Archer: Touchdown caps Anthony Spencer's comeback

Touchdown caps Anthony Spencer's comeback
December, 29, 2014

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

LANDOVER, Md. -- There was no guarantee Anthony Spencer's career would continue after undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee last year.

He had to endure a tedious rehab process that required him to be patient. Time, as Spencer learned, was the only way to ensure he would get on the field.

He missed the first three games of the season in his recovery, but he played in the final 13. He never recorded a full sack but his productivity increased, especially later in the season. In Sunday's 44-17 win over the Washington Redskins, Spencer recorded the first touchdown of his career, picking up Robert Griffin III's fumble in the fourth quarter after Terrell McClain's sack.

But he didn't care about keeping the football.

"I gave it to Terrell because he got the sack," Spencer said. "You got to give those away."

Spencer's touchdown provided a feel-good moment to his Dallas Cowboys teammates who saw him work through the rehab process, from walking on a treadmill to sprinting straight ahead to finally going through football drills late in the summer.

"The road that Spence has taken from his injury is as big as anybody's," coach Jason Garrett said. "Lots of obstacles and different adversities to overcome. But again it comes from a mental toughness. I think we've seen Spence the last few weeks as a healthier guy who has shown up more as a pass-rusher and making those plays."

Spencer, Carter, Williams and Witten are the 4 players on this team have really come on in the month of December. That is a big plus for us as we enter the playoffs.

I said to a friend of mine during the Colts game that I thought he's starting to look more spry, we're definitely going to need him to continue to improve if we hope to advance far.

Simpleton said:

I said to a friend of mine during the Colts game that I thought he's starting to look more spry, we're definitely going to need him to continue to improve if we hope to advance far.

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No doubt. He has looked pretty damn good the past couple of weeks. Looked pretty fast last week. One of the website radio shows said he mentioned that he really just started feeling confident from a physical standpoint doing everything that he needs to do. Finally isn't scared of cutting it loose. He has a chance to be a big x factor in the playoffs. I don't know that he's going to dominate any games but if he can at least play up to the past couple weeks level it will help a lot.

E_D_Guapo said:

No doubt. He has looked pretty damn good the past couple of weeks. Looked pretty fast last week. One of the website radio shows said he mentioned that he really just started feeling confident from a physical standpoint doing everything that he needs to do. Finally isn't scared of cutting it loose. He has a chance to be a big x factor in the playoffs. I don't know that he's going to dominate any games but if he can at least play up to the past couple weeks level it will help a lot.

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He seems to be steadily coming on, and it's something this line has sorely lacked. The timing couldn't be better.

Iamtdg said:

He had to endure a tedious rehab process that required him to be patient. Time, as Spencer learned, was the only way to ensure he would get on the field.


"The road that Spence has taken from his injury is as big as anybody's," coach Jason Garrett said. "Lots of obstacles and different adversities to overcome. But again it comes from a mental toughness. I think we've seen Spence the last few weeks as a healthier guy who has shown up more as a pass-rusher and making those plays."

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Just to stress a point on this, I know his coming back and playing well is big. But this article makes it seem like he went through this all by himself and was on his own to come back. I'm sure we've all had injuries that made us miss work. But let's not forget that the dude has basically made what $15-20 mill over the past 2 years while he was "trying to come back". That's a nice worker's comp check or two. I hope he continues to play well and is big during the playoffs, but let's not let people sucker us into thinking he made sacrifices to get back and perform at an acceptable level Plus, what is he getting paid this year?

Always liked Spencer... Never got why so many people trashed him.

Didn't think we'd get anything out of him, though, with that dicey surgery. Modern medicine is a miracle.

Just another thing that has broken right for us this year. We better take advantage because it won't always go this way.

fortsbest said:

Just to stress a point on this, I know his coming back and playing well is big. But this article makes it seem like he went through this all by himself and was on his own to come back. I'm sure we've all had injuries that made us miss work. But let's not forget that the dude has basically made what $15-20 mill over the past 2 years while he was "trying to come back". That's a nice worker's comp check or two. I hope he continues to play well and is big during the playoffs, but let's not let people sucker us into thinking he made sacrifices to get back and perform at an acceptable level Plus, what is he getting paid this year?

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Yeah it occurs to me that he is finding his stride at the end of the season and during the playoffs. Just in time to see if he can impress a GM for a contract. I'm sure it's a big coincidence though.

L.T. Fan said:

Yeah it occurs to me that he is finding his stride at the end of the season and during the playoffs. Just in time to see if he can impress a GM for a contract. I'm sure it's a big coincidence though.

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I agree. A cynic might think so, but you can see a new spring in his step the last several weeks that hasn't been there. In any case, it's hard to see Spencer being anything more than a pass rush specialist for us in the coming years.

Would it be too much to ask if Lawrence could step up and be the guy Spencer was? Probably unfair, but it's where we are.

ravidubey said:

I agree. A cynic might think so, but you can see a new spring in his step the last several weeks that hasn't been there. In any case, it's hard to see Spencer being anything more than a pass rush specialist for us in the coming years.

Would it be too much to ask if Lawrence could step up and be the guy Spencer was? Probably unfair, but it's where we are.

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Better I hope. Remember how we all used to bitch that Spencer was better than good against the run, but never got to the QB....Until his contract year or close to it when he all of sudden got what? 10 sacks?
I want better for Lawrence, he needs to develop into a 10 sack a year guy next year so we can get a real stud for the other side early and have a great pair of DEs.