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Jets' Bowles Had Surgery To Remove Tumor In Throat

INDIANAPOLIS (CBSNewYork) -- Jets coach Todd Bowles revealed Wednesday he coached most of last season with a benign tumor in his throat.

Bowles, 52, underwent surgery to have the mass removed after the season. He said he discovered the tumor shortly after the season began but elected to put off surgery, fearing doing it during the season might disrupt his football team.

He said the tumor was almost the size of a golf ball.

"It was just how much pain tolerance I could take," Bowles told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine. "It was fine. It wasn't a big deal. It was pressing up against the artery, and I had trouble swallowing a little bit."

Bowles said he couldn't speak after the surgery and joked that it affected his singing.

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