Matt Lauer In Bike Accident With Deer, Absent From "Today"

NEW YORK — A flip off his bicycle took "Today" show co-host Matt Lauer off the air Monday with a shoulder injury.

Lauer, 51, was riding his bicycle on Long Island this weekend when a deer jumped into his path. He flipped over the bike's handlebars and was slightly hurt, NBC said.

"Today" show publicist Megan Kopf said Lauer, who was wearing a helmet, separated his shoulder and was scheduled to have surgery Monday.

"He's doing well, and we hope to have him back on `Today' later this week," Kopf said in an e-mail.

Lauer's broadcast partner, Meredith Vieira, joked on the air that Lauer thinks the deer was hired by the competition.

"Matt's banged up with a displaced shoulder, it popped out," she said. "So hopefully he'll be on the mend soon."

Lester Holt filled in as Vieira's co-host Monday.

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NBC is owned by General Electric Co.

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On the Net:

http://www.nbc.com/News_and_Sports/

Comments

[RButler]

That photo looks like 'Matt caught in the headlights'.

[Pegi]

get better matt!!

[albanianmomforobama]

Did sister Sarah Palin send him well wishes?

[sarahwaters]

Get Well Wishes to Matt. Happy to hear he was injured more seriously.

[TheJokeIsOnUs]

When he gets back, Matt’s first edition of “Where In The World Is Matt Lauer?” is expected to be from a deer sausage plant.

[Pegi]

LOL!

[CaptainObvious]

I've gone over the handlebars before - it's not very much fun. I got my pedal stuck in a friend's spokes when he swerved in front of me to avoid an obstacle.

[Panthro]

I grew up on the East End of Long Island and know that Matt Lauer has a house out here in Southampton or Noyac I think. Seen him out and about with his cute kids a few times. I'll tell you one thing though. We definitely have our fair share of deer out here and they really do come out of nowhere and dart out in front of you. A couple times I stayed over my uncle's house in New Haven and remember waking up and seeing no less than dozen or so deer just hanging out in the back yard. The deer problem out there became so rampant that 6o Minutes actually ran a story about how the locals were dealing with it probably ten years ago or so.

[cocolola]

Get well soon Matt!!!

[dbg2]

What did the deer ask a follow up question and freak Matt out....

[ediva75]

Ok I got rather concerned on why Matt wasn't there. I was thinking perhaps it is a contract thing and he was having contract issues or something.

Ok I hope he gets well.

[TheMuckraker]

Odd that he and Lance had bike accidents the same day and one injured his collar bone , the other his shoulder.

[AnalyzeIT]

Happy to hear Matt is okay - any report on the deer? Or was it actually a 'moterized one' sent by the opposition? :))

[yhgtup]

I like Matt Lauer. He's very funny.

[VOTER]

Wow!

Thanks HP for this "news" as I wouldn't have known about it because watching
the Today Show is like......­..........­. watching cartoons.

No Thanks!

[Truby]

Come on, everybody knows that cartoons are more informative and entertaining than the filler used between commercials on morning television.

[proudloudlib]

No one made you click on this link.

[Human-Being]

You must be confused, you meant to say Fox and Friends is like watching cartoons. Mistake forgiven.

[philosopherkingtomas]

love Matt and also Lester Holt !