Richard Collier's Tragedy Devastating

You always hear that injuries are a part of  the game and is frowned upon when used as an excuse or reason for a team's failures. I agree that to dwell on injuries is a waste of time and energy but to dismiss how much of an effect they can have on a team is shortsighted. The offensive line, which I consider the foundation of any teams success, needs to play together and mesh as unit during camp, the season, and into the playoffs. It's one thing to lose 2 starters on opening day, two players who had worked all camp and pre-season to produce a well oiled machine as in the previous year of 2007. But even more impacting is to lose a teammate, a brother in arms if you will, to a horrible and tragic incident that Richard Collier was subject to last year. Football players are supposed to be these bigger than life gladiators, who are expected to be ready to go into battle each week with no excuses. I believe the Collier catastrophe affected the Jags team profoundly. To see one of your teammates and friends get shot over 14 times and become paralyzed and an amputee, had to have a great psychological effect on the Jags players, especially the players who were really close to Collier. I know it would on me. I think players started questioning themselves and once the losses started adding up, their confidence went south. The Jags have some great players with tons of potential and when playing with confidence, are a force to be reckoned with each and every week. I see a resurgence of this confident play this year and cautiously expect great things. One more thing, the way he has handled everything, makes Richard Collier my hero.