irish Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8...mp;confirm=true Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. -- The Detroit Lions will retire the number 93 for the 2009 football season in memory of player Corey Smith, one of three men lost when their fishing boat capsized off the Florida Gulf Coast three weeks ago. Lions player development director Galen Duncan told several hundred mourners in Smith's hometown church Saturday that Smith's number would be retired for a year in honor of a player of extraordinary heart and competitive drive. "I want to tell you something about Corey Smith playing with pain," Duncan said of Smith, who played with such abandon that high school teammates called him the Tasmanian Devil. Nice move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 I'd rather see them teach boat safety in his honor but this is nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 I'd rather see them teach boat safety in his honor but this is nice. I don't know why you'd want that... Most people are not going to go far out in the ocean to go fishing. I think not using the number for the year is a classy move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 Teams usually do that when a player dies during the season or the prior off-season, along with putting the player's number with a decal on all the helmets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted March 22, 2009 Share Posted March 22, 2009 I don't know why you'd want that... Most people are not going to go far out in the ocean to go fishing. I think not using the number for the year is a classy move. Why? Because players learning from a tragic accident could impact a lot of lives. People die from boating accidents fairly often and alcohol isn't always involved. It wasn't an either or suggestion. I like the retirement of the number too but a Cooper memorial boat safety course could have a lasting effect. The NFL could do something to help its players. A lot of these rookies are naive kids and the league keeps doing more to help them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish Posted March 22, 2009 Author Share Posted March 22, 2009 Why? Because players learning from a tragic accident could impact a lot of lives. People die from boating accidents fairly often and alcohol isn't always involved. It wasn't an either or suggestion. I like the retirement of the number too but a Cooper memorial boat safety course could have a lasting effect. The NFL could do something to help its players. A lot of these rookies are naive kids and the league keeps doing more to help them. Alright....+1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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