Posted on 08/05/2017 2:16:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Super Bowl-winning QB from San Jose faces constant pain and an uncertain future
He rises from a chair next to his Heisman Trophy in a room stuffed with dozens of silver and gold keepsakes that recognize a remarkable sports legacy. At 6-foot-3, Jim Plunkett still commands a room.
But underneath the tanned exterior anxiety grows over an uncertain future.
“My life sucks,” said Plunkett, 69. “It’s no fun being in this body right now. Everything hurts.”
The years of daily pain pulsating from the neck, back, knees, shoulders, hips and head have taken a toll on a quarterback who played 15 NFL seasons and led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories. His body is a patchwork of medical magic: Artificial knees, an artificial shoulder and a surgically repaired back. After 18 operations, Plunkett’s activities have been reduced to golf and light workouts at home on a Crosstrainer.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
It’s one thing if Plunkett had made millions over his career as modern NFL players do. But I suspect he probably made less in his career than even most current backup QBs do.
He’s probably in less pain than Joe Namath. That guy’s had glass knees ever since his days at Alabama.
Doesn't actually sound that bad for a 69 year old.
Ah, to have the Raiders teams he led back again.
Cry me a river. Oh, you a victim now? Am I supposed to feel sorry for You?
You have had a better life than 99.999% of all Americans.
Or he could have been airborne infantry with the 82nd. And be getting a $30,000 pension with the same alignments.
Yeah and he can think and talk. The brain deterioration is seems to be the most brutal aspect in some of these guys.
Though chronic pain can take its toll.
Wish I could play golf with my slipped discs.I guess its OK to note his “tan”....apparently hes got Mexican and American Indian blood.Great player...should be in the hall.
He won the Heisman over my favorite Joe Theismann.
Joe T was an All American at Notre Dame and should have won the Heisman Trophy.
Joe went on to play in Canada and when he finally made it to the NFL he played any position he could, including a punt returner.
Joe Theismann is football, a player in every sense of the game and it’s foundations for an honest life.
Plunket networks and plays golf with wealthy Stanford alum. who have always looked out for him. Not a bad life even with a few aches and pains.
He is lucky that he does not suffer from crippling neuropathy of the feet. At least he has the money to afford doctors.
Bump from a backer of his first Superb victim, the Iggles...
ff
Namath got paid in punani
Me and joe
Like minds but I’m not even remotely that cute
Oh yeah life’s tough ...he plays golf.
Many are in his pain or worse and have to go to work every day
“My life sucks...”
Joe, one hopes with age comes perspective, you are 69 after all. Look around at how the rest of the world lives. Review your life, your accomplishments, and the rewards that came with them and, I hope, revise your statement.
They did an interview with a bunch of ex-NFL players, and they described pretty much what Plunkett did.
Then they were asked, “Would you do it all over again?”
Each one said without hesitation, “Yes.”
Could be worse..
What an ungrateful putz.
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