• Jags lineman Richard Collier speaks about the shooting, and moving forward in life

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Richard Collier spoke to the Orlando Sentinel in his first interview since being shot 14 times on Sept. 2. In a brief but telling conversation with Tania Ganguli, Collier talks about the fateful night, and finding out he was paralyzed from his sister.

Even though the Jaguars are in the midst of a disappointing season they can hang their hats on the fact that Collier is alive. According to Richard, his teammates come to visit often, head coach Jack Del Rio has brought him Popeye’s Chicken, and Jags owner Wayne Weaver stopped by.

Collier has been hospitalized since the shooting and relives the night that changed his life forever everyday.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

“I remember everything,” Collier said Monday afternoon in his first interview since he sustained 14 gunshot wounds following a night out on the town with Pettway on Sept. 2. “I just remember the whole incident. It plays back in my mind all the time. Try to come up with these scenarios, if I did this, if I did that.”

“It used to be hard for me to watch the Jags,” Collier said. “I remember sitting here in the hospital and just crying. Being around those guys, you have a bond with them. Without it you’re like man, it’s gone.”

“I’m just ready for a change of scenery,” Collier said. “Just ready to go out and enjoy life. I’ve been in the hospital stuck with needles all the time. … I’m just ready to get back to a normal life.”

Obviously Richard Collier’s life will never be the same, but in reading the entire story you’ll see he has the strength and will to keep pushing forward.