<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Former NFL fullback Heyward dies of cancer ATLANTA - Former NFL fullback Craig Heyward died Saturday after a lengthy battle with a recurring brain tumor. He was 39. A former Pro Bowler, Heyward suffered from what is known as a chordoma, a very aggressive tumor which doctors were unable to completely remove during two seperate operations. Heyward also was left partially paralyzed by a stroke several years ago. Nicknamed "Ironhead," Heyward ran for 4,301 yards and 30 touchdowns in 11 NFL seasons with New Orleans, Chicago, Atlanta, St. Louis and Indianapolis. University of Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt, who coached Heyward with the Bears, issued a statement on the Panthers' website. "I will always remember him as a tremendous player who had an irrepressible attitude on and off the field," Wannestedt said. "We spoke just a few weeks ago and I was struck by the typical, upbeat 'Ironhead' attitude he displayed, despite his health. "The thoughts and prayers of the entire Pitt family are with Craig's loved ones during this time of sorrow."</div> I remember watching him play. He really was a solid fullback, especially with the Saints and the Bears. This is particularly sad for me because my mother died a few years ago from a similar brain tumor. It really is hard on the body and on the family. =( I know his family won't see this, but my thoughts are with them as well...
I liked Heyward. I remember trading for his rookie card with my cousin. I think I gave up like an Anthony Thompson one. He was a good player. I remember him mostly from Atlanta.
It's always a tragedy when someone dies that young. I remember he started out w/ the Saints and then became a Falcon. He was the ideal RB for the Run & Shoot that the Falcons ran at that time.
This hits close to home for me too. First, I'm 39. Second, the day it was discovered that my retina was tore, the specialist nearly misdiagnosed the rare condition that caused the tear as a tumor. I never forget when he said, "I'm about to send you to a tumorologist, but I don't think your condition is life threatening." Then, he sent me out into a waiting area for twenty minutes (seemed like forever) to contemplate my mortality. The phrase "I don't think" just didn't give me much comfort. He brought me back in and spent a lot of time examing my eye over and over before he determined that what he was looking at was something different and rare. It turned out that he was right. The bad news is that, after surgery, my left eye is more that twice as bad as my right and glasses can't correct the imbalance in my vision, so basically my vision is similar to having the left lense of my glasses popped out all the time. Don't feel sorry for me. When I read about Ironhead and hear Pack Attack talk about his mother, I feel so very blessed.
I know what i remember most. "But Ironhead arent bodywashes for ladies?" That was about the funniest commercial ever. I am very sorry to see him pass.