NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox had movement in his legs and arms and was talking with members of his family last night after he was taken from the field in an ambulance following an injury to his spinal cord in yesterday's National Football League game against the Tennessee Titans.
Maddox remained overnight in Baptist Hospital with a spinal cord contusion and concussion. He was taken there after he was injured on a tackle by Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck on the final play of the third quarter.
Steelers spokesman Ron Wahl said Maddox "has movement in all four limbs and is awake and alert and has talked to his family."
"I think he's going to be fine," said Vann McElroy, Maddox's agent. "It's the best possible situation that can happen. There's no swelling. It's a miracle."
McElroy attended the game and went to the hospital when Maddox was taken there. So did Maddox's parents, who flew in from Dallas to watch their son start his seventh consecutive game for the Steelers.
Several hours after the game, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher and running back Eddie George went to the hospital to visit Maddox. Bulluck also called the hospital to check on Maddox and tell him he was praying for him
Steelers orthropedic surgeon Dr. James Bradley remained with Maddox last night and did not return on the team charter back to Pittsburgh. Maddox is expected to fly to Pittsburgh today.
Dr. Raymond Sekula, a neurosurgeon at Allegheny General Hospital, said "spinal contusion" is the general term used for a range of injuries to the spine that could involve bruising, compression or stretching of tissue or some type vascular damage.
"The implication is that it is a less severe and possibly reversible type of injury," he said.
Although there is a chance of permanent neurological damage, sensory loss or even paralysis, often patients who experience spinal contusions recover fully and can resume their previous lifestyle without the need of physical therapy, according to Sekula.
The Steelers began receiving encouraging news about Maddox as they prepared to leave the stadium after their 31-23 loss to the Titans. Team president Dan Rooney said Maddox had movement in his upper extremities and was experiencing pain in his lower extremities -- a good sign, Rooney said, because that meant Maddox had some sensation in his legs.
That was uplifting news for Maddox's teammates and members of the Steelers organization, many of whom were shaken and unnerved as their 31-year-old quarterback lay motionless on the field, with no feeling in his arms and legs.
"That's difficult to see, a teammate, a friend, just lying there," said guard Alan Faneca. "Then you see an ambulance come out there. The same thing happened to a teammate in high school. It was the same feeling of helplessness. You can't do anything. You keep your thoughts with him and go do your best."
"At that minute, when I saw him lying there, I forgot about the game," safety Lee Flowers said. "We didn't care about who was going down the field."
Maddox was injured on the final play of the third quarter when he was attempting a pass on third down. Maddox appeared to trip trying to sidestep safety Lance Schulters and was falling to the ground when he threw a pass to wide receiver Antwaan Randle El. As he was falling, Bulluck's right forearm appeared to hit Maddox near the back of his shoulder pads, causing his head to hit the ground.
"He simply threw the ball and I just fell on him," Bulluck said.
Maddox lay face down on the grass, motionless. When Steelers trainer John Norwig arrived with team doctors Jim Bradley and Tony Yates, several players said Maddox had no feeling in his arms and legs.
"I was scared to death," tight end Mark Bruener said.
"All I could think of was his wife and two kids," said punter Josh Miller, one of Maddox's closest friends on the team. "It reminds you quickly it's just a game."
Maddox lay on the field for nearly 15 minutes as players from both teams stood quietly on the sideline and watched from the benches. Coach Bill Cowher said when he arrived on the field, Maddox was conscious. Fisher also came on the field and stood near Maddox, talking with Cowher.
The Steelers had to cut the facemask from Maddox's helmet to secure the harness around his neck and head. He was lifted on a stretcher into an ambulance and accompanied to the hospital by Yates.
"This is a brutal game and nothing is promised," said tackle Wayne Gandy. "It's tough to see something like that. You never want to see a teammate, or someone else's teammates, where an ambulance has to come get you."
"It puts things into perspective and it is a very difficult thing, not only for Pittsburgh, but our team and the fans here," Fisher said. "We are praying for him."
When the Steelers got to the locker room, Cowher and the players said a group prayer for Maddox. Shortly thereafter, they began receiving some encouraging news about their teammate.
"Thank God he's all right," Bulluck said. "When I walked over to him to wish him well, he moved and gave a motion like he was going to be all right. I just told him I was going to pray for him to get better."
Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1466.
Post-Gazette staff writer Carmen Lee contributed to this story.
Injured Maddox's progress is good 
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