Just what we need, a little summer intrigue involving a high-profile player to break up the monotony a little until camps start in a month.
Ryan Mallett has been scheduled, along with many other top college quarterbacks, to attend the Manning Passing Academy that starts on July 8. Even with a foot that was broken in February that forced him to both miss spring practice and undergo a second medical procedure earlier this month, Mallett was still, as of earlier this week, reportedly planning to attend the camp.
Thursday afternoon, Chris Low of ESPN.com‘s SEC blog reported that Mallett had pulled out of the camp because he’s still recovering from the broken bone in his foot. Low cited Archie Manning as the source for the information.
Head coach Bobby Petrino, however, disagrees with Peyton and Eli’s father.
While confirming Mallett would not attend, Petrino would not attribute the decision to anything physically amiss with his star quarterback. Instead, Petrino told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the camp “didn’t work with Ryan’s class schedule.”
Certainly Petrino wouldn’t blur the truth regarding Mallett, would he?
Still, Mallett is scheduled to be healthy in time for the start of summer camp. Of course, he was also scheduled to participate in the Manning camp, so you should excuse the Razorback faithful if they decide to hold their breath for a wee bit longer as their team’s hope for success in 2010 will rest squarely on the right arm -- and surgically-repaired left foot -- of the Heisman candidate.
UPDATED 2:21 p.m. ET: Petrino has clarified his statement, saying that, in addition to class conflicts, Mallett couldn’t miss a week of rehab on his foot.