Skip to search.

Breaking News Visit Yahoo! News for the latest.

×Close this window

Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Tue Nov 16 01:39pm EST

Former Jaguars lineman paralyzed in shooting is back on his feet

By MJD

In 2008, 27-year-old Jacksonville Jaguars lineman Richard Collier(notes) was shot six times in a premeditated attempt on his life. The attack left him paralyzed and required the amputation of his left leg. Doctors told him he wouldn't walk again.

Collier's still working on proving doctors wrong on that, but in the meantime, he set another short-term goal for himself: to stand at his wedding.

He made it happen. With the help of his prosthetic leg and a specially-designed brace that was strapped onto the outside of his body at the hips and extended around the legs, he stood with his wife through the entire 45-minute ceremony (He says he can manipulate slight movement in leg and limb during therapy sessions and has walked up to 100 steps in his brace).

Here's a quote from Collier, from this wonderful piece by Jim Henry at the FanHouse about Collier's life since the shooting.

"I wake up every day and I smile and I laugh because I'm alive. They have told me I would never walk again, but, man, I stood at my wedding the entire time. I really wanted to stand tall at my wedding, to show people this is what I've been doing for the last year and a half.

"And I got to kiss my wife standing up."

Collier says he doesn't miss football, but he does root for the Jaguars on Sundays. He spends his time now working out at a rehab hospital, giving motivational speeches and reaching out to other people with disabilities whenever he can. He refuses to let the shooting define him, and he doesn't want you to feel sorry for him, either. He loves his life.

[Related: Collier's former team wins on last-second Hail Mary]

Collier stands as an example that staying positive, even in the face of something as horrific as being shot six times, can change everything. It's tragic, what was taken from him, but the forgiveness and love he found within himself allowed him to turn the tragedy into an opportunity to inspire. We can all learn something from that.

Other popular stories on the Yahoo! network:
• Golfer wins tourney, donates all winnings to charity
• Jessica Simpson's unconventional engagement ring
• Royal treatment: Prince William officially engaged

digg delicious

Related Articles

Launch Article Browser

Shutdown Corner

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Related Photo Gallery

More NFL Photos »

Y! Sports Blog