Posted at 11:06 a.m., Tuesday, January 22, 2008
NFL: Ex-Titans DT Rien Long critical after car crash
Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Rien Long was in critical condition today after he crashed his sports car into a rock wall while driving onto an interstate.Nashville police said Long, 26, was driving too fast down an on-ramp to Interstate 40 near downtown just before midnight Monday.
His 2005 Ford Mustang started sliding at the bottom of the ramp, went up the embankment and hit a rock wall on the driver's side before rolling over onto the roof.
Long was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Police said he was in critical condition, but hospital officials declined to give details on his condition this morning.
A passenger, 28-year-old Wesley Stephens, was treated for non-critical injuries.
Long won the Outland Trophy and was an All-American as a junior at Washington State in 2002. The Titans drafted him in the fourth round in 2003, and he started five of 39 games through his first three seasons with 9 1/2 career sacks and 99 career tackles.
But he missed the 2006 season with a torn Achilles' tendon, then was placed on injured reserve for 2007 with a knee injury before being waived.
Several Titans officials visited Long at the hospital Monday night.
"We would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to Rien and his family during this difficult time," the team said in a statement.
