Jaguar whacks leg with team ax

[Gunzlingr]

Pro Bowl punter Chris Hanson was lost for a minimum of four to six weeks and possibly the season yesterday when he sustained a deep gash in his lower right leg while swinging an ax at a tree stump in the Jaguars' locker room.
The left-footed Hanson, who sustained first- and second-degree burns on June 1, 2002 when a fondue pot tipped over at his home, was rushed to Baptist Medical Center for treatment of the gash.

Three doctors, led by the Jaguars' head team physician, Carlos Tandron, performed surgery to repair the wound.

The Jaguars announced Hanson's foot will be kept in a boot for four to six weeks, and he might be placed on the injured reserve list, which would end his season.

Mark Royals, who was cut after the third game of the season by the Miami Dolphins, will replace him as the team's punter and holder.



more (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101003/jag_13748756.shtml)

[Gunzlingr]

Jaguars punter Chris Hanson was released from the hospital yesterday as the fallout from his locker-room ax incident continued.
Hanson was placed on the non-football injury list Friday and will miss the rest of the season after slicing his foot with an ax that coach Jack Del Rio had placed in the locker room as part of a motivational ploy.

Hanson declined comment yesterday, but his agent said the Pro Bowl kicker has not ruled out legal action against the Jaguars over their liability for the incident.

"Legal action really isn't something I want to comment on at this time," agent Drew Rosenhaus said.


Jaguars Senior Vice President Paul Vance declined comment last night when asked about potential legal action.

Hanson's closest friend on the team, meanwhile, revealed further details about the incident Thursday morning.

Long snapper Joe Zelenka, whom Hanson flew to Hawaii last February as a reward for helping Hanson make the Pro Bowl, said his teammate was alone in the locker room when the accident happened.

Hanson swung the double-bladed ax at a large oak stump in the middle of the locker room, sliced through the wood and caught his leg with the blade of the ax on the follow through, Zelenka said.

more (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/101403/jag_13774556.shtml)