Ticats’ Breaux defies the odds
Thirteen years ago, all-star cornerback Delvin Breaux of the Hamilton Tiger-cats nearly died on a high school football field. The difference between life and death was a couple of inches.
The date was Oct. 27, 2006. Two days after his 17th birthday.
Mcdonogh 35 High School versus Jesuit High.
Breaux, who had committed to play college football at Louisiana State University, sped downfield on a kickoff, leaving his feet to dive toward the Jesuit kick returner. The returner’s knee struck Breaux’s head at the crown of the helmet. In the moments that followed, Breaux could have died.
The coaches used smelling salts to revive him.
But before he returned to the field, he felt “excruciating pain shoot up the back of my neck.” He was taken to hospital. An
artery in his neck was partly blocked by bone chips. The doctor told him he could have died.
While LSU wouldn’t clear him to play football, the school honoured his scholarship. He stayed there for three years.
In 2012, he got the thumbs-up to play football again. Eventually he signed with the Ticats, playing in both the 2013 and 2014 Grey Cups.
The New Orleans Saints signed him. He was there from 2015-17, but was cut after breaking his leg twice and injuring his shoulder.
The Denver Broncos cleared him to play, then pulled back the contract, saying they were nervous about his neck.
Same with the New England Patriots.
And now, in his third try, he’s hoping to get a Grey Cup championship Sunday when the Ticats face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
“I want teams to throw at me,” said Breaux, who’s now 30 . ... You can’t have any fear. I’ve overcome a lot of adversity. I’m afraid of nothing, I’m afraid of nobody.”