He obviously could have. After his wife Stefanie (left) was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998, he skipped a season of linebacking as well as a season of TV work to spend more time with her. He shaved his head in solidarity when she lost her hair from chemotherapy.

After a fifth cancer recurrence in March, Stefanie passed away on Nov. 19. Her memorial service was held Tuesday.

But, Spielman says, Stefanie made a videotape last year for him and their four children in which she said she didn't want her death to become "an excuse for anything." He said Wednesday that his kids "are doing normal things today" and he "wouldn't be a good leader of my children if I stayed home sad all day. … And I love the (TV) job. It gives me a chance to just talk football."

And Spielman, who played 10 NFL seasons and was an All-American at Ohio State, says football still matters: "In the big scheme of things, everybody knows it's just a game. That's a cliché. But it's very important for people whose livelihood depends on it. And I understand it's just a game, but that doesn't lessen my passion."

The Spielmans helped raise more than $6 million for cancer research at Ohio State. Spielman, noting what he told OSU researchers attending Tuesday's service, suggests that's just a beginning: "I turned to them and said, 'Today we celebrate, tomorrow we fight.' This battle will continue. That was my promise to her, and to them."