Cardinals must face up to Steely determination
The Pittsburgh Steelers bring the NFL’s top defence and hard-hitting safety Ryan Clark up against an Arizona Cardinals squad known for a high-powered passing attack that includes speedy receiver Anquan Boldin.
Clark knocked out Baltimore’s Willis McGahee in a playoff triumph two weeks ago with a stunning helmet-to-helmet blow, while Boldin suffered a fractured sinus cavity in September when two New York Jets players slammed into him.
“Every time I go up for a pass there’s a possibility that I could be knocked out,” Arizona receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. “I’m willing to take that risk because I love what I do. Every player understands that risk but I don’t think any of us would change anything. This is a man’s game.”
Asked what impact he expected Clark to have, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had a quick answer: “Hopefully it’s an intimidating one.”
Clark knows that sending off McGahee on a stretcher and having a history of punishing blows might make rival receivers Boldin and Fitzgerald, both with 1,000-yard seasons, think twice about testing him.
“I’m sure they are not afraid of little old me,” Clark said. “But I’m sure they know I will be back there.
“Maybe if they are running over the middle they will think about how number 25 is going to be there. Maybe it messes up their timing a little bit. It might change things a little but I don’t think they think about it a lot.”
Boldin promises the Cardinals will respond blow for blow. “We don’t shy away from contact,” Boldin said. “We have some tough guys and some physical receivers. We won’t shy away.”
Boldin says this despite needing seven titanium plates and 40 screws to rebuild his face four months ago.
“Doctors told me it was a rare injury,” Boldin said. “They told me it would take a lot longer to recover than it did. It’s there but I’ve moved on.”
Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, the NFL’s most-sacked quarterback over the past five years, has suffered multiple concussions but he shrugged off new Boston University research linking NFL concussions with brain damage.
“I don’t go out there and ever worry about getting hurt,” he said. “I’m playing this game and living this life to the fullest. When the Lord decides to take me he’s going to take me.”
Microscopic brain exams on six deceased NFL players showed multiple blows to the head caused a condition that leads to dementia.
Clark, whose right shoulder was twice dislocated this season leading into hits, lost his spleen and gall bladder to a life-threatening illness.
“Doctors told me the only two organs that would get hurt have already been taken out,” Clark said. “If you start thinking about getting hurt, that’s when you will get hurt.”
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