Injured Pittsburgh Steelers Ryan Shazier doesn't just plan to play again following a spinal injury. He says he wants to make it all the way to the Hall of Fame.
Shazier opened up to teammate Roosevelt Nix on Nix's podcast Keenan Robinson Jersey , Shazier's first public comments since injuring his spine in a victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4.
Shazier told Nix, who released the podcast on Tuesday night , that he plans to walk again on his own and return to a career that was on the verge of stardom before the injury, one that required spinal stabilization surgery and left him in the hospital for two months.
"I'm really trying to come back and still be a Pro Bowler," Shazier told Nix. "I'm sorry, because I feel I got snubbed this year for All-Pro even though I got hurt. But I feel like my stats are as good as those who made it."
The 25-year-old is undergoing outpatient therapy and has documented a portion of his recovery on social media. General manager Kevin Colbert said last week Shazier has been a fixture at the team's headquarters watching film. Shazier said it's necessary to keep him mentally sharp while aggressively attacking his rehab.
"I've got to get back Anthony Sherman Jersey ," said Shazier, who has not released the exact nature of the injury. "Right now I'm reading a book and it's basically saying trust the process. I'm really trusting the process. I know the end goal. So I'm taking every step of the way, I'm giving everything I got. The therapists are like, 'Man this is crazy; I've never seen anyone work this hard.' They almost see progression every day."
Shazier has been vague about specific aspects of his recovery, though he is quick to point out that he can stand on his own, as he did when the cameras cut to him recently while attending a Pittsburgh Penguins game. Either way Kareem Martin Jersey , Shazier insists he'll one day run back through the tunnel at Heinz Field with his No. 50 jersey on ready to get back at it.
"I'm still reaching for that Hall of Fame because I really feel I'm the best linebacker ever," Shazier said. "I just got to be back out there so everybody can see it. You know what I'm saying?"
Shin-Soo Choo didn’t play Saturday night for the Texas Rangers because of a sore right quad, putting on hold his majors-best 41-game streak of reaching base.
Choo said before the 13-4 win over the Chicago White Sox that he has been dealing with quad soreness for at least 10 days, and that it had really bothered him the last couple of days.
”I don’t want to make it worse,” Choo said. ”I don’t think it’s serious.”
The outfielder/designated hitter said he had an MRI earlier Saturday to find out for sure what he was feeling in his upper leg.
Choo had a leadoff walk in the first inning of an 11-3 win Friday night to extend his career-best on-base streak and match the longest in the majors this season. He later hit one of the Rangers’ five home runs for a 12-game hitting streak that is the longest active streak in the majors.
”He’s battled with a tight quad and I felt like it was just an opportunity to get him off his legs, give him a day Antonio Gates Jersey ,” manager Jeff Banister said. ”He’s played through it for a while, so we’ll see how he feels.”
Banister hadn’t ruled out using Choo in a pinch-hitting role, and Choo had said he was willing if needed. The three-game series wraps up Sunday before the Rangers have a day off Monday.
”I know I have the streak going on, but my body and staying healthy is more important,” Choo said. ”And winning games is more important than records.”
Choo’s on-base streak is the longest for the Rangers since Otis Nixon’s 44-gamer in 1995; Julio Franco set the team record by reaching in 46 consecutive games in 1993. Choo matched Philadelphia’s Odubel Herrera for the longest in the majors this season. Herrera, a former Rangers minor leaguer Daryl Worley Jersey , reached base in the first 41 games for the Phillies this year.
In his 41-game streak, Choo has reached base 90 times. He has hit .333 (52 of 156) with 38 walks.