Steelers S Ryan Clark has a decision to make

by John Bena on Nov 3, 2009 11:33 AM MST in 2009 Game Previews Comment 13 comments

Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark, left, comes down with an interception intended for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi (not shown) in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) is in on the play. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

3 months ago: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark, left, comes down with an interception intended for Cleveland Browns wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi (not shown) in the third quarter of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu (43) is in on the play. The Steelers won 27-14. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

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Ryan Clark is perfectly healthy yet needs to decide if he will board the plane this weekend and fly to Denver with his Steelers teammates and face the Broncos. Clark has made this trip before and in all honesty it nearly killed him.

It was 2007 and the Steelers and Broncos played on a Sunday Night. Clark began having complications and stayed behind after the rest of his teammates traveled back to Pittsburgh. At the time it was reported that Clark had injured his spleen during the game. That was partially correct, but didn't come close to addressing the severity of the situation.

Clark had suffered from complications due to a sickle-cell trait he carries. That trait, along with another ailment, combined with the high altitude to wreak havoc on Clark. Parts of his spleen failed to get oxygen and, essentially, died. Doctors were forced to remove Clark's spleen, and a few weeks later, his gall bladder due to the reaction.

Once doctors were able to figure out what was wrong with Clark and remove the two organs, they told the safety that he could play again. But the 5-11, 205-pounder was down to 170 pounds.

"I knew I had the sickle-cell trait before," said Clark. "But most people who have it, it never presents a problem. Only about 1% of the people who have the trait ever have the reaction that I had to the altitude."

Clark's teammate Santonio Holmes also carries the trait, but has never had an issue playing in Denver.

For Clark the decision becomes whether to play on Monday Night. According to the Steelers, Clark has received the medical clearance to play. For their part, they are covering all the bases - backup safety Ryan Mundy practiced with the first team on Monday for the first time all season.

Either way, this is another glimpse into just how fragile life can be - and a reminder that this is just a game.

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Comments

The Steelers and Clark

have been pondering wether or not to play this game since the schedule came out. He is a VERY underrated player because guys like Harrison and TP get all the headlines and deservedly so. With that being said, the Broncos will gain a huge advantage if he does not play. My prediction is that he does not play. Good luck Broncos, should be a great mid-season game.

by WARDANE33 on Nov 3, 2009 12:34 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

If he doesn't play

I personally don’t think it will affect the outcome of the game very much. He is a great player, and with The Beast, they are the best safety tandem in football. That being said, Mundy is a very serviceable back up, and will play lights-out in his stead. Besides, it’s a moot point anyway, since our LB’s will be in your backfield all night, giving Neckbeard no chance to hit long throws. :)

"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum

by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 12:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

have we seen enough of Mundy

to determine him a very serviceable back up? i haven’t and Tyrone Carter is not a starter in thins league on this defense. Should be very interesting.

by WARDANE33 on Nov 3, 2009 12:48 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Has anyone heard Mundy's name called in a game by the announcers?

I can’t remember a single time. Now tell me, is that good or bad? I call it good, but then again, I’m one of those “half-full” guys for the most part.

"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum

by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 3:41 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The Beast

Since when did Brandon Marshall switch to S for the Steelers?

Phyllis? Phyllis? Are you there? I can't hear you anymore.

by pubkeeper on Nov 3, 2009 5:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hehe

You know very well I am talking about Troy Polamalu, you silly pubkeeper, you. ;)

"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum

by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 6:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

funny how many NFL players have been called The Beast

if you Google it, though B Marsh shows up most often and I couldn’t find many references to Polamalu. I’ve never heard him called that before, but maybe that’s just cuz I haven’t visited your blog yet. : )

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Nov 4, 2009 12:17 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Very nice post, John

Certainly puts things in perspective. Here’s hoping he makes the right decision and doesn’t put his life at risk over a football game. The game is dangerous enough — if you have a chance to see something like this coming, you shouldn’t ignore it.

That’s a tricky call so I wish the best for him — as long as it doesn’t involve a Steelers win Monday night. ; )

Conversation nonstarters: hoping McDaniels fails, comparing Bears to Broncos, Cutler to Orton, apples to oranges, and casual drinkers to Raiders fans.

by broncosmontana on Nov 3, 2009 12:50 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

I hope if he does play

That he remains healthy. What a scare decision to have to make!

"Take what you can. Give nothing back!"

by Colorado_Kitten on Nov 3, 2009 2:57 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hear hear

On both comments!

I personally hope he does not play.

" I’m glad we play Pitt twice, and not Tenn this year." - Salty Browns Fan.

by Johnny_S on Nov 3, 2009 5:00 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

that is foul

i did not know altitiude could do such like this guy.

I is fan of the Denver

by Horvil Tiki on Nov 3, 2009 2:53 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

If he plays or if he doesn't, my prayers are with him.

Sickle cell is a very unfortunate cellular defect. I’m currently studying it in one of my bioengineering classes. That’s a bummer that he might not be able to play this game because it is at altitude. It seems that mile high magic is effective in numerous ways.

Something I never thought about until just now!!!!! What would happen if we drafted a guy with a similar disease? A lot of times, teams don’t have their recruit come to the city before they draft them. They might see them at the combine or whatever, but what if we drafted a guy who never came to denver before and he couldn’t play at altitude? What would we do?

If Taylor Swift were to try and tackle me, I'd let her.

by kentuckybronco on Nov 3, 2009 7:25 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

I can’t believe the league has us playing at your house for the second time in a row. Knowing the effect it has on one of our star players. Only makes sense if Goodell has it in for us…

J/K. But it sounded good though, eh? :)

"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum

by SteelFever on Nov 3, 2009 8:02 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs