Chaz Ramsey May Have Lost His Mind

((HT: al.com/Goldberg))

Former Auburn offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey is suing two former university employees for ``pain and anguish'' and ``the denial of a very probable career in the NFL'' because of an injury that the lawsuit claims ended Ramsey's college career.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Birmingham on Thursday seeks ``compensatory and/or punitive damages'' against former offensive line coach Hugh Nall and former athletics trainer Arnold Gamber, but does not list a monetary figure.

Attorney Steve Heninger said Thursday that he's filed suit against Nall and Gamber, claiming their actions resulted in Ramsey suffering a career-ending injury following back surgery. Heninger said he is not suing Auburn University.

``A lot of people will see at this as a suit against Auburn under a different name, but it's really not,'' Heninger said.

Nall said Thursday he was advised not to comment on the specifics of the case.

``I haven't seen the lawsuit and I don't know the details of it, but I'm proud of my 24-year career, so this comes as a real surprise,'' Nall said. ``I'm proud of the young men that I've coached. This is the first thing like this in my 24 years.''

Efforts to reach Gamber have been unsuccessful.

The suit claims Nall and Gamber "negligently caused or negligently allowed Plaintiff to be exposed to increased injury." Neither Nall nor Gamber were retained by Auburn after coach Tommy Tubervllle left after last season.

Heninger said on WJOX on Thursday that Nall and Gamber forced Ramsey to participate in off-season training that was against the orders of Ramsey's doctor. Ramsey was coming off back surgery when he reinjured his back during training before last season, the suit claims. Heninger said he doesn't expect the suit to come to trial for a year.

Ramsey played one season at Auburn and was named to freshman All-SEC team as an offensive guard. He was not on the team last year.

"He lost out on a lot of future because of the coaches and the trainer insisted he do something his doctors said he should not," Heninger said.

Heninger said Ramsey reinjured his back ``because of being intimidated into doing offensive line drills and weight room activities which absolutely should not have been doing.''

Heninger said Ramsey ``can run, he can jog, he can walk'' but can no longer play football.