C.: Well, I’m inspired. After training for only one day, I’ve lost 1/78th of a pound and my body fat is down to 68%, but I’m really tired. I suppose I should read the rest of what d.c. added to his book, “Beyond the Thirteenth Mile; The Iron Man Chronicles for inspiration.
Drew Brees was the recipient of a fortunate injury, in many people’s opinion. Diving for a ball he fumbled in the last game of the 2005 season, the San Diego Chargers’ quarterback tore the labrum and several muscles in his right (throwing) rotator cuff. Fearing that their leader wouldn’t be able to come back to full strength the next year, the Chargers offered Brees a lowered salary when his contract expired, expecting him to only be able to back up an able-bodied quarterback. Brees refused the offer and accepted a better one from the New Orleans Saints, who needed an upgrade at that position. Four years later, Brees led the Saints to their first, and so far only Super Bowl victory.
Another tough guy worth mentioning is quarterback Byron Leftwich. During a game against college conference rival Akron, the Marshall quarterback broke his left tibia. He was carried off the field by two of his teammates after the play, only to return to lead his team to rally from a seventeen point deficit. His brilliant effort, though, didn’t result in a victory. Akron prevailed by three points. (Byron Leftwich, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byron_Leftwich recalled 2/22/2023).
Another quarterback who played with pain was Phillip Rivers. The San Diego Chargers’ quarterback played the 2007 AFC Championship game with a torn ACL. His performance was limited, and his team succumbed to the New England Patriots in the end.
In 1994, Emmit Smith was a star running back for the Dallas Cowboys. The NFL’s all-time leading rusher suffered a dislocated shoulder during the course of the game played against the New York Giants in the Meadowlands. It was an important conference game, and Smith didn’t want to let his teammates down. He re-entered the game after a brief rest period on the sidelines, resulting in the Cowpokes beating theri conference rival in an overtime game by three points.
In a 2005 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb suffered what was believed to be a severe ankle sprain. McNabb had the Eagles' trainers tape the ankle and returned to the game. McNabb then proceeded to perform spectacularly, leading his team to victory. When the team doctor examined McNabb’s lower leg, he discovered that McNabb had suffered multiple hairline fractures in his tibia.
San Francisco Forty-NIners defensive back Ronnie Lott had the tip of his pinky finger amputated after twisting it severely making a tackle. Lott did this so that he could play in the 1985 NFL playoffs. If he had opted for surgery and rehabilitation exercises, Lott would have missed an opportunity to help his team try to make it to the Super Bowl.
And most of us have heard the stories of the injuries that billionaire golfer Tiger Woods has suffered. His shoulder blade had a cyst removed from it, and his knees have hampered him in the 2022 Master’s golf championship, after being operated on twice in the previous year. Add a case of Plantar Fasciitis to those injuries, and the long -lasting affects of a car wreck to the above, and one wanders how much longer Woods will be willing to torture himself, since he isn’t in need of the prize money. These stories of triumph come with a warning: don’t try any of these things unless you’re a well-trained athlete (and maybe not even then).
compiled from: The Twenty Biggest Injury Comeback in Sports: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/845881-the-20-biggest-injury-comebacks-in-sports recalled 2/24/2023