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Nov 2, 2009 8:40 pm US/Eastern
Still No Decision About Ryan Clark's MNF Status
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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Safety Ryan Clark No. 25 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates with the fans after their 27-23 win against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
A decision will be made by the end of the week about whether or not Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark will play against the Denver Broncos on Monday.
Everything appeared to be normal for Clark making tackles against the Broncos at Mile High stadium in 2007, but it was anything but normal.
Late in the game, Clark started complaining about internal pain. He had a blood disorder caused by a sickle cell trait that attacked his organs after exerting himself in high altitude.
He had to be hospitalized in Denver immediately and had his spleen and gallbladder removed.
"I think that's made me quicker though," Clark said, laughing. "I'm a little lighter on my feet. But yeah, I had them both removed."
He dropped 40 pounds. A lot of people thought he might never play again.
Bob Pompeani: "I remember you said at one point you thought you might die."
Clark: "Yeah."
Pompeani: "Tell me about that experience."
Clark: "Actually it was just a day. It was just one day, just in my house, Cincinnati Bengals game – we actually played them. Watching my mom and my wife – and just couldn't stop shaking – you know, like shaking uncontrollably, not shivering like actually shaking, physically moving. My mother and my wife were laying on top of me, physically moving them off the bed and not being able to stop. My wife covered me with pillows and covers. Got to the point she had the blow dryer underneath the blankets, you know, just trying to warm me up."
Clark had daily fevers which drove his temperatures up to 104 degrees. But with some excellent doctor care, Clark has made a full recovery, but there are still risks with returning to Denver – most of them mental.
He says he's made the decision to make the trip to Denver and will be on the plane, but he doesn't know if he'll be on the field.
"The competitive part of me says it's not like I want to go beat the Broncos right now, I want to go beat the altitude, I want to go beat Denver – the place, not the team," Clark said. "So I'm trying to take that out my mind so I can make a very educated decision about what's going on."
Whatever Clark decides to do, the Steelers have gone on record saying they will back him 100 percent.
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