Incredible news clip

[Guest guest]

One of my jobs where I work is to dig up little bits and pieces of

news that was in our paper 25, 50, 100 and 150 years ago. In the

process of doing so, I found this story, which I found UN-BE-

LIEVABLE!!

" TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Doug , Tampa Bay Buccaneers' rookie

quarterback, says he isn't worried about starting Sunday with his jaw

wired shut.

" 'It's just like going out and getting in my car -- I could bump my

jaw and hurt it -- or stumbling and falling down and getting hurt,'

says , 23-year-old ex-Grambling standout. 'You're taking a 50-

50 chance anyway.'

....

" has practiced all week in a helmet with extra face guards

to protect his jaw.

" He has been living on baby food and a liquid diet that has caused

him to lose 15 pounds.

" The big concern is calling signals on the field -- which

says he's able to do through the side of his mouth.

" Although some words are more difficult to pronounce than others

throught the braces, seems able to call out the various

colors -- blue, green, red, etc. Which are dummy calls quarterbacks

use at the line of scrimmage... He says he's haunted by hunger. He

dreams of eating huge meals. In fact, says he remembers the

last good meal he had, just before he got hurt. It was lobster....

" Doctors say the wires can come off Monday.

....The jaw was broken in four places, but says he can talk

loud enough now to be heard by teammates. "

I don't remember the date of the article, but it says that the guy's

jaw had been broken in a Nov. 5 football game. Probably this was

sometime in early December... His team had played five games since

the guy got hurt. (in a football game!)

I've always pretty much believed that one has to be nuts to play

football -- at least on that level. Suspicions confirmed!

Cammie