From the moment the kid was lying on the ground unconscious everyone was a human being and football meant nothing. Lockette underwent surgery Monday to stabilize ligament damage sustained in the hit. But were also men, fathers, sons. Ricardo Lockette - Age, Net Worth, Wife, Now - Biography And Ive watched Lockette a lot. First, I hope Lockett has a speedy recovery, and is able to return to the Seahawks and play next season. The wide receiver collided with Cowboys safety Jeff Heath during punt coverage and then. I wanted to make my family proud. I'm climbing and I'm climbing, and I'm meeting some amazing people along the way. It was an uphill battle on an unending mountain. I felt terrible that he was injured like that., Heath drew a 15-yard penalty for a blindside block, but said he thought he hit Lockette from the front. Ricardo Lockette suffers scary injury from big hit during punt return Zofia Janay 7 subscribers Subscribe 1.5K views 7 years ago The Seattle Seahawks were punting towards the end of the first. Doctors said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head left, right, front, back I would have died, Lockette said. [10] On August 22, 2013, he was released by the 49ers to make room on the roster for newly signed quarterback Seneca Wallace. "If this team is going to go to the playoffs, they have to have Chris Carson running the football.". It was a clean hit! "The doctor told me pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the ligaments that connect my vertebrae. I wanted to make my family proud. Medical staff prepare to cart Ricardo Lockette off the field as head coach Pete Carroll, front right, watches in the first half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 1 . Check out video, photos and more from his big night here. Ex-Seahawk Ricardo Lockette tearfully reunites with paramedics who Its either a penalty or its not a penalty. Ricardo Quantaye Lockette (born May 21, 1986) is a former professional American football wide receiver who played in parts of four seasons for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. I think even as it is, Lockette would respect the way Heath played and acted after the play. According to Lockette, he "almost died" on the field that day. On Nov. 5, Lockette reportedly left the hospital after undergoing surgery. Ricardo Lockette celebrates his touchdown in front of fans in the north end zone. Chicago Bears coach John Fox said he had no updates on running back Matt Forte's knee injury but said he did not think it would require surgery or be season-ending. Dallas coach drew that up during the week. Wake up to the day's most important news. All Rights Reserved. Describing the hit, which came on punt coverage in Seattle's Week 9 win at Dallas, Lockette writes: It was terrifying. (AP). Lockette said in May, sitting with his parents, Earl Sr. and Felita, his brother Earl Jr., and his girlfriend Jamaica Terry. What I'm gonna actually remember is moments like that night in the hospital. Go SEAHAWKS! [20], Lockette dated singer Keri Hilson from 2017 to 2020.[21]. Today, Lockette is using his experience to advance a comprehensive study at Harvard University the largest of its kind which aims to make the NFL safer for its players and minimize the long-term health risks associated with professional football. Listen to Lockettes full interview with Bob, Groz and Tom here, Heaps: Bench Chris Carson? Bills sign the Broncos' leading rusher from 2022. Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette is out for the season, and needs surgery to repair ligament damage in his neck. Ricardo Lockette to retire: Seattle Seahawks WR cites neck injury Lockette was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent following the end of the NFL lockout in 2011. Sometimes their tempers get heated, especially in a situation like that. I was thinking, O.K., get up. Sucks that Lockette is hurt and out for the season, and that his career might be over, but thats the game, and the Seahawks have never shied away from being the team that delivers those same hits. I was playing hard, and he was doing the same thing. My goal in life is to have 10% of the effect that Marshawn has on people's lives. [1], Lockette was a frequent speaker at elementary schools in Albany in 2014. He was signed to the practice squad, but was released by the team on September 18. Umm, Dez said nothing negative about the play or the player laying on the field. 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. Lockette's track coach at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine was so impressed with his speed that he stated that if the wide receiver had decided to stick with the track route, he could've easily represented the U.S. in the Olympics. Unlike moments like Raphael Bush celebrating his illegal head shot on Percy Harvin with his teammates/coaches. He said if I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left, right, front, back, I would have died," Lockette said in March. Ricardo Lockett visited Redmond Fire Station 11 today and expressed the importance of teamwork and the great work his trainers exhibited when they saved his life on the football field in Dallas after that horrible hit during that game. 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 | Lockette suffered the injury following a hit from Jeff. Heath did nothing wrong, it was a clean play. Lockette was taken off on a stretcher after being hit on a blindside block from Cowboys safety Jeff Heath in the second quarter. Surgeons implanted titanium plates to help reconnect the skeletal structure. If I would have stood up then, the weight of my head, left right, front back, I would have died. There are tons of "brutal" sports that, upon first viewing, would probably make you wonder just how in the world they're sanctioned. Clean hit, and a player showing true concern for another human being because of the unfortunate result of the play. Football players are paid to make such plays, but guilt is a human emotion, the kind men, fathers and sons are all capable of. Wide Receiver Ricardo Lockette Announces Retirement - Seattle Seahawks when one of us goes down it pisses the rest of us off without question. "If one of my teammates would have come over and pulled my arm, I would have died," headded. Lockette said Thursday he had put to rest his hopes of returning to the game. Jan 31, 2019, 2:16 PM | Updated: 2:30 pm, Ex-Seahawks WR Ricardo Lockette retired after suffering a neck injury on the field in 2015. Lockette would probably congratulate Heath on making a big hit like that (if Lockette had been able to get up right away). [17] Lockette announced his retirement on May 12, 2016, citing the 2015 injury as "50% of the reason. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette underwent surgery to stabilize his neck after being hospitalized for a concussion. Lockette was stabilized and carted off but the hit was more dangerous than anyone knew. Its football. He sustained neck ligament damage as a result of the tackle. [2] In 2016, Lockette was inducted into the Albany Sports Hall of Fame. Big Seahawk fan here and nothing dirty with the hit just unlucky circumstances. Lockette was defenseless by rule and had but a split second to locate Heath and or brace himself for contact and all he was able to do was try and duck which actually made the hit worse but was still probably better than if he hadnt ducked. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He won the NCAA Division II 200-meter dash in 2008, setting a personal record of 20.63 seconds. I want to help people. Listen to Lockettes full interview with Bob, Groz and Tom here. "The doctor told me that pretty much my skull, all the muscles, all the ligaments that connect my vertebrae and the cartilage between that - so the cartilage is out, the ligaments torn. I never really wanted to be an Olympic track star or an NFL player. Not a Cowboys, cut the guy some slack. After the season, Lockette was invited to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine. Looking ahead, Lockette's main goal is to change people's lives for the better. Ricardo Lockette: 'I love my family, and I'd rather walk' The injury was so severe that Lockette underwent a five-hour surgery to stabilize the area and was afterward forced into retirement. The players in todays NFL are taught to be battering rams. Glad he is alright. And hopefully I've done that. 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. Lockette also saidthat if the trainers hadn't stabilized him correctly, he would have died. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider I saw Larry Fitzgeralds touchdown catch in a different game, and going down he looked more injured than Lockette. What sets Mariners OF Kyle Lewis apart from other prospects. That doesnt mean Lockette isnt still just as passionate about the game. Lockette retired from the game after suffering an injury that nearly ended his life By Sean Wagner-McGough May 26, 2017 at 3:18 pm ET 1 min read On the first day of November in 2015, Seahawks. I heard he was all right, and I was really happy that he was able to move after when they were taking him off. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday the veteran wide receiver has been forced to retire due to the neck injury he suffered in a . Seahawks coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday the injury would keep Lockette out for the remainder of the year. The tackle left him lying on the field for several minutes before he was carried off on a stretcher. The injury was so . 6-keys: media/spln/nfl/reg/free/stories, at For all the celebrating that Seahawks do when playing against injured opponents, its easy to see how each injury a Seahawk receives is simply well-deserved. 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. Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, not the running back, was deprived of a game-winning touchdown and Super Bowl heroism. He was on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $660,000. I had an amazing team of people around me that day, and they saved my life. Hopkins shuts down trade rumors: 'Who said' that? Unfortunate for Lockette and hope he makes a speedy recovery. Lockette suffered a serious neck injury in Seattle's 13-12 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 1. Sambrailo will have surgery this week. As a result, he collapsed to the field. Heath should NOT be fined for the play. Ive see a lot of people dig on Dez for his actions after that play. American football is no slouch in the violence department either just look at what happened to Ricardo Lockette. 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. Earlier this week, Lockette was reunited with two of the people that help saved his life. "I thank God that Im here and I thank you guys for the work that you do.". Patriots release Malcolm Butler with injury settlement Lockette sustained a concussion, along with damage to discs and ligaments in his back, effectively disconnecting his skull from his spinal column. Get well soon, E! You can watch video of their reunion below: "I didn't realize how serious it was until it was over," Lockette said last year.