Clifton Smith Out With Gout
August 22nd, 2010So where was Clifton Smith last night? Sitting down with his young body riddled with gout.
Bucs beat writer Anwar Richardson, of TBO.com, delivered the news last night. While Richardson says gout is rare, it’s actually quite common, but surely not among professional athletes.
Earlier, Tampa Bay return man Clifton Smith fell victim to one of the oldest and rarest of medical conditions – gout.
Described as a crystallization of the fluid in joints, tendons and surrounding tissues, gout kept Smith from participating in the Bucs preseason opener last week at Miami and he also missed the Chiefs game.
It’s an unknown how quickly and successfully Smith can be treated. In Joe’s eyes, this all but assures a roster spot for Micheal Spurlock.
How could the Bucs cast him aside? Unless they have supreme confidence that Sammie Stroughter could replace Smith.
With the Bucs all but forced now to keep three quarterbacks, roster spots are certainly tightening up on the offensive side of the ball.
Update: Stephen Holder, of the St. Pete Times, is reporting this afternoon that Smith has gout-like inflammation in his knee and the Bucs are unsure of the cause.
Update II: Joe thinks this is extra bad if it’s specific to Smith’s knee.
Update III: Joe has learned that it was actually Woody Cummings of the Tampa Tribune who first reported that Smith is out with gout.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:23 pm
usually this occurs in the big toe, but if it’s his knee that is crazy..must be painful.
Gotta flush it out, hope he’s drinking alot of fluids and taking purine inhibiting medication.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Man, that just sucks. This doesn’t happen all that often, to this extent.
Get well Clifton.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:43 pm
As far as I know, Gout isn’t a “one and done” type of illness. This is usually something that comes back.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Gout is more common than people think. It is also easy to treat with medication. If iot is gout he should be back in no time. I have it, and when it hurts it really hurts bad. Mine has never moved from my big toe, I could not imagine it in my knee.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Yeah, I know two people with gout, one a professional athlete, one not. Both have recurring problems, both with their feet, not the knees. Medication can treat it, but aggravating with diet choices can cause flare ups that reduce the effects of the meds.
This is not good news…But the news is better for someone with good health care, and someone looking out for the patient.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Gout seems to run in my family. My mother, father and brother have all had it. It is very painful. I haven’t had it yet, but I think I will in the near future. I think gout usually affects people a bit older than Clifton. Hopefully he gets over this because he is a key weapon on the special teams.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
i hope clifton gets better. i guess that gives huggins the third running back. i personally think huggins should be the second back, but what do i know. and i dont think we would take a step back on special teams, cause spurlock is coming along great.
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Watching Ward play last night, I think he could have Gout too.
August 22nd, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I think ArreallyLousy Benn has gout also…. is gout contagious ??
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:36 pm
If it is an attack of gout, it’s excruciating. Gout attacks can be triggered by diet, like hi-protien diets, and if you are prone to gout you should never eat shell fish, alcohol, etc., but they really don’t know all the triggers. The inflammation of the joints (its more prevalent in the big toe, and ankle, it also can target the knees and wrist) and the crystalized material cause unbelievable pain…definitely debilitating. There is no cure – best course of action is prevention. I know because I have it…its a form of arthritis. Good luck peanut – you’ll be back in a couple of weeks, and from then on stay away from the skrimps…
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:38 pm
If we keep Spurlock we can cut Smith and Clayton.That frees up spots for Huggins and Biggers.These guys look like impact players and we are going to need them.
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
@Lakeland Bob
I disagree. Smith in my opinion is still our most dangerous return man and we need to keep him. Spurlock is good also, but he didn’t do much other than that one return TD in New Orleans last year. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s good and he showed that he could help in the receiving game in last nights game. Stroughter showed talent at returning kicks also last year, but he’s still relatively unproven. Still neither him or Spurlock showed the same stuff Smith demonstrated both in his 08 pro bowl season and in 09.
Also, there are several players that are worth cutting before Smith. And even if Smith does depart, it would be stupid to release him. Trading him would be the thing to do, but yet again we would only get maybe 4th or 5th round pick for him, not that great of a return for a talent like Smith.
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:31 pm
If Peanut can’t play they need to make other arrangements for him. He has not played yet and missed all of camp. What does that say to the other 80 guys out there busting their hump in 95 degree heat? He needs to be on the PUP list or IR or something, but to give him a roster spot when we have Huggins, Stroughter & Spurlock who can all perform dual functions when all Peanut can do is kickoffs is ludicrous. He has had 2 concussions, he fumbles constantly, and is not an NFL running back. In a league of “what have you done lately”, Clifton hasn’t done $h!t. Sorry, truth hurts. Put him on IR and give him a shot next year.
August 22nd, 2010 at 8:36 pm
Another thing about Spurlock is that he has really bulked up with muscle. He looks more like a running back now than a WR. This may be a breakout year for him. He looked damn good last night and the guy is bull strong. He may not be quite as fast as he was, but the dude is stud, and he burned KC last night, more than once.
August 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
we have a million options to replace this guy Spurlock is a lock 1st guy to take it to the house 4 the Buccaneers and has continued to produce when givin the chance to show and prove
August 22nd, 2010 at 10:01 pm
I would take 2 years of regular season work over 2 missed preseason games any day of the week. Smith has earned a spot on the roster with his previous work. He doesn’t need to prove anything.
August 22nd, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Spurlock was only with us I think 2 games last year. Ya he’s a stud.
August 23rd, 2010 at 12:05 am
I’m just going by what I saw at the Game last night. Spurlock has seriously gotten bigger and stronger. It is easy to see. Fumbles are a problem for any RB that does it regularly. Fumbles (Adrian Peterson) cost the Vikings the NFC Championship for the most part last season. You can’t be a top flight RB in the NFL if you can’t hold on to the ball.
Smith fumbles: 08′ 1 rushing, 1 receiving, 2 kickoff return
09′ 2 rushing, 1 punt return
that is by NFL.com count which is 7 fumbles in 2 years. He has only played in a total of 20 games which is hardly a full 2 years or 32 games.
Spurlock has the keys to the Bucdom as the first ever to return a kickoff, but Smith is probably a better return man today, if he is healthy, if he doesn’t get a concussion, if he doesn’t fumble 3.5 times this year.
Hey, but I just go by gut, BamBam is the real stat guy and can correct any mistakes I may have made regarding Peanut.
August 23rd, 2010 at 2:32 am
I had gout once, and it one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced. I could hardly walk, and it lasted for several weeks. For gout sufferers, though, downing a tablespoon of baking soda stirred into a tall glass of water as many times a day as you can stand it will get rid of it. I’m not a doctor, but baking soda isn’t a drug, so it’s all good. Try it, gout sufferers, it works.
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:08 am
This just proves Smith will have trouble staying healthy. If we lost another roster spot just to keep him, there is a good probability it will come back to bite us because he will be hurt at some point this season for sure.
If its not fumbles, its concussions. If its not concussions, its some rare illness like gout. I feel bad for him, but if doesnt prove he is back to pro-bowl form before game 1, he needs to be on IR, PUP, something that doesnt take up a roster spot.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Do you think that guarantees Spurlock a spot or Kareem Huggins? Considering how poorly Derrick Ward has played, doesnt it look like Huggins might have locked up a spot with his versatility?