Paralyzed ex-wide receiver Stingley dies

[Yeagermeister]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10109987

For those that don't remember him he was the Pats wr paraylzed by a vicious hit by Jack Tatum, I think.

 

[Concord]

Paralyzed ex-wide receiver Stingley dies


New England Patriot injured Aug. 12, 1978 on hit by Raiders' Tatum


Updated: 5:44 a.m. PT April 5, 2007
CHICAGO - Former New England Patriot receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed after a hard hit during an NFL exhibition game nearly 30 years ago, has died. He was 55.

Stingley was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Thursday after he was found unresponsive in his home, according to Tony Brucci an investigator with the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy was scheduled. The cause of death was not immediately available.


Stingley played football until August 12, 1978, when the 26-year-old receiver went up for a pass during an exhibition game and was hit from behind by Oakland Raiders’ safety Jack Tatum. The hit broke Stingley’s neck and left him a quadriplegic for life.

Stingley was born and raised in Chicago. He was a star running back at John Marshall High School. He attended Purdue on a football scholarship.

In 1973, he was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots, owned by Robert Kraft.

“On behalf of the Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization, we’re deeply saddened by news of Darryl Stingley’s death, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Stingley family at this time,” said team spokesman Stacey James.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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[jay cee]

RIP Stingley, I remember that terrible play.

 

[burmafrd]

That was when the first calls for spearing to really be enforced were made. Technically, it had been against the rules for a long time- just was not emphasized.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

RIP......what a tragic injury......I watched that game....he was a great WR

 

[THUMPER]

That was when the first calls for spearing to really be enforced were made. Technically, it had been against the rules for a long time- just was not emphasized.

The hit was not illegal, just very hard and it caught him in an awkward position. Tatum had put much worse hits on people, and would continue to do so, many of which were illegal, but that one was within the rules at the time. The rules were changed after that incident though and made more specific.

WRs and QBs were pretty much fair game back then and defensive players took advantage of it.

The sad part I remember about that play was that Stingley had just become the primary WR in the Patriots offense the year before and he was starting to come into his own. He had had his best season in 1977 after being the 2nd or 3rd WR prior to that. NE still threw more to the backs and TE than to the WRs but he was their top WR coming into the 78 season.

That was about the time I stopped playing WR and moved to the O-Line & TE on offense (I played semi-pro ball back then. I had bulked up a bit and lost some speed. I also played DL) and was glad for the change after seeing that play.

 

[AmishCowboy]

The big deal was that it was a preseason game and did he have to hit him, but that's the way Tatum played.

 

[Zaxor]

I seen that game also and was sadden by the event that day though it was legal it was sad

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Tatum was a great player. He was a vicious hitter but in those days, that's how the game was played. I feel bad for both men. Obviously, the lions share of sympathy goes to Stingley but I also feel bad for Tatum. He was doing what he was paid to do. It's something he has to live with his whole life and I'm certain that it is not easy. It is never easy to live, knowing you've hurt or killed somebody. It's the price you pay for surviving when your alone with yourself. It is a bad thing all around but it's part of the game or life depending on your situation. It will not be the last time somebody is seriously injured or the last fatality.

I'm sorry for both sides of this issue.

 

[Hostile]

I still remember this. New England had some amazing WRs at that time and Stingley had a bright future.

One thing I remember was that Tatum never apologized to him for the hit. His opinion was that it was an accident and he shouldn't have to. If that changed and he did, I don't know about it.

Not well known is that Tatum lost a leg to diabetes and almost lost both. He was a fierce hitter and had the Assassin tag long before this hit.

Like many players I loved to hit and I actually liked getting hit too. I know, the second part is weird. Hitting is part of the game. Unfortunately so are injuries. Even bad ones like this one.

Daryl Stingley was a nice guy who didn't deserve to have this happen. It did and I for one will never forget it.