Brennan out at least two months

Colt Brennan, Hawaii's record-setting quarterback, will undergo hip surgery on April 7 to repair a slightly torn labrum in his right hip and will be sidelined eight to 12 weeks.

The announcement was made to NFL scouts at Hawaii's pro-day workout Tuesday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and means Brennan will drop from a projected middle round draft pick to a very late round pick.

Brennan reportedly suffered the injury during the first day of practice at the Senior Bowl in January. After having it examined by trainers in Mobile, he made the decision to finish out the week of practice then play in the game.

The initial prognosis after the Senior Bowl was hopeful and doctors thought the injury could heal by itself. As Brennan trained for the combine, the hip continued to bother him, prompting him to seek a second opinion.

This time Brennan was told by Dr. Marc Philippon, an expert in the field, that surgery to repair the torn labral was best for his long term recovery.

Philippon has experience with this type of injury as he performed a similar procedure on running back Priest Holmes prior to the running back's All-Pro seasons with the Chiefs.

Brennan, who did not participate in any of the physical testing at the combine but did throw the ball during position drills, is expected to do the same today.

By nearly all accounts, Brennan's throwing workout on Tuesday was a success. San Francisco quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner put the Hawaii prospect through a rigorous workout, making him perform 88 NFL-type passes. Brennan connected on all but 14 of the passes, as the incomplete throws were slightly off target or dropped by receivers. He displayed his patented accuracy and Brennan delighted coaches in attendance with his ability to throw the deep pass.

How will the surgery affect his draft status?

One scout from an NFC South team -- whose team is interested in drafting Brennan -- claimed it's all in the eye of the beholder. "For some teams, the surgery will be a negative issue," the scout said, "yet we would not expect Brennan to play much as a rookie; so it is unlikely to affect the way we grade him."

He tipped the scales at 218 pounds Tuesday morning, a far cry from the 185 pounds he weighed at the Senior Bowl just two months ago. The combination of weight training, plus the inability to put in a full regiment of cardiovascular work, has led to the increased weight.

Brennan finished a storied career by helping the Rainbows earn a berth in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia. Against Boise State last November, he broke Ty Detmer's major college career mark for touchdown passes. It's just one of 20 NCAA records Brennan owns.

He entered the postseason hoping to prove he was much more than a system quarterback or the beneficiary of the wide-open offense run at Hawaii by former coach June Jones.