Welcome to Deadspin’s The Sports activities Nihilist, the place all is for naught and we’re however unintentional jolts of electrified meat caught to the floor of a rock in an detached universe. F*ck you.
Two of the principle storylines throughout the NFL Draft course of concerned a few rookie quarterbacks who now are out every week (or two) with accidents. Scouts puzzled if Bryce Younger was sufficiently big to play quarterback on the subsequent degree, and likewise marveled at Anthony Richardson’s Adonis-like physique. Effectively, the previous Alabama QB and Heisman winner will miss every week or so with a sprained ankle, and the Colts’ first-year starter is sidelined underneath concussion protocol.
Richardson truly left Indianapolis’ first sport late within the remaining quarter because of knee and ankle soreness — and recklessness. That very same fearlessness (naivete?) bought him into the endzone twice in Week 2 earlier than the second TD run ended along with his head bouncing off the turf-covered concrete, and if you happen to assume there’s a excellent archetype for NFL quarterback, Richardson is proof that no quantity of bodily expertise, or rule modifications, ensures an extended profession.
So if head trauma is that this nice equalizer, why obsess over stature and a capability to take bodily punishment when any QB might go at any level? I might draft Younger with the primary choose 1,000,000 occasions out of 1,000,000 if given a redo, and if he breaks, there’ll all the time be one other physique to take his spot.
Is it a bit of nihilistic? Completely, however that’s the NFL’s enterprise mannequin. Seven years out of Tua Tagovailoa is healthier than 15 seasons of Ryan Tannehill. I wager Invoice Belichick would commerce Mac Jones for Younger tomorrow.
Guys like Tom Brady, John Elway, and Patrick Mahomes are anomalies; Jedis strolling amongst us in a position to navigate small and shifting pockets with human missiles bearing down on them. The remainder of the elite guys have a restricted quantity of tread earlier than ultimately getting blindsided by a truck and hauled off on a golf cart.
What number of NFL greats at any place had been in a position to exit on their very own phrases? I’m shocked Jerry Rice can stroll upright, to be sincere. (Gotta be that Copper Match.) I imply, if you happen to don’t have a child or a partner by 35, you’re technically lifeless. Procreation is the one goal, and the extra people there are, the extra flesh there may be for soccer.
I don’t know if you happen to’re conscious of this, however the Earth has a inhabitants disaster on its arms, and the extra individuals we are able to persuade to take part in fight sports activities, the faster we are able to turnover these two tops — metaphorically talking.
Wouldn’t reservations for demise be simpler than attempting to stave it off? It’s a “You understand you solely had a day to stay” type of factor, however solely you recognize your expiration date. If somebody stated you’ve bought till 45, I’m taking part in working again, consuming scorching wings for breakfast, and mixing in a splash of opioids for good measure. I’m going out early? I’m cramming in as a lot self-fulfillment as doable.
And you could end up residing in a shotgun shack
And you could end up in one other a part of the world
And you could end up behind the wheel of a giant car
And you could end up in a ravishing home, with a ravishing spouse
And you could ask your self, “Effectively, how did I get right here?”
I’ve no clue, however give me some timing, a bit of moxie, loads of arm power, and I’ll give you a stunning home and a ravishing spouse.