FanHouse Richard Collier

We tend to forget that there are human beings behind statistics -- the touchdowns, the passes, catches and tackles. The victories, mistakes and losses. Then Steve McNair, once a powerful, influential football player, but also a husband, father of four and a friend, was gunned down.

As the shock of his sudden death staggered friends and fans, the details quickly became muddled and disturbing. Why was McNair shot multiple times, including twice in the head? Who was the 20-year-old woman, found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head, lying near McNair's feet in the former quarterback's rented Nashville condominium?

The Tennessee Titans' signature player and a beloved figure in the Nashville community, gone at age 36.

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Twenty employees of a Florida hospital have been fired for violating the privacy of Richard Collier, the Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman who was shot on September 2.

The employees, who include nurses, admissions workers and patient relations staff at Shands-Jacksonville Medical Center, were accused of breaking federal privacy rules by snooping at Collier's medical records.

Channel 4 news in Jacksonville reports that the employees were fired for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which is designed to protect patients medical records.

The bizarre thing about serious injuries in sports is that while we always remember the particular player who is injured, we don't necessarily think about them 24/7. And I mean that in the most honest, non-callous way possible. Richard Collier, however, will hopefully hang around at least our peripheral eyeline for quite some time.

He is a sad and tragic -- albeit living -- reminder of the dangers that exist in the world and the horrible nature of street violence. And he also was finally released from the hospital today.

"He's going to have a long, difficult rehab," [Jack] Del Rio said. "We just want to be there, help support him. I just thank God he's alive. When I saw him the day after he'd been shot, I really did not think that there would be a day when he would get out of the hospital. He was in bad, bad shape.

"I just thank God that he's still alive, and I know that God kept him alive for some reason. I hope that Big Rich finds that calling and is able to do some good in the world with the time he has left here on Earth."

I'm not one to try and attribute Collier's survival to anything out of the medical realm -- especially on a sports blog -- but I tend to think that Del Rio's got a point here. First of all, there should be something done for him at the first home game where he's prepared to appear in front of a stadium crowd. And secondly, I sincerely hope that he puts a lot of his resources and fame towards helping raise awareness of random street violence.

Road Chalk and Alaskan Pipelines is Will Brinson's weekly NFL gambling column at FanHouse. Because everyone loves a loser.

You know the drill by now, right? I make jokes about my current season's record (26-34 UGH) and then I make the picks. The good news is that my Tungsten locks (as denoted by **Team name**) are 6-2 on the season. Making me like a real life Brandon Lang or something.

Indianapolis Colts (-3) @ Houston Texans
This is exactly the type of game where I would, in the normal course of stupidity, always take the Colts. How-EVA, it seems like a trap. The Texans can't be this bad, right? And the Colts are without Bob Sanders. I expect lots of points, a Steve Slaton blowup and Andre Johnson to correct his miserable 2008 by scoring four touchdowns. Of course, I also expect to leave work at 4 p.m. today. And somehow, I don't think that's happening.

Texans +3

Tennessee Titans (-3) @ Baltimore Ravens
I get that people think this team is really good (some people, like Bill Simmons, are talking Super Bowl), and they are. But I have a few rules in life (very few, in fact) and one of them is that when you get Kerry Collins going against a rejuvenated Ray Lewis on the road and handing out three points, you take those points. No, this rule does not come into play frequently, thank you for asking. Also: the under, please.

Ravens +3

Richard Collier will never play football again, and that is sadly not the worst news that comes out of a recent press conference about the lineman's state of health, because he will also never walk again. This news comes after reports finally emerged that Collier suffered 14 different bullet wounds and eventually had his leg amputated.

A hospital room crowded with Jacksonville Jaguars and media turned somber when the agent for Richard Collier broke the tragic news.

"It is with my deepest regret that Collier's career with the NFL is over," said Jeff Jankovich.

[...]"His family wanted to keep the situation under wraps so that Richard would be the first to know," said Jankovich.

The latter statement from Jankovich certainly explains why there was very little information about Collier that leaked to the press since the Jaguar entered the hospital on September 2.

It is a tragic, tragic situation, especially following on the heels of a season that saw Sean Taylor pass in another gun-violence related incident. Not that either really compare -- Collier was supposedly targeted and is still alive while Taylor passed and was not the actual focus of the crime -- but it's times like these that really emphasis the lack of importance that sports really have on our lives.

Via PFT

But there are other players whose value just changed with these injuries as well. They're not replacing the player in question, but the loss of that guy changes their own value – some in good ways, others in bad. Let's take a look.

Tom Brady's knee: And sure, Cassel gets himself a gig. But another first round fantasy pick also loses a decent amount of value in Randy Moss, who will now be trying to catch passes from a guy who has never had a starting job since high school. Wes Welker, ranked at or near the top-10 in WR himself, also loses value – though presumably less because he tends to run shorter routes that should be easier on what amounts to a rookie QB.

Vince Young's knee: Unless you play in the deepest of leagues, you don't own, nor did you really even consider, starting WRs Justin Gage and Justin McCareins. In fact, you may have been unaware that starters share the same first name. In truth, Collins is a better quarterback than the injured Young, so the two Justins both get a bump, albeit a small one in value. At RB, Chris Johnson's value spiked up with his performance in Week One, and there's no reason for that to come down without Young behind center. LenDale White also probably deserves to get a bit more love, since there should continue to be plenty of carries to go around.

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot while sitting in a car this morning and was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, First Coast News is reporting.

Former Jaguars player Kenneth Petway, a defensive end who was recently released by the team, was also in the car. He was not hurt.

Collier has been with the Jaguars for three years and has played in eight games. This season he was competing to be the team's starting left tackle.