The 2022 NFL Week 13 Roundup | A Fault in the Stars
An Easy Impossible Choice
The pre-dawn morning of January 29th, 2014 in Cranberry Township was just as frigid as it was ominous. Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, then 26, had awoken early, anxious and excited to embark upon a special Team road trip long in the planning and one particularly steeped in meaning. As Kris awoke, he found his bedroom still, the nearby windows encasing perfectly a cloudless, moonlit star-filled sky. Shimmering and otherworldly. His wife asleep quietly at his side, Kris fetched his iPhone from the nearby nightstand clumsily sending the tv remote clattering to the hardwood floor beneath. His head still comfortably in the clutches of his memory foam pillow, Kris poked through the notifications that had arrived in his slumber. The phone’s screen cast a harsh glow as his weary eyes recoiled in anger. His weather app displayed an outside temperature of 2 degrees alongside an expected high of 16 degrees against brilliant sunny skies. Great travel weather, he thought, not a snowflake in sight. Kris silently slipped out of bed and into the en-suite bathroom being careful not to disturb his wife, Katherine. He showered and, as is routine with any Team trip, immediately set about to pack for his travels in the attached walk-in closet. His hair still wet, Kris pulled out his duffel bag and wheelie from the reaches of the closet. Realizing he had forgotten his phone on the bed, Kris tiptoed back into the bedroom. And THAT was the last thing he remembered. This eight year-old episode continues to resonate as a cautionary tale; as to how all the fanfare and success of one of hockey’s most-celebrated players is uncomfortably juxtaposed alongside the frailty of the human body. Tragically last week, Kris suffered another stroke adding to a litany of medical setbacks even as he revels in a 16-year professional career decorated with scores of adulation, championships and wonderment. His journey, heart and uncertain future are entangled tightly in a dogknot as 2023 dawns. What happens next remains unclear. What should happen remains unsaid.
Back in the Letang house, Kris had collapsed onto the floor, unconscious. His cracked phone inches from his frozen outstretched hand. Katherine awoke a short time later to horror. She reflexively dove to Kris’ side where he was now alert but unable to move. His eyes wide open with occasional blinks, staring straight-ahead at the slow moving swirl of the ceiling fan above. She screamed for her mom who was sleeping in the next room. Katherine’s mother is a nurse, who, when she knelt by his side figured he’d passed out due to carryover dehydration and physical exertion from practice the day before. Kris at this point — some time from initial collapse — was rapidly regaining consciousness, key motor skills and the ability to speak fluidly. Kris lumbered to the bed where Katherine’s mom ordered him to rest as he was handed alternate glasses of water and pulp-free orange juice. While Kris troublingly couldn’t remember what had happened, he felt well enough to push-on with the Team road trip to California. Katherine suggested cancelling out of an abundance of caution. Kris wouldn’t hear of it especially since the trip was earmarked as the Penguins’ debut Mother-Son road trip out West where moms accompanied their Penguin sons on all legs of travel (plane/Team meals/bus rides to and from arenas/practices/Team meetings/games). Los Angeles and Phoenix reverently awaited. Kris’ mom, Christiane, flew in special from Canada for the occasion. Plus, by this point, he was feeling much better with just a minor headache; perhaps from hitting his head he thought.
Christiane awoke and entered the bedroom to learn what had happened. She was equally concerned but trusted Kris and his assessment of the situation. And she trusted Katherine’s mom. They collectively opted not to call paramedics owing to Kris’ relative return to form. And so, Kris bounded out of bed and finished packing. He and Christiane hopped into the car and headed to the airport to catch the Team’s chartered plane. After parking the car at the airport, Kris turned to his mom and admitted to slight dizziness and nausea. She asked if they needed to return home and perhaps the hospital but Kris resisted saying the maladies seemed to be abating. Christiane reluctantly acquiesced as she methodically unfastened her seatbelt, a mother’s intuition transfixed in silent objection. The plane trip out to LAX was nevertheless a cheerful one with Kris’ teammates and their mothers — all 19 of them. It was a warm, effortless and quick flight. But Kris’ symptoms persisted and by the next day had become debilitating. Christiane by this time knew something was wrong and insisted upon seeking help. Kris reported his turn of events to Coach Dan Bylsma who in-turn drew in the Kings team physician. What they learned was beyond concerning; Kris was sent to the hospital. He was scratched from that night’s game at Staples. And for good reason: at the hospital he was officially diagnosed with having suffered a stroke. Kris and his mother were puzzled and frightened in equal measure. Kris didn’t have a history of strokes and was thought to be in tip-top shape. The news of Kris’ ailment sent shockwaves throughout the Penguins organization and fanbase. Well-wishing and heart-filled sentiments flooded in as the charted plane returned to Pittsburgh four days later. Kris was prescribed blood thinners, ordered to rest, his professional career in question.
The following Winter of 2014 was a pensive one for Kris. At the time, the 2008 Rookie of the Year and his Penguins had been already been coronated as the 2009 Stanley Cup champions. The trophy accompanied his back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championships in 2006 and 2007. Since 2014, Kris has added 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cups to his shiny collection. Generational money quickly followed. A 2010 $14M/4-yeard deal snowballed into $58M/8-year contract in 2013, commensurate with the phenom’s on-ice success. A $37M/6-year contract extension was signed just this past Summer.
In the immediate aftermath of his 2014 stroke, Kris religiously followed doctor’s orders. Katherine regimentally kept Kris on his blood thinner diet and dutifully away from the ice. This made Kris beyond sad as if a hole had been ripped in his heart. He was half-right. Kris’ stroke diagnosis additionally revealed a tiny hole in his heart, a common condition from birth which typically resolves and closes on its own by adolescence. For Kris, it didn’t and, further, might have added to his propensity for strokes. Plural. Kris at the time feared for the worse, but doctors were heartened to witness Kris’ miraculous recovery. Steady medication and a slow return to physical exertion beat back into submission Kris’ scary January incident. He was delighted to learn of news that doctors were clearing him for a full return to the Team after just 10 weeks. HE didn’t play another game for the remainder of the nascent Season. Still, He hasn’t looked back since. Though, the time hence hasn’t quite been problem-free. He underwent successful neck surgery in 2017 to address a herniated disk; the surgery chewed 6 months from his Season. Missing multiple games because of migraine headaches coupled with his well-publicized 2011 and 2014 concussions bode ill for anyone, much more for an NHL all-star.
And so it was so shocking that this past Wednesday, eerily 8 years to the day of his first stroke, news erupted that Kris had suffered another stroke. Kris was practicing with teammates when he reported to training staff that he wasn’t feeling well with symptoms similar to those 8 years prior. He was immediately whisked to the hospital where the not unexpected diagnosis was made official. The familiar prescription of blood thinners and rest soon followed. His most recent stroke is considered much milder than its 2014 predecessor and isn’t expected to be career-ending. He wanted to skate just 48 hours later but was politely declined by GM Ron Hextall.
Such is the fevered determination, dedication to Sport, deep respect for his Team and selfless conviction Kris proudly wears on his sleeve. After 17 Seasons and 962 games, Kris is a creature of habit. All the attributes of a hockey powerhouse let down by a mere mortal body which can’t quite keep pace. Today, Kris deliberates the unthinkable. Giving up the Love of his life for the family IN his life. At 35 years old, Kris has to reconcile the physical toll hockey is taking on his body with the heavy anguished emotional taxation on loved ones surrounding him. At what fulcrum will his hockey stick yield? An easy logical choice contrasted with an impossible emotional one. Whichever path Kris opts for, his burnished Brand and heightened Image will illuminate for eons to come. Just like the stars twinkling just outside his bedroom window on that telling early morning in January 2014.
Lucky Week 13 in the NFL was equally telling in 360 degrees for a gaggle of Teams in contention both for the Playoffs and the peak 2023 Draft position. Squads know which end zone they fall into. Kansas City and Cincy can count themselves among the blessed. Twin AFC counterweights continually deploying sharp elbows and muscled shoulders in jockeying for prime position. Last Sunday was no different when the Bengals hosted the visiting Chiefs. The Chiefs suffered a rare loss, 24–27, as Cincy tacked on to their winning streak bringing their magic to bare. Cincy’s secondary was on full tilt just as the Patrick Mahomes-led Offense whirred in neutral letdown by a crucial late-game Travis Kelce fumble that essentially dropped the red velvet curtain on the game. Joe Burrow is foisting together quite the late-Season run. Who’d have thought. Fear not as each Team will see the bright light of the AFC playoffs in January, razor-sharp elbows and all. Out West in Santa Clara, victory and disaster all at once. SF QB Jimmy G broke his foot (and fan hearts) on the Team’s opening drive which immediately elevated backup Brock Purdy for the remainder of the match against Miami. Brock is cruelly nicknamed “Mr. Irrelevant” for having been picked 262nd, last, in the 2022 Draft, yet turned in a respectable — and VERY relevant — performance resulting in a 33–17 drubbing. A good offense paired with SF’s tradition industrial-strength Defense quickly muted the typically effective and winning MIA Tua Tagovailoa-Tyreek Hill-Jaylen Waddle triumvirate. SF’s upcoming QB shuffle will be interesting to witness now that Jimmy G is once again down for the count; seismic NFC West repercussions suddenly in the offing.
The winningest Team in the NFL, the Eagles, continued their ascent fronted by yet another MVP-caliber outing from QB Jalen Hurts. The Titans came to town and brought with them a thought-to-be foolproof rushing Defense. PHL’s offensive adaptability extinguished any such TEN shenanigans. Jalen-by-air threw for nearly 400 yards and 3TDs while Jaylen-by-ground afforded 5 carries, 125 yards and an additional rushing TD. TEN heads are still spinning from their 10–35 loss as PHL Windexes their 11–1 record. Meanwhile, up at Met Life Stadium, might the Giants be running out of gas? Or might the Commanders be flooring it at precisely the NFC East’s most inopportune time? Probably a little of both especially judging by Sunday’s 20–20 OT tie. A missed Graham Gano 58-yard FG sealed the deal for NYG while Taylor Heinicke is stringing together an admirable record of late adorned with 6 wins in the last 8 games (including Sunday’s draw). Precious good news for WAS fans in a year replete with frowns. On Sunday night, Colts at Cowboys was a squeaker up until the Q3. Then a catastrophic 4th happened, unfortunately for Indy. America’s Team went on a remarkable 33 point unanswered run, much to the detriment of Jeff Saturday, who in an imaginary word bubble could be thought to have wished for a fast-forward to Monday. Any day really. The 54–19 DAL trouncing reminds the League that the Colts continue to swirl the drain despite Matt Ryan’s best efforts. Weird Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to-Indy rumors persist lately though why he’d trade-in first class for low rent remains beyond comprehension. But stranger things have happened.
In our Round Robin, Steel City descended upon Atlanta and found PIT rookie QB Kenny Pickett nicely finding his footing, INT-free for a change. He delivered a W, 19–16 and while the promising upward trend is too late to salvage the Season for the black and yellow, all eyes are on 2023. Aren’t they all. At SoFi, LAR’s historic fall from grace proceeds uninterrupted. Key 2021 offensive and defensive players out to injury or other teams, the Rams are NOT happening as evidenced by their incredible 3–9 record. The Hawks and an incendiary Geno Smith closed out the reigning Super Bowl champs, 27–23. The Chargers, similar to their SoFi co-tenants, let another one slip by to the Raiders, 20–27. There’s only so much Justin Herbert can do with a banged-up offensive line. One man does not a Team make, as the saying goes. As for Vegas, Derek Carr finally has something to write home about. OH it’ll be a short note but a note nonetheless; its brevity forced by his Team’s 5–7 record. Meanwhile, Green Bay snapped back to winning form as the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention. The Lions dented the Jags, 40–14, as Trevor Lawrence incorrectly figured his team’s issues to have disappeared with Urban Meyer. Sadly, they only seem to have grown. Lastly, the Ravens endured the loss of Lamar Jackson to unfortunate injury as the troubled Broncos and Russell Wilson were unable and unprepared to take advantage of the gimme. A 10–9 BAL win resulted. On the flip side, the Brownies endured the addition of problematic Deshaun Watson who re-debuted for first game in 700 days. He played like it with a not good showing (12/22 131yds 1INT). With the sturdy Defense scoring all the fireworks and TDs, a 27–14 victory against the Texans ensured. With the game, HOU was eliminated from January consideration.
