NEW YORK (AP) — A football injury 25 years ago left Mike Utley paralyzed. The former Washington State and Detroit Lions offensive lineman played before concussion protocol, targeting fouls and rule tweaks intended to make a violent game safer.
Ask him about the way the game has changed over the years and he responds with a question: "Do I have to be politically correct?"
Utley still misses football and tries to stay as close to it as he can, whether he's attending Cougars games in Pullman, Washington, or Lions games in Detroit or pee-wee games wherever.