"It was a hit that I probably wouldn't call dirty, but it was unnecessary. It was a preseason game, it was a ball that I threw late, overthrew because I did throw late and was just trying to throw it away. Darryl went up into the air and normally in a preseason game, guys take care of each other in those situations. And Darryl just happened to get caught with his head in the wrong position, and Tatum just blasted him, for no obvious reason in a game like that. I saw hundreds of hits like that before and after, and it's just unfortunately in Darryl's situation that it caused paralysis, and in all the other situations the guy got up and continued to play."
- Steve Grogan
On August 12, 1978, New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed by Raiders' Jack Tatum.
Note: Stingley and Tatum never spoke or reconciled after the hit. Tatum supposedly tried to contact Stingley in the hospital but was stopped by Stingley's family. They were due to be on the same talk show in 1983 until Stingley pulled out when he learned that Tatum was on the show merely to promote a book.
Stingley died in 2007 at age 55. His son, Darryl Stingley Jr., is a top recruit and will play for LSU this season.
Ironically, Tatum ended up in a wheelchair before he died in 2010. All of his toes were amputated on his left foot as a result of diabetes, and his lower right leg was amputated because of circulation problems.
Friends said he became a recluse in his later life and never really got over the Stingley hit.
No comments:
Post a Comment