Stlrs4Life
06-06-2007, 06:43 PM
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Steelers outside linebacker Clark Haggans said Tuesday he would "love to be here" beyond the 2007 season, and the seven-year veteran is proving as much by taking part in OTA (Organized Team Activity) drills.
If anybody has a reason to skip the practices that run through next week, it is Haggans.
His mind and heart are thousands of miles away when he is not working at the Steelers' South Side practice facility. That is because his infant daughter, Alianna Marie, is battling for her life in a Las Vegas hospital.
Haggans declined to get into specifics about her condition -- he acknowledged that it stems from her premature birth -- but it caused him to miss the Steelers' first minicamp in April.
He attended the mandatory minicamp last month, but since OTA practices are voluntary, it would have been easy for Haggans to return full time to his family given the circumstances.
Instead, he has spent the past couple of weeks shuttling between Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, between what is important (career) and what is really important (family).
Not that it has been easy or something Haggans could have done without the blessing of his wife, Alicia.
"Right now, a lot of things are out of my control and all I can do is be there for prayers and support my wife and my son and the rest of my family," said Haggans, who has been flying to Las Vegas after OTA practices are completed for each week. "It's always in the back of my mind and it gets tough at times, but you've just got to push through, keep playing and be a professional. I'm working on my (frequent-flier) miles for U.S. Airways."
He's also working to re-establish himself as a force on the Steelers' defense.
Haggans' production slipped a bit last season after he appeared to have a breakthrough year in 2005 when he finished second on the team in sacks (nine) and fumbles forced (four).
And there are questions about his long-term future with the team considering Haggans is 30 and in the final year of his contract and the fact the Steelers took linebackers with their first two picks in the NFL Draft at the end of April.
One of those picks, second-rounder LaMarr Woodley, could be groomed to take over at left outside linebacker for Haggans, who had 6.5 sacks last season.
"It's up to the organization," Haggans said on whether he expects to return to the Steelers after next season. "I can't imagine myself in any other uniform. I can't imagine myself not having black and gold on. We'll just see what happens."
The 6-foot-4, 253-pounder is focused on the more immediate future -- and specifically a return to form for the Steelers' defense and for himself.
"It's just one of those things where we were out on the field too long and usually, when you're out there too long, positive things aren't really going to happen," Haggans said of last season. "I just look back and see on the film that maybe a step here or a step there where we could have made a play and had a completely different season."
The disappointment of going 8-8 last season and missing the playoffs a year after the Steelers won the Super Bowl has unfortunately been put in perspective by his daughter's condition.
"I know a lesson I've learned right now," Haggans said, "is every day is a blessing."
Prayers out to his daughter, and family!
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Steelers outside linebacker Clark Haggans said Tuesday he would "love to be here" beyond the 2007 season, and the seven-year veteran is proving as much by taking part in OTA (Organized Team Activity) drills.
If anybody has a reason to skip the practices that run through next week, it is Haggans.
His mind and heart are thousands of miles away when he is not working at the Steelers' South Side practice facility. That is because his infant daughter, Alianna Marie, is battling for her life in a Las Vegas hospital.
Haggans declined to get into specifics about her condition -- he acknowledged that it stems from her premature birth -- but it caused him to miss the Steelers' first minicamp in April.
He attended the mandatory minicamp last month, but since OTA practices are voluntary, it would have been easy for Haggans to return full time to his family given the circumstances.
Instead, he has spent the past couple of weeks shuttling between Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, between what is important (career) and what is really important (family).
Not that it has been easy or something Haggans could have done without the blessing of his wife, Alicia.
"Right now, a lot of things are out of my control and all I can do is be there for prayers and support my wife and my son and the rest of my family," said Haggans, who has been flying to Las Vegas after OTA practices are completed for each week. "It's always in the back of my mind and it gets tough at times, but you've just got to push through, keep playing and be a professional. I'm working on my (frequent-flier) miles for U.S. Airways."
He's also working to re-establish himself as a force on the Steelers' defense.
Haggans' production slipped a bit last season after he appeared to have a breakthrough year in 2005 when he finished second on the team in sacks (nine) and fumbles forced (four).
And there are questions about his long-term future with the team considering Haggans is 30 and in the final year of his contract and the fact the Steelers took linebackers with their first two picks in the NFL Draft at the end of April.
One of those picks, second-rounder LaMarr Woodley, could be groomed to take over at left outside linebacker for Haggans, who had 6.5 sacks last season.
"It's up to the organization," Haggans said on whether he expects to return to the Steelers after next season. "I can't imagine myself in any other uniform. I can't imagine myself not having black and gold on. We'll just see what happens."
The 6-foot-4, 253-pounder is focused on the more immediate future -- and specifically a return to form for the Steelers' defense and for himself.
"It's just one of those things where we were out on the field too long and usually, when you're out there too long, positive things aren't really going to happen," Haggans said of last season. "I just look back and see on the film that maybe a step here or a step there where we could have made a play and had a completely different season."
The disappointment of going 8-8 last season and missing the playoffs a year after the Steelers won the Super Bowl has unfortunately been put in perspective by his daughter's condition.
"I know a lesson I've learned right now," Haggans said, "is every day is a blessing."
Prayers out to his daughter, and family!