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Wednesday, August 2, 2000
Klemm copes When the New England Patriots veterans reported to Foxboro Stadium two weeks ago, six-time All-Pro left tackle Bruce Armstrong was asked about his relationship with Adrian Klemm.
with injury, life
on sideline
The New England Patriots'
rookie offensive lineman from
the University of Hawaii grows
restless as his knee heals
By Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinArmstrong hadn't had a chance to get to know the heir apparent to his job.
All Klemm, the former University of Hawaii starter who was the Patriots' top draft pick in 2000, knew about Armstrong was his reputation.
"That's the person they recommend I watch film on," said the 6-foot-3, 308-pound Klemm, who helped lead UH to a share of the Western Athletic Conference title last season.
"I didn't get a chance to talk to him but he seems like a nice guy."
But the 34-year-old Armstrong, who was dropped and then re-signed by New England after Klemm injured a ligament in his right knee, made no promise to become a big brother to the 23-year-old.
"I'm not going to openly tell him how to do things," said Armstrong before a throng of reporters. "But after we have a rapport, if he has questions, I'll answer questions."
Armstrong had been cut by the team in February after playing the final games of last season with a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.
Asked if he considered Klemm a long-term threat to his job, Armstrong smiled and joked, "If I feel he was a threat, I'd just tell him how to do it the wrong way."
Welcome to the "Not-For-Long" National Football League, where no one has the time to feel sorry for a rival in training camp. Not even if that rival is wearing a walking brace three-quarters up his right leg, as Klemm is now.
The ex-Hawaii lineman injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee on June 3 at a Patriots mini-camp and underwent surgery in Boston shortly thereafter.
He can drive with the big brace and was able to make it to head coach Bill Belichick's media day at the Patriots' team cafeteria on July 16.
"And if I need to walk from one area to the next --- a small distance -- I walk it," he said. "I use the crutches most of the time.
"In the weight room, I do all upper body. I work out more than anybody else because that's all I can do.
"So, I'm constantly working out."
Klemm said he's itchy to get on the field but he hopes the extra work will serve to allay a concern about him as New England's No. 1 selection.
"It's a little disappointing that I can't practice, but one of the things that people were concerned about coming in was my strength," he said. "And this gives me a chance to work on my strength. Hopefully I will be a better player when I come back than I was when I left."
Klemm's comeback date can't be projected, but he knows there's a good chance he could be out the entire season.
Any anxiety he felt had to be intensified as he watched the Patriots throttle the San Francisco 49ers and teammates Jeff Ulbrich and Dwight Carter on Monday night in an exhibition game.
"You can't really project my recovery time," said Klemm. "It's when the doctors feel I'm ready. And I'm fully healed and in good physical shape."
Meanwhile, Klemm is getting used to a new coach and a system unlike anything he's ever experienced.
Belichick, as Klemm, his teammates and the New England media are learning, is no walk in the park. Klemm said having a former NFL coach in his last year of college has helped him make a smoother transition to the pros.
But June Jones was no Belichick, who comes from the same school of football as Bill Parcells.
"Everybody respected June and everyone was in check, but he was a little more lenient with us," said Klemm.
"He's (Belichick) a disciplinarian. No cell phones, no pagers, none of that sort of stuff in the building. You can't bring them into meetings.
"No jewelry on the field. Back to basics. He's a pretty tough coach but he's a pretty fair coach."
Klemm may have a long way to go before he has Armstrong's credentials.
But he's already made it to Canton. Canton, Mass., that is. Twenty-one miles south of Boston and 10 miles north of Foxboro.
"My fiancee and I are living in a condo there for now," Klemm said.