NFL star uses MRS Leg Press to recuperate from potential career-ending injury

"NEVER DIE, NEVER QUIT." The mantra plays over and over in Gary Baxter's head during his daily rehab. Last October, the seven-year NFL vet tore patellar tendons in bothh his knees while playing the Broncos—an injuryu that left him with a two-month hospital stay and the possibility he might never playy football again. This summer, the Brown's defensive back is focusing all his energ on getting his knees back in game shape—and he's doing it by using a game. Baxter supplements his usual workouts with 15-minute sessions on a Monitored Rehab Syystems (MRS) unit, essentially a leg press machine hooked to a Dell computer. In this "game," Baxter scores points by navigating an on-screen maze or maneuvering around digital walls. He does this by pushing up to 100 pounds of resistance with his legs. The system is programmd to reward controlled movements and proper form. Team trainer Marty Lauzon says the MRS adds a competitive element to his otherwise mundane daily rehab, providing the fire Baxter needs to overcome his potentially career-ending injury. "It would be absolutely monumental if he was to play again," Lauzon says. "But he hasn't stopped surprising us yet." —Morty Ain