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[font=arial,]Former Panther player dies from injury sustained in Arena football game [/font]
</TD></TR><TR><TD width=515>[font=arial,]LOS ANGELES - Former NFL defensive lineman Al Lucas died Sunday from a presumed spinal cord injury sustained while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers during an Arena Football League game, the team said.[/font][font=arial,]A call to a California Hospital spokesman was not returned. [/font]
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[font=arial,]"It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Al Lucas. At this time, the thoughts and prayers of the entire Avenger organization are with his wife and family," team owner and chief executive officer Casey Wasserman said in a statement. [/font]
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[font=arial,]The 26-year-old Lucas was injured during a first-quarter kickoff return against the New York Dragons. [/font]
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[font=arial,]Television replays showed Lucas bending down to make a tackle. The Dragons' ball carrier and a blocker tumbled over his head and back, with the blocker's leg appearing to hit Lucas in the head. Lucas did not move after falling to the ground. [/font]
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[font=arial,]The 6-foot-1, 300-pound lineman played two seasons (2000-01) for the Carolina Panthers, recording 49½ tackles in 20 games. He attended Troy State from 1996-99 and won the Buck Buchanan Award his senior season as the top defensive player in Division I-AA. In 43 games at Troy State he had 255 tackles and 11½ sacks. [/font]
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[font=arial,]He was selected to the Arena League's All-Rookie team in 2003 while playing for Tampa Bay. [/font]
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[font=arial,]"Al Lucas played arena football with passion and integrity. The entire AFL family extends its deepest sympathies to Al's wife and family as well as his friends, family and teammates," commissioner David Baker said in a statement. [/font]
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[font=arial,]Lucas was married to De-Shonda Lucas and had a daughter, Mariah. [/font]
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[font=arial,]Several NFL players have died shortly after games, though no one has been declared dead on the field. [/font]
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[font=arial,]Detroit Lions receiver Chuck Hughes died of a heart attack during a game on Oct. 24, 1971. Hughes entered the game late in the fourth quarter and ran a deep route over the middle. As he headed back to the huddle, he collapsed. Team doctor Richard Thompson tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Hughes on the field and the game was finished in silence. [/font]
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[font=arial,]In 1963, Kansas City rookie running back Stone Johnson died 10 days after he broke his neck in an exhibition game against the Houston Oilers. In the game played at Wichita, Kan., Johnson was hurt while blocking on a kickoff return. [/font]
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