Reggie Roby dies at 43

[Poiuyt]

http://sports.excite.com/news/02222005/v9196.html

This is the third NFL player to die in his 40's this year (Reggie White, Charles Martin, and now Roby). What's going on? I could be way off base with this, but I have to wonder if this isn't related to some kind of performance enhancing drug that football players have taken.

[whistle]

1. Pretty good deduction, steriods or cocaine

[malaise]

3. Try and get a copy of

HBOs Fields of Fire. Steroids and American football have been good friends since the late 60s.

[tx_dem41]

5. What leads you to believe that???

Give his family and friends some peace, and please don't speculate. For one thing, the guy was a punter, and not big at ALL.

[NationalEnquirer]

12. REggie WAS big!

But not in a Steroid sort of way, but he was probably one of the biggest kickers of all time.

I loved REggie and enjoyed his playtime with the Dolphins.
He was also a great guy OFF the field.
He will be miss.
RIP buddy, and my condolences to his family.

BTW, sudden cardiac death is not unheard of among black athletes.

[ProfessorGAC]

13. You're Right. He Was A Huge Man, For A Punter

But, he didn't look overdeveloped or anything. Just a big huge guy. Actually, later in his career, he looked a bit doughy, not heavily and abnormally muscled.

I always think congenital heart dysfunction when i see something like this. I could be wrong, but i'd rather think that than think drugs and find out later it was genetic and nobody could have done anything to prevent it.
The Professor

[DU9598]

2. I doubt it

Reggie was a star punter and he was not a big guy. His leg spoke for itself ;)

Reggie was a kind man with a gentle heart. He was making his way in the world selling cookies and loving life. He had a great spouse and loved returning to Iowa City to watch his beloved Hawkeyes - and sharing his great chocolate chip cookies.

He will be greatly missed!

Go Hawks!

[StClone]

4. The Hawks and his family my deepest condolences.

Very big loss, much admired and way too young.

[DrGonzoLives]

11. Best punter Iowa ever had

He's actually in NCAA 2004 on the All-Time Iowa team.

Damn good punter. R.I.P.

[Scurrilous]

6. R.I.P. Reggie.....

...enjoyed watching you play. :thumbsup:

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Amazing technique and flexibility

Reggie would follow through above his head, even while his left foot stayed smack on the ground.

I'm a Dolphin fan and remember when we drafted him in '83. Not a bad draft -- Marino with the next to last pick in the first round, then Roby in the 5th (I think) and Mark Clayton even later on, in the 7th or 9th.

I was really shocked and saddened to hear of his death this morning on a Dolphin site. That's quite a few early '80s Dolphin players who died very young -- Larry Gordon, David Overstreet, Rusty Chambers, David Woodley and now Roby.

[sniffa]

8. was he the first bLack punter?

or just the first good one?

[SmileyBoy]

14. Greg Coleman of the Vikings was the first black punter.

He played during the Purple People Eaters years.

[kick-ass-bob]

9. for a punter?

Granted, they are bigger than place kickers, but I don't think punters juiced too much.

[Wapsie B]

10. The pride of the East Waterloo Trojans.

What a talent. Between him and Jerry Moses, Don Perkins and Dan Gable, one of the best athletic talents to come out of Waterloo.
RIP Reggie. This Hawk fan salutes you.

:toast:

[bigwillq]

15. Any cause of death yet?

What a shame. 43 is too young.