The Selfish Truth: Injuries in the NFL

4,493

That's the number of injuries that afflicted NFL players over the 2011 season. This is kind of a scary statistic when you consider the NFL only has 1,696 active players at any given point. This is mostly minor injuries that only hold a player out of practice for around a week, but even those injuries can lead to missed games. 

There is no greater shame in sports than when an athlete can't compete because of injury. It's like if you had the job of your dreams and you couldn't go because of something out of your control. It hurts the athlete most of all, of course. But other people are affected by it as well.

What can you do? Fandom v. Fantasy

Picture this!

You're at your annual fantasy football draft. You and the guys are sharing some brews and some stories of last years season about how Kenny Britt didn't pan out just the way you expected (again). You get to your pick (number 10...of course) and you look to your needs and who's available. You're okay at Running Back and QB for now but what you could really use is a solid Receiver. You've also heard a lot about how Tight Ends are the big thing this year. And Matthew Berry said it?! That guy's info is gold! Sign me up! AND You have the wrap around pick and can scoop up that WR and that TE in one fell swoop! Look's like this blind squirrel just found a nut!

Let's see who's the next best players available! It's Jason Witten and Dez Bryant. The guys behind them  are a ways off. Great right?!

What if you're an Eagle's Fan? You want to win your fantasy league, but the thought of cheering for two Cowboys players every week makes your stomach turn. If they both have big games for you, odds are this could lead to a Dallas victory. And Tony Romo will jump around with his smug smile and think he's an elite quarter back and Chris Collinsworth will confirm this. And you wanted it that way. So it's all your fault.

SP&AB are back! New Poll and New Articles Coming Soon!

The Sports Pro and the Average Bro are back! ...Again! We will begin posting great, hard hitting, investigative articles very soon, so don't you worry! Until then, celebrate the return of SP&AB by taking our looking back to some of the old articles, patronizing our fellow blogs, and taking our new poll! Do it guys! For realz!

We takin' over! (One ballpark at a time!)

Sunday will mark a monumental occasion for me. I've never been to a ball park outside of Philadelphia. I remember my first game at Veterans Stadium. I went with my championship Little League team Dig'm Installers. There was an Oreo eating contest and we all got mini oreos when we came in ("we all" couldn't have been more than 10,000 fans). I remember seeing Bobby Abreu and Scott Rolen. I think the Phils won that game but to be honest, I'm not sure.

Then I said goodbye to the ole' Vet and said hello to the new fangled Citizen's Bank Park. And it has been a lovely journey ever since. I'll admit I haven't explored all the subtle nuances of "The Bank". I've yet to have a Schmidter. I've yet to get a ball signed during BP. I've yet to boo Jayson Werth when he takes his old position back in right field, only this time during the wrong at bat.

"Yet" being the main word in that last one.

It's all about the Story Lines

So who's up for a game of guess who!?

1. This Quarterback was drafted late his year. He was the last string QB on a team that decided to carry four players in that position. Scouts said he lacked great physical stature and strength. They said he could't throw a tight spiral. They said he lacked mobility and the ability to avoid the rush. Most scouts thought he would be nothing more than a backup in the NFL.

2. This QB was drafted more towards the middle of the event. He was known to have a good arm but one scout noted that he only went to one receiver and would force it to him even if he was in a crowd. He was called cocky and a gambler. It was assumed he could eventually start despite he fact that he didn't have great tools. He sat the bench his whole first season in the league and split time his second year.

3. This QB was taken in the first round but behind several others at his position. He was thought to have good tools but was very raw. He was said to have no throwing motion and wasn't expected to be a top prospect. During the two seasons before he entered the league, no other undergraduate athlete threw more interceptions. Beyond all of this, he had a bad attitude and was immatue. He touted himself as the best QB in the draft even after he was picked so late.

Do you know who's who?

It's kind of a big deal: Calvin Johnson

Hello Pros and Bros out there! And welcome to a new article series where we discuss the signings of the free agency period and trades. Since it's a big time for the NFL we'll be mainly focusing on that but there will be more! You just wait!

Today were going to talk about a deal that just got done.

Calvin Johnson signs with the Detroit Lions for 7 years $130 Million!

 

Woah! I don't know how to put this, but...It's kind of a big deal! 

Calvin scored big with this deal and he deserves it. There is no better deep threat in the league today then Megatron himself. He is not the sole reason for the Detroit Lions turn around this year, but he is a massive part of it. Without him, Matthew Stafford doesn't grow into the QB he became this year. Brandon Pettigrew can only do so much.

Is Peyton eveything your team will ever need?

 

As a Washington Football fan, I was closely following Peyton Manning and his off-season decisions. Now that they have future Hall of Famer, Robert Griffin III (or first Quarterback on the moon, whichever comes first), I don't pay as much attention, but it's impossible to wade through the sports world without stubbing your toe on a good amount of Manning.

One thing that is an overwhelmingly obvious thought is that, whatever team he goes to, he will make them a great deal better. Duh right? Why would anyone go after him if it didn't make them better? That's the point of all of this hulla baloo! Not to mention the fact that he's Peyton Freakin' Manning!

RG3 is Alright by Me!

There is a subject that is very near and dear to my heart. It is probably one of the most important things in terms of my sports life. It brings me great joy and, more often, great disappointment. And they have recently been in the news with one of their risky, splashy off-season moves.
Washington has sold the farm in order to acquire the second round pick in this years NFL Draft. A pick that will almost surely bring them one Robert Griffin III.

I haven't spoken on this subject. Not in a blog post or a tweet or anything. I'm not upset about it. I've just been marinating on it. And I feel I'm ready to discuss my feelings.

First let me take you through how I found out about the RG3 news. I was convinced, despite everyone else's opinion, that Peyton Manning would be coming to DC. I mean why not! It's not like they've had a terrible history of QB's there since Lawrence Taylor created the reason for the movie the Blind Side (Theisman was one thing LT, but did you have to give us that film too?).

There's gonna be a Bracket Battle up in here!!!

It's the time we've all been waiting for Pros and Bros! We know you've been waiting all year to fill out your new brackets for the NCAA tournament! But what do you do then? Challenge your siblings? Show your friends? Wait until the tournaments over then fill out a bracket and post it on your office bulletin board so everyone thinks you're a genius?

LAAAAMMMMEEEE!

Dear Peyton Manning, We Need You!

Dear Peyton Manning,

My condolences on your recent release from the Colts. I know how hard you played for them and I can't believe they would turn their nose-up at you like that.You deserve better....Much better!

Well I'm here to tell you just how much better you can have it! There is only one place that can facilitate you the perfect way.  A place that can meet you're every need. A place so great, you are the only thing that could make it better.

That place is:

WASHINGTON D.C. !

That's right! Washington D.C. ! To play for the storied Washington R*dsk*ns! I can imagine your excitement at hearing their interest but don't go signing with them on just name recognition alone! Wait until you hear the great things Washington can provide you!

Braun, Steroids, and Baseball's Fallacy of "Fair"

As a relatively young baseball fan, with memories stretching back to about the late 90’s, I have quite a different perspective of the game, from what I've seen and experienced, than that of the long time-90 year old-“I’ll die before I miss a game”-fan. So I can’t describe to you how exciting it was to watch Reggie Jackson hit 3 home runs in Game 6 of the World Series, or how it felt to watch that ball dribble between Buckner’s legs, continuing the pains of so many long-time Boston fans. However, I can describe how thrilling it was to watch Sosa and McGwire go back and forth in the 98’ Home Run Race, or seeing Bonds just 3 years later beat the record that McGwire had set during said race. Its moments like these that I find memorable, that I find great, because for me they were, but I’m sure that Baseball, and many of its fans, would choose to disagree.

For the past 10 years now, Baseball has been trying to erase the credibility of great moments like these; spending millions upon millions of dollars on investigations and trials in order to find out if a handful of players deserve the infamous "*" next to their name, the most recent case being that of Ryan Braun. Whether he "cheated" or not is beyond me, and frankly it doesn't matter. What does matter is that he, along with the Bonds', Sosa's, and McGwire's of my past, has fallen victim to the almighty, and albeit contradictory, wrath of Baseball. Claiming that their use, or perceived use, of steroids/performance enhancers have in some way tainted the “integrity” and “fairness” of the great game we call Baseball……But did it really?

Not the game I want, but the game I've been given

Well, here we go again. The one match-up that I didn't want to see is going down. Baby Faced Eli Manning will face off against Tom Brady and the offensive powerhouse that is the New England Patriots. Again. Yawwwwwn.

As it might be clear to see, I am no fan of this battle. Or at least I wasn't.

My objection to this game isn't hard to guess and it isn't far from other critics'. For one it's a rematch. The story lines are pretty similar. The Giants scrapped through the season just to make it into the playoffs while the Patriots, essentially, breezed through all the way to the big game. Probably one of the NFC's greatest underdogs met up against one of the AFC's perennial favorites. Baby Eli stood up to a titan of the game in Tom Brady. This David and Goliath story turned out with an authentic ending. And Eli is hoping he can pull off another victory.

Sweet Rhymes and Basketball Times: Grammy Albums for Basketball Outcomes.

Pizza and Wings. Lewis and Clark. Milk and Cookies. Sanford and Sons. Music and Sports.

The list above contains 10 items, 5 combinations, that both, (a) explain my life in a 5 combination list and (b) are undeniably meant for one another, save for maybe the “Sanford and Sons” one, never really saw that show so who knows, but the other four there’s no disputing. Now I’d love to explain my pleasant addiction to milk and cookies, or my passion for the accomplishments of Lewis and Clark, but this is a sports blog. So with the Grammy’s right around the corner, and the NBA season nearing its midway point, I figured I’d arise from my fantasy-football-depression-induced-coma, referred to as FFDIC in the medical world, and finally write a thrilling SPAB article on my favorite combination of those listed above; Music and Sports.

Before we begin, I’d just like to say that I know very little about basketball, and can’t play a lick of it, however, I’m fairly familiar with music, hip-hop in particular, and consider myself an expert at deciphering what albums are absolutely terrible from those that are “Award Worthy”. In short, this article is an attempt at translating my ability of finding “Award Worthy” music into finding “Award Worthy” NBA teams.

Let’s begin the ceremonies!

Opening Day: Are we there yet?

25. 30. 67.

These are the days we have until Pitchers and Catcher report, the full start of spring training, and Opening Day, respectively. Now, I know the NFL season isn't technically over yet and the NBA and NHL are in full swing, but football is king. And baseball: it's sweet prince.

T.O.-- Real. Comfortable. Wrangler.

It's been a tumultuous year for Terrell Owens. In Week 14 of the 2010 NFL season, Owens tore the meniscus cartilage in his knee to end his season. After that, during some mysterious off-season activity, he tore his ACL. Soon after this he had surgery but, likely thanks to the NFL lockout, he was never picked up by a team. It seemed he was content to sit out this NFL season with nothing but his successful past career and his VH1 show to be his ticket to fame.

Then, things got real. Owens went on a Sports Center special hosted by Stephen A. Smith with his family by his side. What a perfect time to announce to America that he would be retiring. He had a great career and after 15 seasons, it wasn't a short one either. He had a very heartfelt story about having his family always there for him and not wanting to quit on anything. He felt it was time. He was hanging up the jersey.

Then Wham! TO did what TO does best! Get that popcorn a poppin'! He April Fooled Stephen A in the middle of October! Only TO can do that! He said he was healthy and was ready to come back to the NFL "soon"! He then defined "soon" as a month or less. This was gunna get good! A bunch of teams needed wide receivers! He would get scooped up and breaking records again in no time!

2012 Sports Pro and the Average Bro Bucket List

Well, here we are! It's 2012! It feels like it's been such a long time coming. Thanks to the Mayans and crazy people that misinterpret Mayan calendars, this has been deemed humanities' last year ever! That's some pretty heavy stuff to deal with! I've got so much left to do! I just bought a sweet outfit at Express! I haven't even gotten a chance to wear that high quality apparel! (Yes Express Inc. We would love you to be our sponsor).

Phew...Take it easy there Average Bro! You're getting ahead of yourself! You'll have plenty of time to wear the amazing clothes from Express. 

Sorry Pros and Bros! Got a little crazy there. We all know the world's not going to end. Thanks to Back to the Future II, we know that, due to some crazy realignment, the Chicago Cubs will sweep the Miami Marlins in the 2015 World Series. So we know the Apocalypse isn't happening until at least then. C'mon people! Use your heads!

Buuuuuut....Just in case I'm wrong, I guess it never hurts to be prepared. So, as a huge sports fan, I am making a Bucket List. The Official Sports Pro and the Average Bro Bucket List! The top 10 things to do in 2012! It's pretty much what we would all love to in any given year then taking it to the next "last-year-on-Earth" level.

1. Go to Superbowl XLVI
• Well, duh! What guy doesn't want to go to the Super Bowl? Especially the last Super Bowl ever! I want to take my talents as the Average Bro to Indianapolis for the big game. But why stop there?! Why not rush on the field? Why not rush on the field waving a huge Sports Pro and the Average Bro flag! (Yeah...I took a marketing class one time.) I figure I'll be okay, because if the security at Lucas Oil Stadium could stop a streaker, they would just put them on the D-Line. Heaven knows no Colt could finish a tackle on me.
2. Visit the Steel City
• Whether you like the Steelers or not, you have to admit they are a force in the football world. Six Lombardi Trophies didn't just fall into their lap. They had to work for them. But they won't be working for one this year. So instead of the super bowl parade, I'd like to get a bunch of people and go to Primanti Bros. After that we'll go to the center of the city and all Tebow at the same time! Greatest flash mob ever! I'm sure at least half of us will survive!

The Media and Luck: A Love Story

"I <3 Andrew Luck"

"Luck + Media 4ever!"

"Mr. and Mrs. Media Luck"

These are just some of the things doodled all over the notebook of the national sports media.

It's no secret. The media loves Andrew Luck. And why not, he's the star quarterback, a great student, and he's got great facial hair. He's probably even got a bunch of nice cars! (Just Kidding NCAA!) If the national sports media was the head cheerleader this would be a great American love story.