Theysavedmy life. If Sandra Bullock knows what Blindside is, youd think it wouldnt be too hard for the refs to figure it out too. when one of us goes down it pisses the rest of us off without question. ", He continued, "And obviously he probably would have wanted to have played longer, but he'll find something I'm sure and he'll be great at it. To be honest, my NFL career was like a blur. Born in Albany, Georgia, Lockette played college football at Fort Valley State University and was signed by the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2011. [12] He was waived by the team on October 21. 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 | "It sucks that was the outcome of the situation. Seattle Seahawks 2023. It's scary to think about just what a fine line Lockette -- and any NFL player -- walks when it comes to the dangerous physical nature of the game they play. He spoke at the Washington Fire Chief's Conference in Spokane, Wash. Little did he know, the paramedics who were at his last NFL game were also in the audience. But I couldn't get up. Makes you wonder if they would even stop a game if somebody died after being leveled by a big hit. "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 immediately showed concern and remained a class-act all the way. 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. A native of Albany, Georgia, Lockette played in 34 games over five NFL seasons for Seattle. My life was in the right hands. Lockette was stabilized and carted off but the hit was more dangerous than anyone knew. It's kind of just unfortunate, but I think he knows that wasn't my intention and it was kind of just a freak deal and that's the risk that we take when we play this game. 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. Karma. 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. 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. 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. Honestly. Once again, the incompetent NFL refs overreacted. How you can compare that to Larry is ridiculous. The procedure left him with only 50 percent rotation in his neck. Hes like that. Lockette with the Seattle Seahawks in 2013, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears, "Albany's Ricardo Lockette Completing 'Life-long Dream' by Playing in Super Bowl", "Wednesday in Hawkville: A Fan-tastic Finale", "Monroe Alum, FVSU Star Lockette gets NFL Invite", "Ricardo Lockette 2011 NFL Draft Profile", "Speedster WR Lockette Gets Call-up to Roster", "49ers Sign ex-Seahawks WR Lockette to Practice Squad", "49ers Sign QB Seneca Wallace; Cut WR Ricardo Lockette", "Bears sign rookie DE Bass; QB Johnson joins practice squad", "Ricardo Lockette returns to Seattle the practice squad", "Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos February 2nd, 2014", "Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell gets Roasted after Bad Call", "Seahawks Don't Tender Ricardo Lockette as Restricted Free Agent", "Lockette to Undergo Surgery, to Miss Rest of the Season", "Ricardo Lockette Says he Would Have Died after Brutal Hit without Trainers", "Wide Receiver Ricardo Lockette Announces Retirement", "Four New Members Inducted into Albany Sports Hall of Fame: Wilburn Campbell, Ricardo Lockette, Antwone Savage and Andre Young Inducted Monday Night", Keri Hilson Is Taking The High Road After Her Break-Up With Retired NFL Boyfriend Ricardo Lockette, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ricardo_Lockette&oldid=1140947634, Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state), African-American players of American football, Fort Valley State Wildcats football players, 21st-century African-American sportspeople, Short description is different from Wikidata, NFL player missing current team parameter, Infobox NFL biography articles missing alt text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 15:54. A fifth-year player, Lockette, 29, was running with Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones on punt coverage when Cowboys safety Jeff Heath hit him. "Just barely. Seahawks receiver Ricardo Lockette began making a name for himself on special teams as he leveled St. Louis returner Justin Veltung. 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. If one of my teammates would have come over and pulled my arm, just barely, I might have died. He was jawing and shook his head walking away, but later when the seriousness was apparent, he also got down and prayed for Lockette. But thats just an unfortunate sequence of events in the span of about a second. Ricardo Lockette has played his last down in the NFL. You want to hurt the other guy. What Happened to Ricardo Lockette? Info on Ex-Seahawks Wide Receiver Lockette suffered the injury following a hit from Jeff. You said Larry Fitzgerald looked worse? You never want to see a guy injured. 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. This dude had me laughing so hard that he was putting my damn life in danger. Looking ahead, Lockette's main goal is to change people's lives for the better. Lockette was running full speed and getting free of a block, not sure he had much control or could see the block coming. He has taken the injury in stride and built a pretty great life after football. American football is no slouch in the violence department either just look at what happened to Ricardo Lockette. Life goes on. Lockette, who turns 30 later this month and worked his way onto the Seahawks roster as an undrafted free agent, will announce his retirement in a press conferenceon Thursday, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports. He was on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $660,000. Thank God hes okay and were all glad the other player meant no harm. "The doctor told me pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the . His day is coming. I was thinking, O.K., get up. Not a Cowboys, cut the guy some slack. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I never really wanted to be an Olympic track star or an NFL player I just wanted to be great. All Rights Reserved. Others overreacted especially Seahawk players, but just emotions are running high. "[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. Football players are paid to make such plays, but guilt is a human emotion, the kind men, fathers and sons are all capable of. Lockette was drafted to the Seahawks as a free agent in the same year. Nothing blind side about it penalty was ridiculous. I just wanted to be great, I wanted to be great at something. Lockette was taken off on a stretcher after being hit on a blindside block from Cowboys safety Jeff Heath in the second quarter. Ricardo was knocked UNCONSCIOUS! By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. 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. The Seahawks also said Lockette has full motion and feeling in all extremities. Ricardo Lockette puts his career-ending injury towards research However, the Seahawks ultimately lost to Brady's squad. On Nov. 1, 2015, in a game against the Dallas Cowboys that would change the trajectory of Lockette's life and career forever, the wide receiver took what he called a "clean hit" from Jeff Heath while on punt coverage. Six months later, he announced his retirement. On 1 November 2015, Lockette suffered a severe neck injury during a game against the Dallas Cowboys. Ricardo Lockette (@RicardoLockette) November 2, 2015. 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. Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown is day-to-day with a rib injury. Clean hit, and a player showing true concern for another human being because of the unfortunate result of the play. Lockette may not quite be all right, but the fact he had movement in all his extremities was a good sign. The Seahawks wideout, who underwent neck surgery and missed the rest of the season, visited a Redmond, Wash., fire station recently and told them how thankful he was for the help the trainers gave him and how close he was to dying. He was the intended receiver on the Seahawks last offensive play as it was intercepted by Malcolm Butler. 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. "The doctor told me pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the ligaments that connect my vertebrae. He said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left, right, front, back, I would have died," Lockette said. there was no malicious intent and it was a square shot and completely legal. Unfortunate for Lockette and hope he makes a speedy recovery. I have a lot of respect for Jeff Heath. Heath seemed truly concerned unlike some others i have seen slapping high 5s and such stupidity. I just was praying for him. If not for the paramedics on the scene, Lockette may have lost more than football. After he took a year off to train for the Olympics, Lockette transferred to Fort Valley State University. All Rights Reserved. Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette released from hospital - Sports Illustrated In April, New York Jets standout DBrickashaw Ferguson announced his retirement, writing, "If we know the risks, then why do we still play?". ricardo lockette injury - YouTube 0:00 / 8:47 Sign in to confirm your age This video may be inappropriate for some users. I was just praying that he was OK. But were also men, fathers, sons. Ricardo Lockette celebrates his touchdown in front of fans in the north end zone. However it was indeed a penalty after further dissection of the rule book. 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. Dallas coach drew that up during the week. The reason it was a penalty is bc of the direction Heath was running and facing when he hit Lockette. 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. The Super Bowl XLVIII champion is currently a player advisor for The Football Players Health Study at Harvard. So I cant complain about that. The hit appeared totally legal and within the rules live. But they had to a [2] In 2016, Lockette was inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Percy Harvin met with team officials Monday to discuss his return from a hip injury. Just the laughter and the love, even in the toughest moments. Ricardo Lockette says he 'would have died' after brutal hit without foxsports. "I'd rather walk," the 29-year-old wide receiver said. Check out video, photos and more from his big night here. And you live by the sword and you die by the sword. Lockette, 29, suffered ligament damage in his neck during a game . 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. [16], While on punt coverage during a November 1, 2015, road game against the Dallas Cowboys, Lockette was concussed after a hit by Cowboys safety Jeff Heath. He said he plans to work on behalf of the homeless, domestic violence victims and kids. Just depends on who youre a fan of. How Marshawn Lynch helped teammate after career-ending injury Seattle WR Ricardo Lockette Opens Up About Scary Neck Injury [VIDEO] Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette out of surgery, out for season - seattlepi.com 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. Like so many people along the way helped me. Wake up to the day's most important news. Ricardo Lockette was born in Albany, Georgia, on 21 May 1986. He was signed to the practice squad, but was released by the team on September 18. Ricardo Lockette celebrates with teammates after his big hit. 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. He just got hit harder. Clean, legal hit, IMOand Im a Seahawks fan. Jeff Heath "felt terrible" that Ricardo Lockette was injured on his hit Learn more about his grisly on-field injury. Lockette has since gone on to have a tremendous career for himself. Lockette was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the end of the NFL lockout in 2011. Ricardo Lockette of Seattle Seahawks retires - ESPN Ive see a lot of people dig on Dez for his actions after that play. ", 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. I'm laying in bed with a full neck brace, just trying to stay still, and he's just being Marshawn talking to the nurses, making jokes, being crazy. Register now! Cowboys Safety Jeff Heath talks about unintentional injury to Ricardo LocketteMore from The Star-Telegram:Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2U34ATfTwitter: https://tw. Go SEAHAWKS! Injuries: Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette to have neck surgery, miss rest of Ricardo Lockette Hands Out McDonald's Burgers To The Homeless Right Forget if the hit was legal or not. I couldn't hear the crowd. Hopkins shuts down trade rumors: 'Who said' that? This story isnt even about Dez. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Heath did what he was told just like most do. Seahawks Ex Russell Wilson Talks Ricardo Lockette Injury as Damar The fact that an injury occurred should not affect whether or not a flag is thrown. Lockette underwent surgery Monday to stabilize ligament damage sustained in the hit. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. He said he blames neither his tackler nor the game. I was playing hard, and he was doing the same thing. Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette Retires With Life-Threatening Neck Injury Doctors said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head left, right, front, back I would have died, Lockette said. [3], Lockette attended Wallace Community College for one year, where he finished tenth nationally in the 400 meter dash. Ex-Seahawk Ricardo Lockette tearfully reunites with paramedics who Lockette suffered a serious neck injury in Seattle's 13-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 1. All rights reserved. 5 takeaways from Roger Goodells Super Bowl LIII press conference. What I'm gonna actually remember is moments like that night in the hospital. 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. "[19] While playing in the NFL, Lockette stood at 6feet 2inches (188cm) and weighed 211 pounds (96kg). Lockette's injury seemed a freak accident more than anything else; no obvious spearing or whatever. Lockette also saidthat if the trainers hadn't stabilized him correctly, he would have died. But we would be the same way, you know. Karma, baby. They don't understand what kind of a man he is, and how much he does for his people in Oakland. What Lockette didn't know was that the paramedics who saved him were actually in the audience, having made the trek from Texas. There, he spoke about how his life was saved by paramedics in Arlington, Texas. But its Dez. 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. 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. When I look back on my life, I'm not going to remember the Super Bowls the most. I hope Lockette will be OK and get to play again. While Lockette stated that Heath's tackle was a "clean hit," at the time, officials deemed the strike as a blindside hit from Heath. He eventually re-signed with the Seahawks despite being an unrestricted free agent. In a recent piece for ThePlayersTribune.com, Lockette wrote an emotional article recalling the injury, what his family and teammates have meant to him since, and he touches on what's next in his life. He signed a letter of intent to play football for the Auburn Tigers, but did not attend the university after a low SAT score. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette underwent surgery to stabilize his neck after being hospitalized for a concussion. Hope Lockett recovers fully but lay off Heath. You have no idea what guys go through, Lockette said. My mission now is to help people get off the streets and back on their feet in any way I can. When I saw that he was injured like that, and he wasnt moving, I hated it, Heath said. 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. You can watch video of their reunion below: Lockette reuintes with paramedics who saved his life. Ricardo Lockette to retire: Seattle Seahawks WR cites neck injury Its nice to see a guy express some remorse, even though he did nothing wrong. He made a legal hit on Lockette. Ricardo seeks out those who suffer an injury like his. I think even as it is, Lockette would respect the way Heath played and acted after the play. I couldn't move my arms. The man who delivered the hit which caused that said after the game that he meant no harm. The injury was so . You could tell he was concerned immediately after, even though it really wasnt his fault. 2023 Bonneville International. BTW, the current state of the Seahawks line will ensure that Wilson is not healthy forever. The former Seahawks. When Lockette realized they were in attendance, he teared up, gave them a hug, and thanked them. According to Lockette, he "almost died" on the field that day. Hopkins shuts down trade rumors: 'Who said' that? Via Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys safety Jeff Heath said he didnt think his hit on a punt return was dirty, even though Lockette clearly see him coming. Stay up to date with what you want to know. SEATTLE (AP) Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette told a group of paramedics and firefighters recently the neck injury he suffered last November against Dallas was so serious that he. Nothing blind side about it. 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. Retired Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette Writes About Career-Ending Injury Ricardo Lockette celebrates in the end zone after a circus catch at the end of a trick play that resulted in a Seahawks touchdown. Need to act a little more mature. Have you ever seen an actual game of Aussie rules football? Something akin to human concern? Hopefully, Ive done that.. Im sure that all special teams players share a bond that makes them even more worried when one of them is injured. My intention is never to hurt anyone. [13], Lockette returned to the Seahawks on October 22, 2013. Nothing more to see here, move along. However, the hit looked perfectly legal to me. Ricardo Lockette, who retired Thursday, suffered a concussion and neck injury while covering a punt in Week 8 of the 2015 season. The players in todays NFL are taught to be battering rams. Seattle's Ricardo Lockette got into the act on the very next play, leaping high to catch a 19-yard pass from Wilson. Seahawks "Thankful" & "Grateful" Injured Wide Receiver Ricardo Lockette Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday the injury would keep Lockette out for the remainder of the year. I wanted to be great at something. 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. When I was taken to the hospital in Dallas, Marshawn stayed in my room with me the whole first night. Football is dangerous sometimes; nothing can be done about that in the end. Ricardo Lockette suffers scary injury from big hit during punt return The study is working to collect data from current and former players (they currently have over 3,800 submissions) to improve quality of life. ricardo lockette injury - YouTube 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. All I could do was move my eyes. Or even friggin' ice hockey? Every person that I meet, I'm bringing them up the mountain with me. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Heath should NOT be fined for the play. Seahawks' Ricardo Lockette speaks in wake of season-ending injury Watch the replays; he makes every effort to get in front of Lockette, and hit him with his shoulder pads, not his helmet.