Former Pittsburgh Steelers WR, and Super Bowl winner, Antwaan Randle El says he would play baseball if he could do it all over again.
By William Chase
The state of the NFL continues to rumble on with regard to concussions, the overall health of players, and the toll playing the game has on the body.
Count former Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Antwaan Randle El among those who have thoughts on the matter. Or rather, sheds some own personal light from experience.
As he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
“If I could go back, I wouldn’t [play football]. I would play baseball.”
Randle El, who was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1997, but opted instead to go to college and play football—quarterback—at Indiana University, says he might still be playing baseball today.
Former Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El tells @PittsburghPG that he regrets playing football. pic.twitter.com/5eZd0NEf0U
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 19, 2016
Antwaan explains he loves football, but would go onto explain to what extent playing the game has meant for his well-being:
“I have to come down sideways sometimes, depending on the day,” in referencing common everyday tasks most of us take for granted, such as going up or down stairs.
“I ask my wife things over and over again, and she’s like, ‘I just told you that'” with regards to memory lapse. Randle El went on to say that even with the proper equipment, there’s always the risk of injury.
During an NFL career that spanned parts of eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins, Randle El would win the Super Bowl, and even became the only wide out to throw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Still, it’s another sad tale of a former player, who now bears the brunt of the game head-on.
Players of today know what they’re getting into when they go to play football, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be more sad stories like Randle El’s in the future.
