Second thoughts

Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen (50) suffered a stroke in a game against the Buffalo Bills in December, and doctors have advised him to never play again.
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen (50) suffered a stroke in a game against the Buffalo Bills in December, and doctors have advised him to never play again.

All it takes is a stroke of bad luck

Russell Allen is proof that an NFL career can end in an instant.

The Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker was doing his thing in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills last season when a collision with Buffalo’s Eric Wood changed everything.

“It was strange because it was so routine,” Allen told MMQB.

com. “We hit, I got off the block, no big deal. I felt something flash, like they say when you get your bell rung. I didn’t lose consciousness. I walked back to the huddle and finished the drive.”

Allen didn’t know it at the time, but he had suffered a stroke. What’s worse is that he kept playing and finished the game. It wasn’t until a headache persisted until the next day that Allen was checked out and the stroke was diagnosed.

“If I could go back in time I would do it differently,” Allen said. “Being in it and knowing how I felt in that moment, the game feels so serious. You’re thinking, I can’t come out, because what if someone else comes in and takes my job? Or they need me out there, and I can’t come out because I really want to win.

“You can’t do that, and I learned that the hard way.”

Allen, 27, won’t get a chance to return to the field for the Jaguars.

The team released him last week.

Doctors have advised him to never play football again.

Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley and General Manager David Caldwell have been in touch with Allen to express their sympathies and sorrow over the team’s decision.

“It gave me closure,” Allen said. “Gus said I’d always be a part of this, no matter what. Dave said I could come back to Jacksonville whenever I wanted.”

Cops and robbers

Police said guns, badges and other items belonging to San Diego-area law enforcement personnel were stolen during a weekend charity football game in Los Angeles.

The items were taken Saturday from a locker room at Salesian High School while Los Angeles officers played against their San Diego colleagues. The theft was discovered at halftime.

Detectives said three handguns were taken along with jewelry, watches and badges.

There was no sign of forced entry, leading detectives to think the locker room door was mistakenly left open.

The Browns way

Johnny Manziel worked out for the Cleveland Browns on Saturday in College Station, Texas.

ESPN reported that officials apparently talked with Manziel and watched him throw a variety of passes.

Wrote Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.: “They are a little concerned he won’t fit into the Browns culture since he didn’t throw multiple interceptions in the workout.”50/50 chance

Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, speaking to The Associated Press, on baseball’s new video challenges: “We’re 2-2 in challenges, so it’s clear to us the replay system only works about half the time.”

Quote of the day

“My brother used to beat the crap out of me, and I guess I embraced that I’m not going to put up with a whole lot.” Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper

Sports, Pages 20 on 04/23/2014

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