Rehabbing Wilkerson could be Bengals' next center By JOE KAY, AP Sports Writer May 1, 2005 CINCINNATI (AP) -- The crowd of 90,825 was happily filing out of Tiger Stadium on a warm October night in Baton Rouge, La. The home team was running out the clock on a 24-7 win over Vanderbilt. Louisiana State center Ben Wilkerson heard the call for the last play -- Shyrone Carey running up the middle -- and headed for the line of scrimmage. He snapped the ball and made a nondescript block, figuring that would finish it off. As the seconds ticked down, Wilkerson started to fall. ``I got caught up in the pile,'' he said. ``I was trying to protect myself, knowing it was the last play. As I was getting ready to fall to the ground, I felt it pop. I can't tell you if something hit my leg or I just got twisted up. It happened all so fast. That's all she wrote.'' The tendon that runs across his left kneecap had ripped viciously. He was helped off the field by teammates who should have been celebrating instead. Coach Nick Saban defended his decision to leave his starters in for a meaningless series at the end of a game that was already in hand. And Wilkerson got to learn the cruel reality that one play can change everything -- a college career, an NFL draft, an income level. ``I knew after I got hurt that it would definitely affect my situation coming into the next level,'' he said. ``I try not to bank on things too much.'' One of the nation's top collegiate centers didn't even get drafted. Wilkerson, who is still recovering from knee surgery that left an 8-inch scar on his leg, ended up signing as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals. Instead of taking his career to the next level, Wilkerson is still trying to get back to where he was before that last, cursed play Oct. 30. For the rest go here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-bengals-wilkerson&prov=ap&type=lgns
Poor guy won't get the money up front, but he won't get the pressure to produce well that comes with it. He's talented, smart and doesn't mess up very often. If he recovers, he'll be as beloved as Anthony Munoz by the time he leaves Cinci.
