Posted on 8/21/2005, 9:01:27 AM by Brit_Guy
San Francisco offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed and died shortly after an NFL pre-season game in Denver. Players had just finished listening to coach Mike Nolan's post-match address when the 23-year-old was taken ill.
Medics administered emergency aid at Denver's Mile High Stadium before he was taken to a nearby hospital.
About three hours later, Aaron Salkin, a spokesman for the 49ers, confirmed that Herrion had died. The cause of death was not immediately known.
He said: "This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. The death comes a little more than four years after offensive lineman Korey Stringer of the Minnesota Vikings died of heatstroke during training camp.
His death was thought to be the first of its kind in the NFL.
In 1979, St Louis Cardinals tight end JV Cain died of a heart attack during training camp.
Chuck Hughes, a wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, died of a heart attack in October 1972 during a game against the Chicago Bears.
Herrion, in his first year with San Franciscio, played college football at Utah State University and spent part of last season on the 49ers and Dallas practice squads.
He also played this season with the Hamburg Sea Dogs in NFL Europe.
The 6ft 3in, 310lb guard was on the field for San Francisco's 14-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a touchdown with two seconds left. The 49ers lost 26-21.
It's a hard thing for us big guys to work this hard in heat.
The weather was cool and overcast in Denver for last nights game.
I just read where a person's ideal weight at 6'3" is 185lbs
The poor young man. How very sad for his family and friends.
Our weather was absolutely cool last night. It was gorgeous as most Colorado weather is. How very sad. Will say a prayer this morning for him at church. Prayers for his family as well.
BTW according to the Gov't tables Michael Jordan is overweight.
My thoughts with his four siblings and other family.
If it was a congenital defect it should've been caught before he ever took the field at this level of play. I doubt it was "obesity" given his age and seeming physical fitness. He could still have become dehydrated even in the cool air.
Size and strength are two of the most important characteristics of an offensive lineman. The average offensive lineman in the NFL is 6'4" and 300 pounds, which means offensive linemen need to spend a lot of time in the gym pumping iron and a lot of time at buffets pushing food into their mouths!
He wasn't out of kilter for his professional and they are hardly dropping life flies. Certainly not at 23 yrs.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/counties/alameda_county/12438751.htm
Nolan said that the team's medical staff "immediately went to him" when Herrion collapsed.
"We were all told to stay back so the medical staff could do their work," he said.
Nolan had just addressed the team after the game, players said.
Linebacker Julian Peterson said players were in the midst of a postgame prayer, holding hands, when Herrion "just toppled over."
"Everybody just got out of the way," defensive lineman Bryant Young said. "All we did is, we stood back as players, and hoped and prayed. We got down on one knee and we all prayed that whatever is wrong with him, that he pulls through."
What a shame.
Prayers for family.
Ican't believe Pres Bush weighs that much. He looks so scrawny.
Maybe the altitude played a roll. Poor guy.
I think the avergagee weight #'s you cite are LOW..NFL lineman are running about 350+..there were some stories last year about HS lineman weighing 400+lbs..
Over here.
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