I say no but here's an article bout it... Ryan Clark may be risking his life by playing in Denver 12:19 PM By Chris Mascaro Steelers safety Ryan Clark is weighing the option to play in Pittsburgh's big Monday night game in Denver against the 6-1 Broncos. It's a decision that could put his life in jeopardy. Clark's rare blood condition (his has the sickle-cell trait) nearly caused him to die after playing in Denver two years ago. He had to have his spleen and gall bladder removed because oxygen couldn't flow into those organs in the thin mountain air. He lost more than 30 pounds after the episode. One percent of the population with the sickle-cell trait reacts extremely poorly when it exerts itself in high altitude. Clark, an eight-year veteran who played his first two seasons with the Giants, has been cleared to play on Monday, but is leaning towards sitting out. "Coach [Mike] Tomlin could say, 'You know what, it's not worth it," Clark told reporters on Wednesday. "If he's not comfortable with it, he has the right to tell me I can't play. "Obviously nobody's been able to say, 'If you go, you won't get sick at all. We promise you.' That would make it really easy. And none of them have said, 'If you go, you're going to die,' either. With all those opinions, I spent a month [in 2007] where they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me the last time, too." Even if he doesn't play, Clark is expected to travel to Denver with the team. Football players put their health on the line every week of the season, but Clark shouldn't let his warrior mentality cloud his judgement when it comes to this life-threatening ailment.
He shouldn't even make the trip. obviously i am being overly dramatic, but i don't think he should play.
Chris Mortensen said the doctors have cleared him because his spleen and gallbladder were removed and should not be a problem with his condition as it was 2 years ago. He's no doctor and I'm not sure if this logic is correct.
