Twenty years ago, Dennis Byrd and Scott Mersereau collided on a football field. It was horrific. Believe me, I was there. In 25 years of covering professional football, I never saw that many players crying in a locker room. Byrd broke his neck and, obviously, his life would never be the same.

Byrd and Mersereau were good friends, but they went their separate ways. It happens to all of us; we lose touch with our friends. Because it's the 20-year anniversary of the collision, I decided to catch up with the former teammates for a feature story.

What I discovered was something poignant. Even though they haven't talked in 18 years, Byrd and Mersereau share an unbreakable bond. We all know about Byrd's triumphs, but Mersereau -- the so-called forgotten half of the collision -- has an incredible story as well.

Mersereau is planning to be there Sunday, when the Jets will honor Byrd by retiring his No. 90 jersey. It will be a powerful moment, because I know they're both looking forward to it. So am I.