section: | slug: ricardo-lockette-says-he-would-have-died-after-brutal-hit-without-trainers | sport: football | route: article_single.us | As a Seahawks fan, I know Ricardo Lockette has a reputation for getting into it with other players and playing a very emotional game just like Dez Bryant. [20], Lockette dated singer Keri Hilson from 2017 to 2020.[21]. He said he didnt know what part of his body hit Lockette, because ithappened so fast.. "Life goes on. Active projects include a brain health study, a health and wellness initiative, and a third study that aims to explore how personal ties affect the health of former players. Leaving the game on the plane, you think Oh, Russell Wilson had a great game, or Marshawn (Lynch) had a good game. But if you were to get on our plane, you would see ice on knees, ice on necks, ice on ankles, youd see feet elevated, youd see IVs, youd see doctors.. Thats what I will do. My goal in life is to have 10% of the effect that Marshawn has on people's lives. "The doctor told me pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the . Dez Bryant on the other hand. He eventually re-signed with the Seahawks despite being an unrestricted free agent. On December 14, 2011, Lockette was promoted to active 53-man Seattle Seahawks' roster.[9]. First, I hope Lockett has a speedy recovery, and is able to return to the Seahawks and play next season. It's a sad and premature end for Lockette, who in Novembernearly diedwhen he collided with Cowboys safety Jeff Heath on a punt return. Jerry should also reel off this guys name as an example of a team leader: he played and hit hard/legal, but also was hoping for the best for Lockette as a human/player. Ricardo Lockette has played his last down in the NFL. Get well soon, E! The Seahawks signed receiver Easop Winston, who spent time last season on Seattle's practice squad. Lockette, unfortunately learned that he had sustained a career-ending injury as a result of Heath's clean hit. Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis hit his fifth home run in eight games in the big leagues on Wednesday. Wake up to the day's most important news. His job as a special teamer depends on makingsuch big hits, and it would be impossible to not have what happened to Lockette in the back of his mind the next time hes in that position. 0:00 / 4:23 Ricardo Lockette: 'I don't blame anybody for what happened to me' | NFL Network NFL Network 600K subscribers Subscribe 440K views 6 years ago NFL Media's Michael Robinson sits down. His upper. No one else noticed anything amiss either (see: Dez Bryant) until a couple seconds after Locket landed, then everyone knew something was really wrong. I want to help people. Talk is cheap. Ricardo Lockette (@RicardoLockette) November 2, 2015. To be honest, my NFL career was like a blur. He also prayed for the man. While other players gathered around Lockette as he was motionless on the field, Heath stayed on the sidelines as emotionsflared. Injured Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette to raise 12th Man flag After career-threatening injury, Lockette wants to return to football After suffering a season-ending neck injury, Seattle. I saw Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown catch in a different game, and going down he looked more . TOTALLY A CLEAN BLOCK/HIT and should not have been penalized! Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. But we would be the same way, you know. The hit that the Steeler defensive back put on the Bengal tight end yesterday was brutal and happened after the ball was beyond his reach. as well as other partner offers and accept our, "If one of my teammates would have come over and pulled my arm, I would have died,", NOW WATCH: This is what Tom Brady eats to play pro football at 38 years old. I hope someone hits you just the same way. Learn how your comment data is processed. Seattle Seahawks' wide receiver Ricardo Lockette decided that even though he was recovering from a pretty serious neck injury, he still wanted to help the homeless. Like Marshawn helped me. When he announced his retirement earlier this offseason, former Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette made it clear that he didn't feel sorry for himself despite having his career cut short by a serious neck injury. barcelona airport covid test appointment; phrase d'accroche sur la puissance des etats unis RENTON, Wash. -- Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette had surgery to stabilize ligaments in his neck Monday, a day after being taken off the field on a backboard just before halftime . Ricardo Lockette celebrates in the end zone after a circus catch at the end of a trick play that resulted in a Seahawks touchdown. Former Seahawks wideout Ricardo Lockette announced his retirement from the NFL on May 12, 2016. He was jawing and shook his head walking away, but later when the seriousness was apparent, he also got down and prayed for Lockette. On Nov. 5, Lockette reportedly left the hospital after undergoing surgery. From the moment the kid was lying on the ground unconscious everyone was a human being and football meant nothing. Earlier this week, Lockette was reunited with two of the people that help saved his life. They looked right at each other just before the collision, and it was a collision. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion is currently a player advisor for The Football Players Health Study at Harvard. It looked like Lockett lost his balance a bit after a light hit before he ran into Heath and that prevented him from being ready for the hit. Distractify is a registered trademark. Cowboys Safety Jeff Heath talks about unintentional injury to Ricardo LocketteMore from The Star-Telegram:Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2U34ATfTwitter: https://tw. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette said Thursday he will retire from football, citing a life-threatening neck injury that he doesn't expect to heal. It was the "L" signal, which was the Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom," a sign of solidarity with his team and a show of confidence to let everyone know that he was conscious. Karma. I just was praying for him. As a result, he collapsed to the field. The hit appeared totally legal and within the rules live. [2] Lockette attended Monroe Comprehensive High School in Albany, where he played football and ran track and field. He said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left, right, front, back, I would have died," Lockette said. After the season, Lockette was invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. But thats just an unfortunate sequence of events in the span of about a second. News and notes from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider's press conference following the final day of the 2023 NFL Draft. Emergency personnel had to cart him off the field and as he was wheeled away, he stuck his hand up in the air. "It's not a sad day for me," Lockette said in May, sitting with his parents, Earl Sr. and Felita, his brother Earl Jr., and his girlfriend Jamaica Terry. He was hit by the Cowboy's safety Jeff Heath while on punt coverage. Its nice to see a guy express some remorse, even though he did nothing wrong. A post shared by Ricardo Lockette (@ricardolockette) on Sep 20, 2020 at 3:29pm PDT, The Cowboys safety expressed his remorse over the hit when speaking with The Dallas Morning News, stating that it was never his intention to severely hurt Lockette. He's a Super Bowl champion, three-time NFC champ, and one of the fastest dash sprinters the sport has ever seen. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. The players in todays NFL are taught to be battering rams. A scary neck injury is forcing Seattle Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette to retire from the NFL. The player cannot say no or he will be cut. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - DECEMBER 20: (Photo by Christopher Mast/Seattle Seahawks). Have you ever seen an actual game of Aussie rules football? Ricardo Lockette was drilled and appears to be out cold, hope he's ok pic.twitter.com/C5zdBzzwFX. SEAHAWKS, SEAHAWKS LOGO, SPIRIT OF 12, WE ARE 12, BRING ON THE 12, LEGION OF BOOM, 12 and 12S are trademarks of the Seattle Seahawks. Thats about it. Part of HuffPost News. You never want to see a guy injured. [4] Tyree Price, Lockette's track coach at Fort Valley State, has stated that, had he stuck with track, he would have gone to the Olympic trials. Best wishes to Lockette, but this was a completely clean and legit hard hit. You must be logged in to leave a comment. I need to repay the Lord for helping me get up. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Its football. Ricardo was knocked UNCONSCIOUS! Heath looked concerned on the sidelines. Lockette said in May, sitting with his parents, Earl Sr. and Felita, his brother Earl Jr., and his girlfriend Jamaica Terry. [17][18] The next day, the Seahawks announced Lockette had suffered neck ligament damage that required season-ending surgery. New York Jets coach Todd Bowles said he's not sure whether wide receiver Brandon Marshall (toe, ankle) will be available in Week 9. American football is no slouch in the violence department either just look at what happened to Ricardo Lockette. Seahawks running back Chris Carson is struggling with fumbles, and it's imperative he corrects the issue, says Jake Heaps. If I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left right, front back, I would have died. Dave "The Groz" Grosby was honored by the Mariners on Tuesday night by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. He said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left, right, front, back, I would have died," Lockette said in March. Dave "The Groz" Grosby will finish up his 29-year career as a daily Seattle sports radio host on Friday from noon to 3 p.m. on 710 ESPN Seattle's Bob, Groz and Tom. Its not a sad day for me, Lockette continued. Seahawks need him running to make playoffs, Watch: The Groz throws out the 1st pitch before Mariners-Astros game, Highlights from The Grozs last show on Bob, Groz and Tom, Watch: Members of the Seattle sports media pay tribute to The Groz, The Grozs final show on Bob, Groz and Tom airs Friday at noon. I don't know him that well, but from what I heard about him, from what I can tell about how he plays, he's going to be good at whatever he does. National and local media grade the Seahawks' 2023 Draft Class. Heath should NOT be fined for the play. So I cant complain about that. He's become an advocate for spinal cord injury research with the Seattle Science Foundation, is still in phenomenal shape, and is having a blast traveling the world. Is that playing it down? If not for the paramedics on the scene, Lockette may have lost more than football. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday the veteran wide receiver has been forced to retire due to the neck injury he suffered in a . Or even friggin' ice hockey? I felt terrible that he was injured like that., Heath drew a 15-yard penalty for a blindside block, but said he thought he hit Lockette from the front. All Rights Reserved. Lockette was defenseless by rule and had but a split second to locate Heath and or brace himself for contact and all he was able to do was try and duck which actually made the hit worse but was still probably better than if he hadnt ducked. His day is coming. Did Mr. Heath go onto the field to show his concern? However it was indeed a penalty after further dissection of the rule book. [5] In 2010, for the Fort Valley State Wildcats football team, Lockette served as a wide receiver and a kickoff returner, and finished with 23 receptions for 262 yards and one touchdown. You can watch video of their reunion below: Lockette reuintes with paramedics who saved his life. In football, these guys walk the finest of lines. Hope Lockett recovers fully but lay off Heath. Flag him that was clear. While the Seahawks had announced it was a "season ending injury" Lockette would go on to announce his retirement from the NFL on May 12, 2016, stating that the damage he had endured months earlier was "50 percent of the reason" for his retirement. How you can compare that to Larry is ridiculous. Seattle Seahawks 2023. The injury was so . "I love my family, and I'd rather walk," Lockette said at a news conference, surrounded by family members. And for patients it's a huge. The wide receiver collided with Cowboys safety Jeff Heath during punt coverage and then. "I thank God that Im here and I thank you guys for the work that you do.". He won the NCAA Division II 200-meter dash in 2008, setting a personal record of 20.63 seconds. . We do not want to take the sport out of our sport but we have to find a way to make it safer. Former Chicago Bears Running Back Calls NFL "Scripted", LSU Quarterback Joe Burrow Is a NFL Star in the Making, NFL Referees Get Paid More Than You Might Think, Though Not as Much as the Players. Listen to Lockettes full interview with Bob, Groz and Tom here. On the first day of November in 2015, Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette took a crushing hit against the Cowboys that nearly ended his life. For all the celebrating that Seahawks do when playing against injured opponents, its easy to see how each injury a Seahawk receives is simply well-deserved. [12] He was waived by the team on October 21. "If one of my teammates would have come over and pulled my arm, I would have died," headded. Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette retires after neck injury play Werder: Lockette's retirement was a forced decision (0:44) Ed Werder explains why Ricardo Lockette's neck injury is forcing. Heath seemed truly concerned unlike some others i have seen slapping high 5s and such stupidity. He said he blames neither his tackler nor the game. Ricardo Lockette's NFL career came to a sudden end on a November day in 2015. Karma, baby. Bills sign the Broncos' leading rusher from 2022. In April, New York Jets standout DBrickashaw Ferguson announced his retirement, writing, "If we know the risks, then why do we still play?". What Lockette didn't know was that the paramedics who saved him were actually in the audience, having made the trek from Texas. When Lockette realized they were in attendance, he teared up, gave them a hug, and thanked them. Makes you wonder if they would even stop a game if somebody died after being leveled by a big hit. But its Dez. "I didnt realize how serious it was until it was over," Lockette said. Seattle Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette underwent surgery Monday afternoon to fix ligament and disc issues in his neck resulting from a hard block in Sunday's 13-12 win at Dallas and will be. Enter for a chance to win an exclusive fly away trip to Los Angeles or an autographed Draft cap by our entire 2023 class! In a 13-12 win over the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Nov. 2015, Seahawksreceiver Ricardo Lockette laid motionless on the field after taking a bit hit during a special teams play. [3], Lockette attended Wallace Community College for one year, where he finished tenth nationally in the 400 meter dash. ", Out here spending only fans money like my A/C broke #Rockette #4pf, A post shared by Ricardo Lockette (@ricardolockette) on Aug 12, 2020 at 11:54am PDT. Football players are paid to make such plays, but guilt is a human emotion, the kind men, fathers and sons are all capable of. They're ridiculously savage, but these athletes still take the field, time again, to participate in these no-nonsense contests they absolutely love. All I could do was move my eyes. Heath did nothing wrong, it was a clean play. Register now! New Orleans Saints running back Khiry Robinson fractured his tibia and will miss the remainder of the season. My personal irony of being a football fan: I love the big hits where guys blow each other up. "The doctor told me that pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the ligaments that connect my vertebrae and the cartilage between that so the cartilage is out, the ligaments torn. According to ESPN's Ed Werder, he has still not recovered fully: "I thank God that I'm here and I thank you guys for the work that you do," he told the trainers in a video. Seattle's offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said afterwards in a post-game interview that Lockette "could have done a better job staying strong on the ball. Watch the replays; he makes every effort to get in front of Lockette, and hit him with his shoulder pads, not his helmet. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Monday with a knee injury. In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette during the NFL Super Bowl XLIX . Watch a special tribute to 710 ESPN Seattle's The Groz featuring messages from members of the Seattle sports media to commemorate his 29 years as a daily host in the market. The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver has a storied career. Ricardo Lockette suffers scary injury from big hit during punt return Zofia Janay 7 subscribers Subscribe 1.5K views 7 years ago The Seattle Seahawks were punting towards the end of the first. All rights reserved. I couldn't hear the crowd. I couldn't hear my teammates. Theres a lot of things that I cant do, but what I can do is inspire and motivate, Lockette said. 1; Cards have top 2, Best, worst, most interesting pick for all, Six things that experts got wrong about the NFL Draft, Undrafted free agent tracker: Team-by-team list of signings. Check out video, photos and more from his big night here. When Lockette realized they were in attendance, he teared up, gave them a hug, and thanked them. The procedure left him with only 50 percent rotation in his neck. Clean hit, and a player showing true concern for another human being because of the unfortunate result of the play. In the hospital, there were tears, Lockette writes, especially when his daughter came into the room to visit, but there was also laughter, courtesy of Marshawn Lynch, who stayed behind in Dallas with Lockette. Lockettes injury seemed a freak accident more than anything else; no obvious spearing or whatever. He sustained neck ligament damage as a result of the tackle. "If one of my teammates had come over and pulled my arm just barely, I might have died. He shared that the expertise and education learned by the EMS community was passed to the trainers years agowho learned how to backboard and protect cervical spines during these traumatic events and this is why he is alive today Ricardo Lockett is living proof that training, dedication and education are the components that make us better at our job. ROOT Sports analyst Mike Blowers talked to Bob, Groz and Tom about Lewis and what makes him stand out. 3:18 pm ET, NFL Draft superlatives: Best/worst class, ROY and more, Will Levis dropping to second round proves costly, Chiefs expected to re-sign Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs' Hunt believes Mahomes will always be underpaid, How Cowboys' VP sold team brass on drafting Mazi Smith, Prisco's draft grades for all 32 teams: Eagles ace it, 2024 mock: Williams No. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Lockette recognizes that his status as a former player allows him to speak up where others cant to speak on behalf of current players who are concerned about long-term health but who are in a contract situation or fear that another player could take their job if theyre unable to play. When I look back on my life, I'm not going to remember the Super Bowls the most. Ricardo Quantaye Lockette was born on May 21, 1986, in Albany, Georgia, to Earl and Felita Lockette. [3] Lockette won the NCAA Division II 200-meter dash in 2008 in a personal record of 20.63 seconds; he ran the 100-meter dash in 10.28 seconds. However, the Seahawks ultimately lost to Brady's squad. They don't understand what kind of a man he is, and how much he does for his people in Oakland. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Go Hawks! He made a legal hit on Lockette. [14] In Super Bowl XLIX, Lockette had 3 catches for 59 yards, but the Seahawks lost 2824 to the New England Patriots. "Just barely. Rost: Who are the Seahawks potential free agency departures? Offers may be subject to change without notice. Wide receiver Kendall Wright (knee) said his knee feels "horrible" and he is unsure if he will be able to play in Week 9. I wanted to be great at something. Lockette was stabilized and carted off but the hit was more dangerous than anyone knew. Every person that I meet, I'm bringing them up the mountain with me. titanium plates to help reconnect the skeletal structure, leaving the game due to injuries or the risk. The former Seahawks. The Seahawks came out to protect Lockette from what? "[15], On March 9, 2015, the Seahawks stated they would not tender Lockette, thus making him an unrestricted free agent; however, he eventually re-signed. Others overreacted especially Seahawk players, but just emotions are running high. Lockette suffered the injury following a hit from Jeff. The officials over-reacted to the violent nature of the play by flagging Heath. Scummer. It WAS human concern. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin met with team officials Monday to discuss his return from a hip injury. I couldn't talk. Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to practice fully Wednesday after missing the last two games with a medial collateral ligament sprain, Ken Whisenhunt said. Lockette said Thursday he had put to rest his hopes of returning to the game. Lockette, unfortunately learned that he had sustained a career-ending injury as a result of Heath's clean hit. He said he plans to work on behalf of the homeless, domestic violence victims and kids. They didnt look very happy with me, obviously. The more people that participate, the better, Lockette said. But while many others used the post-game to argue with others about intent or their own roles in the situation, the guy who delivered the shotexpressed something skin tohuman concern, a refreshing departure. I will inspire someone and motivate them to be great in a time of need, as well as my family did.. The former Seahawks receiver suffered a horrific neck injury on a special teams snap against the Cowboys. The fact that an injury occurred should not affect whether or not a flag is thrown. 5 takeaways from Roger Goodells Super Bowl LIII press conference. In the middle of 2015, Ricardo Lockette was part of a terrifying hit on the football field, getting crushed on a kick return while the Seahawks were playing the Cowboys. I just wanted to be great, I wanted to be great at something. If the returner at the time would have broke a couple tackles and they would have moved and fell on me, I would have died on that field.". Scary because were football players, and theres collisions and stuff like that. What sets Mariners OF Kyle Lewis apart from other prospects. Quarterback Geno Smith (shoulder) was also considered day to day. Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette began making a name for himself on special teams as he leveled St. Louis returner Justin Veltung. When I saw that he was injured like that, and he wasnt moving, I hated it, Heath said. Speedy wide receiver Ricardo Lockette outran Denver's Aqib Talib down the right side to haul in this 39-yard touchdown strike from Russell Wilson to give the Seahawks a 10-3 lead before halftime. Lockette, who first came to Seattle as an undrafted free agent in 2011, suffered a serious neck injury in . Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday the injury would keep Lockette out for the remainder of the year. Like so many people along the way helped me. You can watch video of their reunion below: "I didn't realize how serious it was until it was over," Lockette said last year. "The doctor told me pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the ligaments that connect my vertebrae. Today, Lockette is using his experience to advance a comprehensive study at Harvard University the largest of its kind which aims to make the NFL safer for its players and minimize the long-term health risks associated with professional football. Im a fan of another NFC East team (yeah, I know it is sad), and now would be a perfect opportunity for me to dump on Heath. Ricardo Lockett visited Redmond Fire Station 11 today and expressed the importance of teamwork and the great work his trainers exhibited when they saved his life on the football field in Dallas after that horrible hit during that game. My life was in the right hands. [10], Lockette was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on September 24, 2012. Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, not the running back, was deprived of a game-winning touchdown and Super Bowl heroism. When I was taken to the hospital in Dallas, Marshawn stayed in my room with me the whole first night. Medical staff prepare to cart Ricardo Lockette off the field as head coach Pete Carroll, front right, watches in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 1 . Hes like that. Ricardo Lockette celebrates his touchdown in front of fans in the north end zone. On a truly terrible day in Ricardo Lockette's life, when he suffered what was ultimately a career-ending neck injury, one of his Seattle Seahawks teammates stayed with him all night in the hospital. All Rights Reserved. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | Football is dangerous sometimes; nothing can be done about that in the end. Glad he is alright. Not a Cowboys, cut the guy some slack. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about his grisly on-field injury. Lockette retired from the game after suffering an injury that nearly ended his life By Sean Wagner-McGough May 26, 2017 at 3:18 pm ET 1 min read On the first day of November in 2015, Seahawks. And while we wait to see if Lockettesever going to be able to play football again after the surgery, its also easy to wonder how well Heath will be able to in the future. Ive see a lot of people dig on Dez for his actions after that play. Head coach Pete Carroll said that Lockette will not play for the remainder of the 2015 season. You want to hurt the other guy. Ricardo seeks out those who suffer an injury like his. Theyre protecting their teammate, just like any guys would, Heath said of Seattle players. People say, Hey dude, are you sad that this happened to you and that the guy hit you and blah, blah, blah? No, because Im a dog. Lockette made a critical 44-yard reception in a close loss to division rival San Francisco 49ers on December 24, 2011, as well as a 61-yard touchdown grab in an overtime loss to another rival, the Arizona Cardinals, on January 1, 2012. Denver Broncos rookie left tackleTy Sambrailo will be placed on injured reserve on Tuesday, head coach Gary Kubiak said Monday afternoon, after a shoulder injury suffered Sept. 27 against the Detroit Lions failed to heal. Lockette joins a growing list of NFL players leaving the game due to injuries or the risk. Go SEAHAWKS! Like the EMTs helped me. In addition to the ligament damage, Lockette also suffered a concussion and disk injury. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Sometimes their tempers get heated, especially in a situation like that.