“Before we start, I’d like to say something.” I took a deep, calming breath, giving it a second to settle in my chest. “I appreciate the trust and opportunity you’ve given me over the years. This game means everything to me. There have been many things that I’ve been proud of in my career, and a few things I am not.”
Gary leaned forward and studied me. “Nate, what’s going on? This sounds like a retirement speech.”
I shook my head. “I assure you that’s not why I’m here. I scheduled this meeting because there are things that are going to come out, and I want you to hear them from me first.”
No one reacted or interrupted me. They simply watched me carefully.
“Last year, after we clinched the AFC championship title against New York, I sustained a grade 2 joint sprain during practice.” My voice sounded way steadier than I felt. “It wasn’t bad enough to require surgery, but it was clear that if I were to continue playing, I would need some type of pain management treatment.”
Gary tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “Who knew about this, because it sure as hell wasn’t me.”
I swallowed. “I made the decision to play. It was my decision.”
He lifted his eyebrows. “That’s not what I asked.”
I folded my hands on my lap, hoping to get my leg to stop bouncing. “Coach Mac knew, and Dr. Clark was the one who evaluated me and gave me his professional opinion.”
I hated this. Throwing people under the bus to save my own skin, but if I were going to take accountability, then I needed to be honest.
Every single person at the table stared at me.
“Coach Mac knew?” Vance leaned against the wall, folding his arms. “And Dr. Clark?”
I shifted in my chair. “Dr. Clark evaluated me and explained to me what the risks were, but I told him I could push through it. I really believed that I could. If I had thought for one second that things would have ended the way they did, I never would have stepped foot on that field. I care about my teammates and this organization too much.”
No one could have predicted that I would have gotten sacked late in the second quarter. If I weren’t already injured, it probably wouldn’t have been a big deal.
Gary’s expression turned cold. It was controlled in a way that made it clear he was trying not to lose his temper. “We have team doctors for a reason, Nate.”
I opened my mouth and closed it. “You are correct, but at the end of the day, it’s just their medical opinion. I know my body and my limits better than anyone.”
“Clearly not.” He scoffed. “And going against a doctor’s recommendation is one thing. Concealing an injury is another, especially when it’s the biggest game of the year.”
He had me there, but didn’t every player in the NFL lie about an injury at some point? If you wanted to push through and be in the starting lineup, you needed to slip on a mask and not show any weakness whatsoever.
“You are correct. I was wrong, and I’m sorry, but I wanted to make it clear that no one forced me to play.”
Vance steepled his fingers under his chin and leaned forward. “Why are we hearing about this now?”
Because it was coming out anyway, and I was done waiting for the hit to come.
I ran my sweaty palms down my legs. “My ex-agent found out, and he’s using it against me.”
Gary leaned forward. “Explain that to us, please.”
“He became aware of it when he walked in when I was getting treatment and started putting the pieces together.”
“And he’s been holding this over your head?” Vance asked, blinking slowly.
There was a beat of uncomfortable silence. I could feel them reading between the lines.
“Yes.”
They all glanced at each other.
“That’s what caused you to come forward with this information now? Not because you felt compelled to tell the truth, but because you’re being forced to?” Gary asked, his tone careful and deliberate. As the general manager, one of his responsibilities was to report directly to the team’s owner. And Gill Young, the owner of the Harbor Bay Hawks, was going towant a full report on why his star quarterback, head coach, as well as someone on his medical staff, hid an injury that cost his team a Super Bowl win.
I glanced out at the empty practice field. “I guess you could say both. I’d be lying if I said that Brian’s part in this didn’t force my hand. If this were simply me protecting myself, I would have handled it differently.”
