Fuad Reveiz cried in the best of times, like the day he set an NFL record for consecutive field goals, overwhelmed by all that life had given him.
On Friday, the worst day of his professional career, Reveiz dissolved into tears once again as he announced his retirement from the Minnesota Vikings, a sudden decision forced by a painful left foot.But, just like that record-breaking day last September, Reveiz wept for what his life had given him, not for what it was taking away.
"I'm a truly grateful man," he began, choking up almost immediately. "It's been a . . . I want to thank ... I want to thank God first, for the ability, how he's blessed me. I want to thank my wife, kids.
"Boy, we've had fun, haven't we," he said to his three young children. "We've had a lot of fun. It's been wonderful."
Reveiz's wife, Gayle, was sobbing beside him, as were most of the Vikings players and staff in the room, including Cris Carter, punter Mike Saxon and long snapper Mike Morris.
Reveiz, a native of Colombia who moved to Miami as a boy, was one of the most beloved Vikings, both for his consistency on the field and his uplifting, deeply spiritual presence in the locker room.
It was during 1994, after coming up short on a 53-yard attempt at New York on Oct. 10, that Reveiz began his record string of 31 field goals. He made his final 28 kicks of 1994 and tied John Carney's NFL record with his first field goal of 1995, a 32-yarder in the second game. He broke the mark later that game.