The NFL Doesn’t Care About Richard Wood

Gary Shelton of the Times wrote a great piece on former Buccaneer linebacker Richard Wood and his post-football surgery and subsequent pain. He's not as bad off as Earl Campbell, but he sounds like he's pretty messed up.

These days, there is an ugly scar running from Wood's sternum to his groin. Flip him over, and there is another striping his back. Between the scars, there is a metal rod holding his spine together.

Dude.

He hates the cane in his hand, but it beats the accursed walker that he has put aside.

Wood averaged 136 tackles per year in his first six years with the team and still ranks in the top ten in all-time tackles for the Bucs with 855. Thirty years ago, helmet and padding technology were nowhere near as advanced as they are now. To put that in perspective, let's say Wood ran about 20 mph to make the tackle. And let's say the runner was going at about the same pace. That's an effective collision speed of 40 mph. Try running your car into a brick wall at 40 mph 855 times and see how good you feel. Additionally, the rules governing hits not only during games but also in practices, were much looser than they are today. So when the NFL lets loose with bullshit like this:

"[The NFL] told me that my injury didn't have anything to do with playing football, " he said.

... you just have to pick your jaw up off the floor, get a lawyer and start making noise. Which is what Wood is doing. Look, I appreciate the viewpoint that Wood didn't have to play football and put his body through this kind of punishment. And to his credit, he's not crying foul or asking for putative damages or even saying he made a mistake playing the game.

"I would do it again if I could, " he said. "I loved the sport. I loved playing the game. I was enamored by football, and I was honored to have played it."

He just wants whatever retired players who were injured playing the game are entitled to. By saying Wood didn't suffer his injuries from playing linebacker for nine years, the NFL is diminishing his contribution to the game and worse, calling him a liar. Do they think he got in this condition by coaching high school football? It's wrong. Guys who are as dedicated to the game as is and are willing to give up their bodies for its sake are the reason the league is as successful and profitable as it is. The least they can do is help the older players along when they need it. And where is the NFLPA during all this? If anyone should understand Wood's pain, it's Gene Upshaw.

For those of you who don't remember, Richard "Batman" Wood was the glue that held a 0-26 team together for two years. He was a vocal and visible leader on a 1979 Buccaneers defense that was ranked #1 that year and made it to the NFC Championship game, carrying an offense that was competent but spotty (sound familiar?). Though he sometimes played in the shadow of Lee Roy Selmon, his contribution to the Buccaneer legacy cannot be underestimated. I wish him well.

Here is a photo of Wood winning Coach of the Week from the Buccaneers in 2002 for his work with Wharton High School.