I'll never forget the tragic events that left New England patriots player Darryl Stingley paralyzed on the field. Neither will most football fans of my generation.

Darryl Stingley has passed away at the much-too-young age of 55.

Former pro football wide receiver Darryl Stingley, a quadriplegic who became a symbol of the game's violence, died early this morning at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. He was 55.

The cause of death was not immediately available. An autopsy will be performed later today.

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Stingley's life changed forever on Aug. 12, 1978, in a preseason game against the Oakland Raiders. A wide receiver for the New England Patriots, Stingley was the victim of a vicious but legal hit by Oakland Raiders defensive back Jack Tatum. The blow broke Stingley's neck and left him a quadriplegic for life.

Stingley grew up in Chicago and was a star player at John Marshall High School, where he was a standout running back. He received a scholarship to Purdue University, where he was converted to wide receiver. He was the third of three first-round draft picks of the Patriots in 1973.

Stingley's injury changed the game, making players generally safer and taking out some of the ugliness that had begun to creep into the game as outlaw players like Jack Tatum became on-field assassins, paid to intentionally injure their opponents. While there can be nothing positive said about the circumstances that led to Stingley's injury, there is at least that positive outcome.

H/T Political Vindication

Posted by: Greg at 02:08 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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