Copyright 2009 Crain CommunicationsAll Rights Reserved Business Insurance November 2, 2009 NEWS; Pg. 0034 214 words
Insurance helps NFL player after bad break
It was a bad break on many levels for New York Jets Pro Bowl kick returner and running back Leon Washington.
During the Oct. 25 game against the Oakland Raiders, Mr. Washington suffered a broken right tibia and right fibula after a six-yard run in the first quarter. The break was so bad that Jets right tackle Damien Woody said it was the worst injury he’d ever seen in his 11 seasons in the National Football League.
However, prior to the start of the season, Mr. Washington reportedly took out an insurance policy with Lloyd’s of London in case of injury, according to a report by the Newark Star-Ledger.
Good thinking by Mr. Washington, who is earning $535,000 this year, the final year of his contract with the Jets. According to news reports, the Jets offered Mr. Washington a $5 million-a-year contract in August, but he did not sign the tender at the time.
“As soon as I saw it, I knew (his season) was over,” Mr. Woody told reporters after the game. “(Washington’s) foot was in the ground and (defensive tackle) Tommy Kelly hit it. I saw blood squirting out. That’s emergency surgery right there.”
Indeed, after surgery, the team put Mr. Washington on injured reserve last week and re-signed kick returner Justin Miller.
Copyright 2009 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. November 6, 2009
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