Nick Piazza, the Saints chain crew worker who suffered two torn ligaments, a fractured fibula and cartilage damage to his right knee in New Orleans’s game vs. the Lions on Sunday, spoke for the first time since the injury.
Piazza thanked all the fans who sent home presents and messages, and especially thanked running back Alvin Kamara, who ran into him to cause the injury, for signing a football and jersey as part of the Saints care package.
“I really appreciate the messages, care packages and medical treatment,” Piazza said, via Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. “And if you see Alvin, please tell him thanks. He signed a football and jersey for me. Very nice.”
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Piazza is a teacher in Chalmette, La. but has been working his job at Saints games for nine years, a job that he appears to adore.
“I’ve always loved the Saints,” Piazza said. “There’s nothing better than being right there.”
The sideline was thrust into the spotlight with the injury when FOX showed the gruesome injury during the Saints-Lions broadcast. The game was stopped for an extended period of time as Piazza was treated and carted off the field.
Piazza is scheduled for surgery on Friday in New Orleans, and he will not return to the sidelines again this season.
