If that's the case, a torn ligament, he's out for the year. I feel bad first of all for Deuce. He's worked hard to get to this point. He's a great football player.

We're going to try to get everyone involved and keep Deuce healthy if we can, ... If we have a healthy Deuce McAllister on this football team and Antowain Smith, it gives us a better chance to win.

He'll go. If he can go with a torn ligament, he can pitch with this. He's as tough as they come.

It's feeling better but I haven't been throwing yet. With a slightly torn ligament, you can't rush that. We've got to make sure it's 100 percent before getting back out there.

My biggest relief was when I found out it wasn't a torn ligament. Not that the other injury is better, but a ligament injury is a long injury. I was a little bit afraid that we were in that realm.

Statistically, in his case, that's what's very important, get to first base. I don't care how you get there -- walk, get on by an error, get hit by a pitch, hit a ground ball in the hole at shortstop. With the speed that he possesses, just don't have me sitting there, for a lengthy period of time and watch him hit fly balls in front of the warning track in right center, or a weak fly ball to shallow left center field. He's not doing himself or this club any good. And he understands it.