NFL Loses Bright Young Star

New Year's day traditionally serves as a day of hope; an opportunity to start the new calendar year on the right foot. In Denver early this morning, the great feelings of a new beginning were short lived. After celebrating the holiday at a club in Denver, Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams suffered fatal gun shot wounds while seated in a limousine. A young, rising star for the Broncos, Williams' tragic death has hit the Broncos and NFL community hard. Every voice has echoed the same sentiments; Williams' engaging personality will be truly missed. It's often hard for fans to understand the mortality of professional athletes and today's tragedy is a cruel reminder. Most importantly, the family and friends have to deal with the premature death of a loved one. The reactions of his teammates and others around the league truly tell the story. Below are some thoughts from some of his teammates, but several more can be found at: http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/DEN/9902167

Broncos Teammate Nick Ferguson: "You had to see him around his family, you had to see him around his kids, you had to see him interact with everybody in the locker room. We're going to miss his presence, we're goin to miss the man in the locker room, we're goin to miss the man he could have had the potential to be."

Former High School Coach Anthony Criss: "He wanted to be a good parent, a good father, a good example for his kids. He will be missed."

Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan: "We all know that Darrent was an excellent player, but as a person, he was a first-class young man who brightened every room with his smile, attitude and personality. I cannot express how heartsick I feel at this loss."

The shooting death of Williams continues an alarming trend in Denver. Dating back to 2003, Steelers' linebacker Joey Porter and Nuggets guard Julius Hodge have also been shooting victims in the Denver area. Luckily the other two men survived their wounds. While it is a shame the Broncos lost such a talented young player, it is more important to realize that a 24 year old kid lost his life way earlier than he should have.