It seems as though Bahamian professional football player Devard Darling can't 'catch a break' in the National Football League (NFL). Just when he thought his career was taking off again on the gridiron a knee injury put the wide receiver on the sidelines.
Determined to play this year, Darling settled with the Houston Texans who had picked him up earlier this summer, instead of being placed on the injured reserve list, which would have ended his season. Now, he is a free agent again. Darling tore the lateral meniscus in his right knee during the third pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers. He underwent surgery on August 30.
"About two and half, three weeks ago, I got cleared from all the doctors, so I am all cleared, fully healthy and ready to go again," said Darling. "I have my agent working for me, but we still don't know anything yet. We are waiting week to week to see who has a need for a receiver, so that is the biggest thing right now. Unfortunately, in this business, a man's loss is another man's gain, so if someone gets hurt during the season that is where they will bring in another receiver. Right now, I am just waiting. You never know, this is just the way the game goes. Once I get that call I am ready to go, so we will see. It is all in the Lord's hands right now."
Darling said he is not 'antsy', despite the fact that the NFL is heading into Week Six of the 2011/2012 regular season. He is confident that the wait is not in vain, and that the important phone call is going to come. Right now playing on any of the 32 registered teams in the league will suffice, but if he is given a choice, the lean is more to the Texans.
He added: "Of course I am really leaning with the Houston Texans because I was with them in training camp. I know their plays, and also I am already in Houston. I can't sign back with the team until Week 10 because that is the NFL rules. They put me on IR (Injury Reserve) and I got a settlement from that, and I was released of injury reserve. I can't sign back with them until six weeks after I am fully recovered from my injury, so that is what it is right now. I can sign on with anyone right now because I am healthy and I am a free agent."
Darling signed on with the Texans in August of this year. He made his return to the NFL after playing in the United Football League (UFL) with the Omaha Nighthawks. The wide receiver was drafted into the NFL in 2004, the 87th pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the third round. He spent three years with the team, catching 20 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns.
Darling then moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008 where he played in their camp for one year until he joined the Nighthawks in 2010. This is second sport-related injury since his official debut on the professional ranks. The first occurred while in the Chiefs' camp.
He doesn't believe that his career is over, and brushed his mishaps off as "a part of the game."
"This is a profession that I was blessed with and chose to do," he said. "This is just the business side of it, so you just have to go out there and work hard everyday, continue to hone your skills as much as possible on the field. All I can do right now is sit back and wait on that call. All I am doing is praying and waiting on the Lord to move on my behalf.
"I am training. I am training everyday. I just got done with a good workout so now I am icing. I have been training here in this facility called the Flex in Houston. A bunch of other football players are here and NFL veterans working out. They are basically in the same situation that I am in, a free agent, so it is good to workout and be around other guys, running routes, catching balls and getting ready."
Darling thanked all for supporting him during this rough time. Special thanks were sent to those who sent words of encouragement, especially from Bahamians wanting to see him back on the field.

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