FAYETTEVILLE — Ryan Mallett and Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino decided safe was better than sorry when it came to Mallett’s foot and his scheduled participation in the Manning Passing Academy.
Mallett withdrew this week from the camp, which begins Thursday on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La. The camp is led by former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and his NFL star sons Peyton and Eli Manning.
ESPN.com initially reported the news, citing Archie Manning as saying Mallett needed more time to recover from a second surgery on his broken left foot. Petrino said Friday that Mallett had a class conflict with the camp and added that Mallett did not need to miss a week of rehabilitation on the foot.
“Everything’s going good with Ryan, we just don’t want to take a chance,” said Jim Mallett, the quarterback’s father. “They felt that might be a little too much strain right now. We knew he probably wouldn’t be able to go.”
The Manning Academy attracts some of the nation’s top quarterback and receiver talent. Mallett, who is being promoted by Arkansas as a Heisman Trophy contender, was scheduled to be one of the featured quarterbacks, along with Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Florida State’s Christian Ponder, Alabama’s Greg McElroy, Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson, LSU’s Jordan Jefferson, Ole Miss’ Nathan Stanley, Tennessee’s Matt Simms, and TCU’s Andy Dalton. Former NFL standout quarterback Kenny Anderson is also scheduled to attend.
Mallett originally injured the foot during conditioning work Feb. 17 and was scheduled to be out three to four months. He wore a protective boot through most of Arkansas’ spring drills and removed it a couple of weeks after the Red-White Game on April 24.
Mallett had a screw replaced in the foot June 9, a procedure Petrino said had been expected and planned and which Debbie Mallett, the player’s mother, said was “no big deal.”
Mallett was supposed to be in a nonweight-bearing period for two weeks following that, and Petrino said he expected Mallett “to return fully after that time period.”
Arkansas fans are anticipating a big season in 2010 with Mallett, a 6-7 junior from Texarkana, at the helm. Mallett broke or tied 16 school records last season, including passing for 3,624 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Jim Mallett said his son understood why he’s unable to go to the Manning camp.
“We didn’t want to take that chance, and we’re happy with that,” he said. “The season is what’s most important.
“Everything’s fine. We’ve got plenty of time. Why take a chance ?”
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/03/2010