Fan Pulse: Collier paralyzed, left leg amputated

By Neal Coolong  |   Tuesday, September 30, 2008  |  Comments( 3 )

Jacksonville Jaguars
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Doctors attending to Jaguars tackle Richard Collier said Monday one of the 14 bullets that entered him when he was shot in his car earlier this month severed his spinal cord, and he will never walk again.

Damage from other bullets also caused blot-clotting in his left leg, which forced the doctors to amputate.

Collier and former Jaguar Kenneth Pettway were assaulted early in the morning of Sept. 2 while waiting for two women outside their Jacksonville apartment.

The incident shed a cloud over the start of a highly anticipated season in Jacksonville. After winning two straight games, the pall returns after hearing Collier, a.k.a. Big Rich, lost his leg and will need physical therapy to get from his bed to his wheelchair.

Fans on the Jaguars.com Message Board are already planning on their Week 5 Sunday Night game at home vs. Pittsburgh to be a "Big Rich Game." One poster calls for a physical tribute from the players. "

"I hope players get #76 stickers for the back of their helmets next to GU/63...I would definitely want to have a 'Richard Collier Day' when everyone knows he is at home watching the game from his new wheelchair. When he is at the hospital there is no guarantee he will be able to watch Sunday's game, so I would wait until he is discharged to make sure he sees all those signs fans hold up in the bleachers."

Reports indicate Collier does not remember the night of the shooting, and the Florida Union-Tribune says there have been no arrests.

It was a rough initial recovery period for Collier, who battled pneumonia and several dangerous infections before the hospital released any information on his condition. One poster mentioned the intention of keeping it quiet. "

"The father of a friend of mine is pretty high up at Shands and he said that the whole situation has been very hush hush and nobody really knows anything outside of a few people."

While some fans are being proactively positive with their suggestions of creating buttons and signs honoring Collier, the anger caused by the seemingly senseless act of violence is spreading through the Jaguars community.

"There are some spineless, cowardly, conscienceless pieces of trash out there right now, and I really hope they get theirs. [That's] bad, I know. But I can't help it right now. I am angry. Very angry. No one deserves what happened to Rich. These punks are so big and bad hiding behind a gun - probably the same type of scum that can't fight one against one, gotta have their buddies jump in ... bunch of bleeping cowards, if you ask me."

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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one...
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