Sad news out of the sports world today, as former NFL cornerback Leonard Myers has passed away at the age of 38.
Reports of Myers’ death were confirmed by TMZ just moments ago.
Myers played his rookie season with the New England Patriots in 2001, the year that a young Tom Brady led the team to a Super Bowl victory over the St. Louis Rams.
Myers went on to play for the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Detroit Lions, but he would never again experience the sort of on-field success he enjoyed in that first year in New England.
Myers experienced a string of bad luck after leaving football in 2005, following a brief sojourn in the CFL.
That same year, he made headlines for selling his Super Bowl ring on eBay for $ 32,600.
Myers had reportedly been battling cancer for several years at the time of his death.
Before being drafter by the Patriots, Myers made a name for himself at the Univesrity of Miami as the team’s standout defensive back.
A three-year starter for the Canes, Myers aided in the program’s historic rebound.
The team went 5-6 his freshman year and 11-1 his senior year.
Sadly, Myers would not experience the same level of success in the pros.
In interviews, he often expressed his frustration with the Patriots coaching staff, who decided at the last minute to deactivate him prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.
Myers says he was told he would start in the game, and it wasn’t until pregame warm-ups that Bill Belichick and company decided to remove him from the roster in favor of activating another offensive lineman.
Those who knew Myers best say his disappointment at not realizing his boyhood dream of being able to take the field at the Super Bowl lingered for the rest of his days.
Most recently, Myers worked as he wide receivers coach at New Mexico Highlands University in 2015.
Today, both Patriots and Hurricanes football fans are mourning Myers on social media.
Though he may not have distinguished himself in the highly competitive world of the NFL, fans and teammates say his spirit and cn-do attitude made him a player they’ll never forget.
