A game Clark does not need to play

I am not sure whether to love Ryan Clark or think he is a dumbest man in the world.

By all accounts, Clark, the Steelers’ starting free safety, would play this weekend if it was solely his decision. Thank goodness it’s not.

If you don’t know the story, Clark has sickle-cell trait, which in of itself does not hinder his ability to play professional football. But Clark also has a rare disorder that appears in just 1 percent of those with sickle-cell trait. Again, the disorder does not stop Clark from playing football. But add all that with the high altitude of Denver, and Clark is risking his life.

In 2007, Pittsburgh last played in Denver. Following the game, Clark became very ill. He ended up having multiple surgeries that took his spleen and gall bladder, and he lost 35 pounds and his blood disorders were discovered.

Fast forward to today and the Steelers are preparing to head back to Denver for a Monday Night Football match-up with the Broncos. If you know anything about the NFL, you know this is a big game for both teams and it seems Clark would at least entertain the idea of playing. But many of his teammates are discouraging him and his coach seems to be putting the kibosh on it.

For Clark to even consider suiting up, knowing first-hand what is the likely outcome, is insane. This time around, he has no spleen or gall blander to at least stem the bad things that will be going on in his body. Than again, isn’t that the type of teammate you want, the type of guy you want playing for you, the type that puts everything on the line — literally?

So yeah, I like Ryan Clark the player. However, the Steelers can overcome the loss of one player, the loss of one game, but no one can overcome the loss of your own life. I’d much rather have Clark for the next eight games, the next three or four years, than watch him potentially throw it all away on one ultimately meaningless mid-season game.

Sit down Mr. Clark and let your teammates pick you up.

Still rolling along with my picks, but I only have a few college games this week.

As I write this, the high school brackets have not been released, so I can’t pick those games yet, although I think I could do a pretty good job guessing without even seeing the match-ups.

Here are my college picks for the week and, hopefully, we will have several second-round games in the state playoffs to talk about next week.

Georgia Tech at Duke — I’m not a Duke fan, but you can’t help but pull for the Dookies, unless you are a Tar Heel, but I think Georgia Tech rolls in this one.

Miami at North Carolina — The Tar Heels are a tough team to figure out, but for that matter, so are the Hurricanes. I think this is the corner North Carolina has been waiting to turn.

Clemson at N.C. State — The Tigers should come in a dominate, but they always seem to underachieve. Still, Clemson wins a closer-than-expected contest.

Florida State at Wake Forest — All of the Big Four at home on the same weekend, meaning the North Carolina interstate system will be awash with cars sporting team colors, flags and football helmet magnets. Unfortunately, not all the fans will be returning home happy, and Deacon fans will be among that group.