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A16 sports
Wednesday 21 september 2022

Fine line between longevity, Brady and a Sayers-like career

By FRED GOODALL son with two new young
AP Sports Writer starters on the offensive
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — There's line. Second-year pro Rob-
a fine line between a Tom ert Hainsey and rookie
Brady and a Gale Sayers. Luke Goedeke had earned
Whether a player is a seven- Brady's trust in practice,
time Super Bowl champion in part by "showing up ev-
who plays well into his 40s ery day" and learning from
like Brady or all-time great their mistakes.
running back knocked out "Football is a dangerous
of football during his prime sport. If they don't do a
like Sayers there's an ele- great job, they put other
ment of luck to longevity in people at risk. If you don't
the NFL. know what you're doing,
For all the evolving technol- it could be dangerous for
ogy, increased awareness the (running) backs and for
of the value of year-round the quarterback, and vice
fitness regimens and rule versa," Brady said.
changes designed to make "No one wants to be hung
the game safer, players out to dry," Brady added.
concede good fortune is a "We're all out there togeth-
common denominator to er, we're all trying to protect
staying on the field. each other. The more you
"People don't like to use San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (5) gestures while being carted off the field during feel like guys know what to
the word luck, but there's the first half of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, do and care about what
Sept. 18, 2022.
no doubt there's something Associated Press they're doing, I think you
to that," Hall of Fame line- gain more trust in them."
backer Derrick Brooks said. knee injury that sidelined ligament in his left knee. risk, what's at stake on ev- Aaron Rodgers is 38 and
"You do have to take care him for all but one game in "I'm fortunate I get to play ery play," Brooks said. "You in his 18th season. He said
of your body and do every- 2008 to shatter numerous quarterback. I don't have don't think about it. You shoddy playing surfaces
thing you can to give your- records and raise the NFL to play running back, line- go out and play. You can't can contribute to inju-
self a chance to play every standard for winning. backer, defensive line or play in fear." ries, and noted it also can
week, but you've got to be Sayers, an electrifying run- offensive line. So, I can't Saints defensive end Cam- be difficult avoiding fluky
fortunate, too. ner whose career with the complain," Winston added. eron Jordan, who's father things from occurring off
"I can't tell you how many Chicago Bears was cut "Those guys in the trenches, Steve played in the NFL, the field.
times my ankle got twisted short by injuries 50 years they're really hitting. They're was drafted by New Or- The Green Bay quarter-
in the bottom of a pile or ago, wasn't as fortunate. really putting their life at risk leans in 2011 and has only back said he fractured his
somebody hit me and I'm The first player to score six every play. But they enjoy missed one game his entire left pinky toe while work-
thinking, man, I'm lucky I touchdowns in a NFL game that, and they do whatev- career. And that was be- ing out at home during his
didn't get hurt," Brooks add- retired in 1971, having ap- er it takes to protect them- cause of COVID-19, not a quarantine after a positive
ed. "Then you look at some- peared in just 68 games selves." football injury. COVID-19 test in 2021.
body else and think that's over seven seasons. Sayers Brett Favre made 297 con- "Everybody plays with nicks While the injury didn't cause
not that bad a hit, and it played in two games each secutive regular-season and bruises," Jordan said. him to miss any games and
turns out to be a serious in- of his last two seasons, but starts from 1992 to 2010 for "The ongoing funny story didn't limit his effectiveness,
jury. You just never know." had such an impact on the Green Bay Packers, my dad would tell me, or I'll Rodgers recalled play-
Trey Lance can relate. The the Bears and the league New York Jets and Minne- probably tell my kids, is that ing without practicing be-
San Francisco quarterback that at age 34, he be- sota Vikings — the longest the first day you play foot- cause of his ailing toe.
suffered a season-ending came the youngest player such streak for an offensive ball is the last day you'll be Jordan knows all about
injury Sunday, just two ever inducted into the Hall player in league history. truly 100 percent healthy." doing whatever is neces-
games into the season. But of Fame. "We don't know Jim Marshall had the lon- One reason for that is a hurt sary to be available for the
the 22-year-old needs to when our career is going gest iron-man streak for a player will take the field Saints.
look no further than Brady to be over. We just got to defensive player, starting while an injury will sideline "In terms of not missing
for inspiration. prepare for each day and 270 straight with the Vikings them. a game, I feel like that's
In a league where the av- attack each day with our from 1961 to 1979. Brady has the longest just major blessings from
erage career spans three best effort," said New Or- Brooks' stretch of 208 con- streak of consecutive starts above," the defensive end
to five years, Brady is in his leans Saints quarterback secutive starts for the Tam- among active quarter- said. "I feel like God has
23rd season and is the old- Jameis Winston, who's pa Bay Buccaneers from backs (94). He's closing blessed me with not only
est starting quarterback back this season after miss- 1996 to 2008 is tied for 12th in on becoming the only talent but opportunity and
in NFL history at age 45. ing much of 2021 while re- on the all-time list with Pey- player with three streaks of I've been able to take ad-
The league's career pass- covering from surgery to ton Manning. at least 100. vantage of each and every
ing leader returned from a repair the anterior cruciate "Every player knows the The Bucs entered this sea- opportunity presented.q