This post originated from an RSS feed registered with .NET Buzz
by Doug Thews.
Original Post: Super Bowl Perspective
Feed Title: IlluminatiLand
Feed URL: http://apps5.oingo.com/apps/domainpark/domainpark.cgi?client=netw8744&s=JETBRAINS.COM
Feed Description: A technology blog for people enlightened enough to think for themselves
Many of you have never heard of David Woodley, but he was the Dolphins starting QB in their Super Bowl loss to the Redskins in 1982. At the time, he was the youngest starting QB in NFL history.
David was kind of an idol of mine. An unknown (8th round draft selection) with a C.S. degree out of LSU. He was the little guy. I really rooted for the guy, and I even have a personalized autograph from him from about 10 years ago. He started all the Dolphins games from 1980 through that Super Bowl.
Fortunes changed for David. Miami drafted a kid named Dan Marino 4 months after the Super Bowl loss, and 2 years later David was traded to Pittsburgh. He faded from football, and ended up penniless and out of touch with the franchise.
David was, by all accounts, always a loner. He hated the limelight, and preferred to be by himself. He also drank a lot and had several serious ilnesses later in life. So bad, in fact, that last spring David checked himself into a hospital without telling anyone and died several days later.
This just underscores how little the NFL takes care of their players after they cease to become useful to them. Did they help him with his drinking during his playing days? No. Did he have a medical problem that made him so introverted? Who knows? But the NFL never bothered to try and find out. And what about helping the guy obviously in trouble late in life? The Dolphins were never there for him. I was very disappointed to see this happen from "my team". Then I realized, "they all do it".
David is now buried in an unmarked grave in Shreveport , LA. His only place in the NFL is now the youngest starting Super Bowl quarterback to die. What a shame.
Here's a link to a very good article on David from the Sun-Sentinel. Think of it when you're watching the dog & pony shows leading up to the game.
Previous Topic
