Brees is having a 2nd Opinion and may not need surgery Per WWL Radio-Coach Payton

I play keeper in a couple of soccer leagues and injured the UCL on my left thumb (thankfully, since I'm a righty) four months ago. I thought the worst out of the gate and actually went to a doctor the next day. I'm typically ALWAYS injured in some fashion, so it's rare that I'll go for a diagnosis.

Mine was diagnosed as a UCL strain via x-ray and physical exam (no MRI.) I spent about a month-and-a-half out of goal. I couldn't easily open jars or do other things until very recently and still feel pain in the joint. I don't know how it would've felt trying to squeeze a football to throw it, but I suspect it would've been fairly excruciating.

That has been my experience with a possibly similar injury. I am certain that the factors relating to my rehab -- essentially none... I mostly just wore a large splint/brace and didn't do a good job of not using it way too much while it was injured -- versus the medical care Brees would get are night and day. Plus pro athlete versus "is it okay if I eat tacos for all three meals today? It seems fine."

I am hoping that whatever his final diagnosis is, that he can rehab quickly and be able to play as pain free as possible in a timely fashion.