Seattle WR Ricardo Lockette Opens Up About Scary Neck Injury

SEATTLE (AP) — Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette says the neck injury he suffered last November against Dallas was so serious that he could have died if not for proper treatment from athletic trainers and medics on the field.

Lockette spoke to a group of paramedics and firefighters in Redmond, Washington, last week and video of his speech at Redmond Fire Station 11 was posted on Facebook. In the video, Lockette is still wearing a neck brace.

In the video, Lockette details how the hit from Dallas' Jeff Heath on a kickoff return left Lockette with severe neck damage. Lockette says he was told by doctors that the ligaments and cartilage that help connect his vertebrae were so badly injured that if he had been pulled by a teammate or handled incorrectly by trainers he could have died.

Lockette says he was told the trainers and medics handled his injury "perfectly."