Marcus Lattimore's stint with the San Francisco 49ers was certainly brief, but unique enough to not be forgotten any time soon. The former South Carolina running back, who suffered two knee injuries in college, reflected back on his football career,… Extra Point:
Sometimes you just feel like a player was robbed. That's the case with Marcus. Here's a kid, like so many others, that grew up with adversity. His story doesn't articulate having to dodge gangs, guns, and drugs, but would it be surprising if on top of everything else - that too was in the picture? Yet he showed that maturity of adult and professional even as a kid. ... Fast forward... he's great in high school, but driven to be even better. .. he's a phenomenal talent in College and gets injured... he battles back ... he's able to play again, at a high level ... only to get knocked down again, in what some believe is among the worst football injuries they have been around... he rehabs... he gets drafted... he has more surgery... he works his way with inches of being put on an active game day roster.

But he can't get there. He know's his knee is not shaped up to what it once was. He knows that even if he looks the part, he's too fragile. Enduring the pain is one thing, but losing your leg for football ... at the age of 23, well that doesn't make sense.

Here's a player, that by all accounts did everything right. He had all the talent in the world. A team with the right mentors and coaches to make his career a real success... but battle as he might, the stars would not align. Think about how difficult it is to make the the NFL. Think about all the conditions that have to go right. Think about players who overcome all of those along the "happy path"... now think of Marcus, who couldn't travel that happy path, and still came so close... just so close.

As a fan of the sport... it's just sad we never got to see what could have been.