Richard Collier, Paralyzed, Is Finally Released From the Hospital

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.