Eric LeGrand, who was paralyzed while playing for Rutgers in 2010, knows as well as anyone about the serious consequences of injuries suffered on the football field. But LeGrand doesn’t want the game to go too far in changing the rules to make the game safer.
LeGrand began weighing in on the football safety debate this week after some football officials said that Jadeveon Clowney, the South Carolina defensive end who will be a top pick in the 2014 NFL draft, should have been ejected for his brutal hit on Michigan running back Vincent Smith on January 1. LeGrand went to Twitter to say that the game of football shouldn’t eliminate hits like Clowney’s, adding, “Take it from a guy who broke his neck.”
There's no way #clowneyhit is illegal. Take it from a guy who broke his neck
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) July 23, 2013
When LeGrand’s tweet got a strong reaction, he went back on Twitter and confirmed that he still loves the game of football, including the violence of the game.
So judging by all your responses I believe a lot of people agree with me on the @clownejd hit not being illegal. It's a violent game #loveit
— Eric LeGrand (@EricLeGrand52) July 24, 2013
LeGrand has become an inspirational figure for the way he has dealt with his injury, and when he signed a contract with the Buccaneers last year he said he doesn’t want kickoffs to change, even though he was injured on a kickoff. Some people might cite LeGrand’s injury as a reason to change the game of football, but LeGrand would not agree.