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Tuesday, November 19, 2002 Page: 1B
OPINION
“YOUR WHOLE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS GAME CHANGES WHEN YOU SEE YOUR SON LYING ON
A STRETCHER, NOT MOVING.” SO SAID MY FATHER-IN-LAW TO ME, BACK WHEN I WAS
FIRST GETTING TO KNOW HIM, AND SUNDAY, I THOUGHT BACK TO THAT. The state of
Pennsylvania experienced a quarterback disaster this week when Tommy Maddox of
the Steelers and Donovan McNabb of the Eagles got hit by enormous men who were
attacking them. Not totally unexpected, I suppose, when you get paid to be
mauled.
McNabb, hit early in the first quarter of a 38-14 victory against Arizona,
told the training staff he had merely sprained his ankle and merrily returned
to the field. He then proceeded to have the best passing game of his career,
because he wasn’t thinking about running on every play.
For such a great performance, he will almost certainly lose his starting
job (temporarily) next week. Why? Because he actually played on a broken ankle
throughout the entire game.
Maddox’s situation was different. As he was already falling to the ground,
a would-be tackler crashed into him at full speed, jamming his neck straight
into the turf.
I was surrounded by about 50 people watching the game, and it was one of
those injuries that leaves a crowd silent and stunned. Maddox did not move,
and still did not move, and as it turns out, was not able to move.
For at least five minutes, he lay breathing but unconscious as trainers and
doctors struggled to immobilize his body on a board, then get the board into
an ambulance.
Difficult to watch QB lying still
Reports now state that Maddox was immobile and without any feeling in most
of his body for about 45 minutes. He has been diagnosed with a spinal cord
concussion, as well as a normal concussion.
McNabb is telling the press he plans to play next week, but he probably
won’t. Odds are, 29-year-old journeyman quarterback Koy Detmer will get the
nod.
In Pittsburgh, the opposite will happen. Maddox, the journeyman, will
probably be replaced by multimillionaire superstar quarterback Kordell
Stewart.
Here’s what it takes to be a pro, beyond talent. McNabb not only finished
the game, he is still insisting he will play next week, even though coaches
and medical experts say he will be out for six to eight weeks.
Maddox will undergo more tests today to determine how fast he can get back
on the field. In and out of football several times in the last 10 years, the
erstwhile insurance salesman is enjoying by far the most successful season of
his career. Unconscious and immobile or not, he wants to get back on the field
fast.
What it takes to be the parent, spouse, or the child of a professional
football player, I can’t imagine. On Sunday, watching Maddox lie stone still,
it was fairly difficult just being a fan.
Lane Filler’s column appears each Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Reach him at
829-7127 or [email protected].