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Coles opted not to have the surgery because there was an outside chance that it could end his career if the foot didn't heal properly. I don't think it really had much to do with the Pro Bowl.
I think his approach to it was that he was better off going without the surgery and trying to allow it to heal naturally with some offseason rest, rather than have the surgery and risk ending his career.
The problem is, Coles doesn't really know how to back off and take it easy. It's an admirable quality, but one that can be counterproductive in a situation where rest and relaxation are truly the most effective solutions.
The training staff did what it could to circumvent any further damage to the area, trying out different orthopedic inserts in his shoe, and holding him out of a good portion of minicamp activity. But Coles resisted the idea of sitting out completely, and that's probably why the injury continues to be an issue.
If Coles could have held off practicing until training camp, that probably would have been the best solution, but when you have a new coaching staff, a new quarterback and a new offense to get acquainted with, that's a tough sell for a guy like Coles.
It's painful for us fans to know that Coles' foot problems could have been resolved earlier, and it's unpleasant to watch him play preseason games, knowing any bad turn or tackle could end his season. But that's just the way it's going to be, and like Coles, we're all just going to have to grin and bear it... and hope for the best.
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