Nittmo`s Injury was Not a Cheap Shot
Darryl Hammill
Wednesday June 20, 2001
According to published reports in the local press, the injury occurred while making a tackle at the last home game (against New Jersey).
"I was not making a tackle, and it happened during the Tama Bay game" said Nittmo.
The situation was this: A snap was "muffed" for an extra point and Nittmo called "Fire" which means the play is busted. "I picked up the ball and waited for my blockers," he said. He watched one of closest Tampa Bay players hit the ground - and took off with the ball. "Suddenly, as my shoulders passed a Cobras blocker I was hit from behind - the tackler`s shoulder hit behind my knee - and I went down".
Bjorn said that he knew he was hurt immediately, but he finished the Tampa Bay game anyway in pain. During the New Jersey contest, he played with a knee brace - but that did not minimize the pain and hampered his effectiveness.
“It was not a cheap shot - I don`t think he even realized who he was tackling,” said Nittmo. “He was just going after the ball."
The best news is that Bjorn was walking without the aid of crutches - and other than a leg weight on the injured leg there was no obvious sign of this being a season-ending injury.
Darryl Hammill was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2001 season.
