Post by elp525 on Jan 4, 2010 13:36:36 GMT -5
Monday, 01.04.10
As rookie quarterback Pat White was carted off after a helmet-to-helmet hit, football became secondary to his recovery.
By DAVID J. NEAL
dneal@MiamiHerald.com
With one crack heard across the field and through closed club box windows at Land Shark Stadium on Sunday, jersey colors and playoff spots didn't matter. Every player or coach on the field wanted the same thing: to see Dolphins quarterback Pat White move.
``It's bone-chiling almost,'' Dolphins offensive guard Nate Garner said. ``Seeing someone laying there motionless. It's very scary.''
The home team lost Sunday, and trailed at one point 27-10 but the only time the joint wasn't jumping was when a head shot from Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor knocked out the Dolphins rookie backup quarterback. White moved his limbs before being tied to a board, carted off on a stretcher and taken to an area hospital.
He spoke to teammates before being wheeled away. On Sunday night, a team source said White had shown improvement.
``A lot of emotions come to mind,'' Dolphins linebacker Reggie Torbor said in a fast-clearing postgame locker room.
``At that point, football disappears. You're just worrying about your friend. Just glad he's OK.''
White came into the game in the third quarter in relief of Chad Henne, who had blurred vision after he was hit in the head.
Several players said they learned of Henne's injury only when they saw White in the huddle to start the second half.
As if smelling blood, the Steelers attacked as a pack, blitzing White into a 9-yard sack on third-and-5. Whatever you want to call the Dolphins' version of the single wing -- Wildcat, WildPat, direct snap -- the Dolphins ran it on White's second possession with White taking the snap and Ricky Williams coming in motion.
White danced 10 yards for a first down on third-and-6, but a failed quarterback draw and an underthrow of Brian Hartline preceded a punt.
The Steelers had gone up 24-10 when, on third-and-8 from the Dolphins' 20, White dropped back, then raced toward the left sideline. Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons tackled White around the legs, unintentionally teeing him up for Taylor. Taylor flew into the play, making a hit that resonated because of the shoulder-to-shoulder and helmet-to-helmet double shot.
White crumpled flat. With the sound still heading toward the upper deck, Pittsburgh's James Farrior, James Harrison, Ryan Clark, the Dolphins' Jake Long and Pittsburgh's nearby coaches frantically began waving for the Dolphins' trainers.
Players from both teams formed a semicircle around White. Finally, a leg moved and other parts began moving.
``He was talking, saying, `Go out there, I'll be fine, keep fighting,' '' Long said. ``We all told him that we love him, thinking of him and to be safe.''
As the cart made a U-turn to wheel White toward an ambulance, Taylor put on his helmet and followed for a few steps to give encouragement to White.
``I told him, `I hope you feel better, man,' '' Taylor said. ``You don't ever want to see a guy like that.''
As rookie quarterback Pat White was carted off after a helmet-to-helmet hit, football became secondary to his recovery.
By DAVID J. NEAL
dneal@MiamiHerald.com
With one crack heard across the field and through closed club box windows at Land Shark Stadium on Sunday, jersey colors and playoff spots didn't matter. Every player or coach on the field wanted the same thing: to see Dolphins quarterback Pat White move.
``It's bone-chiling almost,'' Dolphins offensive guard Nate Garner said. ``Seeing someone laying there motionless. It's very scary.''
The home team lost Sunday, and trailed at one point 27-10 but the only time the joint wasn't jumping was when a head shot from Pittsburgh's Ike Taylor knocked out the Dolphins rookie backup quarterback. White moved his limbs before being tied to a board, carted off on a stretcher and taken to an area hospital.
He spoke to teammates before being wheeled away. On Sunday night, a team source said White had shown improvement.
``A lot of emotions come to mind,'' Dolphins linebacker Reggie Torbor said in a fast-clearing postgame locker room.
``At that point, football disappears. You're just worrying about your friend. Just glad he's OK.''
White came into the game in the third quarter in relief of Chad Henne, who had blurred vision after he was hit in the head.
Several players said they learned of Henne's injury only when they saw White in the huddle to start the second half.
As if smelling blood, the Steelers attacked as a pack, blitzing White into a 9-yard sack on third-and-5. Whatever you want to call the Dolphins' version of the single wing -- Wildcat, WildPat, direct snap -- the Dolphins ran it on White's second possession with White taking the snap and Ricky Williams coming in motion.
White danced 10 yards for a first down on third-and-6, but a failed quarterback draw and an underthrow of Brian Hartline preceded a punt.
The Steelers had gone up 24-10 when, on third-and-8 from the Dolphins' 20, White dropped back, then raced toward the left sideline. Pittsburgh linebacker Lawrence Timmons tackled White around the legs, unintentionally teeing him up for Taylor. Taylor flew into the play, making a hit that resonated because of the shoulder-to-shoulder and helmet-to-helmet double shot.
White crumpled flat. With the sound still heading toward the upper deck, Pittsburgh's James Farrior, James Harrison, Ryan Clark, the Dolphins' Jake Long and Pittsburgh's nearby coaches frantically began waving for the Dolphins' trainers.
Players from both teams formed a semicircle around White. Finally, a leg moved and other parts began moving.
``He was talking, saying, `Go out there, I'll be fine, keep fighting,' '' Long said. ``We all told him that we love him, thinking of him and to be safe.''
As the cart made a U-turn to wheel White toward an ambulance, Taylor put on his helmet and followed for a few steps to give encouragement to White.
``I told him, `I hope you feel better, man,' '' Taylor said. ``You don't ever want to see a guy like that.''
