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Seasoned Vet
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PUNTERS AREN'T WIMPS - Injury ends NFL player's game, toughens him for Marines
Submitted by: MCRD San Diego
Story Identification Number: 2003829184142
Story by Lance Cpl. Edward R. Guevara Jr.
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, Calif.(August 29, 2003) -- From a field of dreams to field training exercises, making the transition from a professional punter in the National Football League to a professional Marine in the United States Marine Corps brings a rewarding change of lifestyle to one new Marine.
A Chino, Calif. native, PFC Christopher H. Gutierrez, Platoon 2093, Company G, loved playing football in high school, as well as in college at the University of Minnesota, before attempting to make it his professional career.
The 28-year-old was a seaman in the Coast Guard when he was getting pressure from his college coaches to take a shot at the NFL.
"I kept getting calls from my coaches telling me to pursue the NFL," said Gutierrez. "So I tried out and succeeded."
Gutierrez made his way into the Atlanta Falcons franchise where he played four preseason games before injuring himself while trying to tackle someone during the third quarter of that last game.
"Someone tackled his planter leg," said Kelli M. Gutierrez, his wife.
The planter leg is the opposite leg the player kicks with that allows them to stay stable.
"I was one game shy of a full contract," said Gutierrez. With this disappointment hanging over his head, he had a hard time finding another career to pursue.
"I will never forget that flight home," Gutierrez said. "It seemed like everything I had worked for as a kid was gone."
In an attempt to move on, Gutierrez worked for a pipeline company and a financial planning company before making his decision to reach for the eagle, globe, and anchor.
He wanted a career with stability that he could support a family with, and at the same time to have a respectable career, according to Gutierrez.
Gutierrez left for recruit training, with his wife backing him up 100 percent.
"I helped him fill out his paperwork and give him full emotional support," said Kelly.
His wife has been a positive inspiration to him while facing the obstacles of recruit training, according to Gutierrez.
One of the hardest obstacles for Gutierrez was the Grim Reaper. The 9-mile hike at the end of the Crucible, combined with limited food and sleep, took its toll on him.
"My blood sugar dropped and I almost couldn't stand. I gave way completely in the chow line at the Warrior's Breakfast," Gutierrez said. "The company first sergeant was trying to put anything with sugar down my throat."
While some physical aspects of training affected him and others didn't, the mental aspects were hard to ignore.
"The mental aspects were harder than expected," said Gutierrez. "After receiving, you realize you are here to do a job and accomplish something."
"My wife got me going in the right direction," Gutierrez said. "Now she has me on the right track to develop a career."
He plans on making the Marine Corps a rewarding career and becoming an officer after completing his sociology degree.
"I'm excited about being a Marine," said Gutierrez.
Gutierrez hopes to get stationed on the east coast and settle down with his wife and daughter.
Photos included with story: Before PFC Christopher H. Gutierrez joined Company G, he punted for the Atlanta Falcons.
------------------------------------------------------------ Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are just targets, Nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Hericletus, circa 500 BC ----------------------------------------------------------- 
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Detachment Sergeant
 
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Semper Fi!
 ALWAYS OUT FRONT
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Trooper
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| Where one door is closed, another door is opened. Semper Fi!
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Regular Joe
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quote:
Originally posted by agonyea
One of the hardest obstacles for Gutierrez was the Grim Reaper. The 9-mile hike at the end of the Crucible, combined with limited food and sleep, took its toll on him.
"My blood sugar dropped and I almost couldn't stand. I gave way completely in the chow line at the Warrior's Breakfast," Gutierrez said. "The company first sergeant was trying to put anything with sugar down my throat."
Just another example that the things we go through as soldiers are tougher than most people think. HOOAH to PFC Christopher H. Gutierrez
 
"I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and I win where I fight"
Gen George S. Patton
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Seasoned Vet
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| I applaud this man's decision to serve his country. However there is something that I do not quite understand. If his knee injury was bad enough to end his NFL career, how can it be good enough for him to be a Marine?
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Beekeeper
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The NFL has a lot more people vying for his job. Just because his knee was hurt doesn't mean that he's out of commission. He just isn't a stable enough prospect for an NFL franchise to Put their money on him.
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- IMO
- SFC Richard J. Lacey
LLDS,RCG 1st Sig Bde.
31JAN1968
104535N 1063940E(XS816898)
"The young dead soldiers do not speak. Nevertheless, the are heard in the still houses...We were young, they say. We have died. Remember us." Archibald MacLeish
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Got Silk?
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I'm not sure I agree with that - there are TONS of folks that get hurt in the NFL and make comebacks. I would say that there is less competition as a kicker than at other positions. Plus, a knee injury isn't necessarily as much of a red flag for a kicker as it would be for a running back (for example)....
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ArmyParatrooper.org
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Beekeeper
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| Still, an NFL team isn't going to give a contract to a hurt rookie. With the comeback situation, you have a kicker who's already proved what he's capable of. Not so in this instance. Also, for him to be a Marine, he can push himself hard and pass the physical and he's a jarhead. Yes, it is hard work, but he decides himself whether he makes it or not by how hard he pushes himself. A pro team just won't give him that contract to begin with if hurt to an extent they think recurrences will be inevitable. He's being more of a man by enlisting anyway.[ | | | |