles and three sacks last season.

Robertson declined to say when his knee started bothering him to the point where he felt he needed to seek medical attention. He did say it didn't bother him last season. Edwards has said the condition is chronic and occurred before the Jets drafted him fourth overall in 2003 and gave him $13 million in bonuses.

Former Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell is now defensive coordinator with the Vikings, who revamped their defense in the off-season. Cottrell was fired by Edwards after the 2003 season and things got heated in a final meeting between the pair.

"At the time, I wasn't happy but I've gotten over it," said Cottrell, who had an aging unit with the Jets. "You've got to push on and not let things dwell on you."

Said Edwards: "It's never smooth to tell a guy you're going to head in another direction. It happens to all of us. It'll happen to me. I have the utmost respect for Ted as a man and as a coach. That's all I can say."

Jets QB Jay Fiedler may have been the starter in Chicago had he signed there in free agency. The Bears just lost starter Rex Grossman for three to four months with an ankle injury.

"I made the right decision coming here and I have no regrets," Fiedler said.