Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings / Image: Zuma Press

As I said, I admire the effort. His old school style reminds me of the great Walter Payton. It’s very rare. And it’s fun to watch. But I noticed his name on today’s injury report and I can’t really say that I’m surprised. His practice time was limited because of a back problem. I expect to see more of this as the season wears on. My advice? Only demolish your opponent when it’s necessary—rather than just for fun.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Adrian Peterson on Week 3 Injury Report

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner was named the 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year yesterday. The announcement was made on-field at Raymond James Stadium live on NBC before the kickoff of Super Bowl XLIII. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Connie Payton, the late Walter Payton’s wife, presented Kurt with the award, the only league recognition that acknowledges a player’s community service as well as his playing excellence.

“I am humbled the Lord has given me such an amazing life to impact others. Of all the awards given to NFL athletes, the Walter Payton Man of the Year is the one that stands out above the rest to me because of what it represents. When people look back at my career I want them to see a fierce competitor, but more importantly, I want to be remembered for my consistency of character and the legacy I hope to leave through my First Things First Foundation.”

For all of his on-field accomplishments, including a Super Bowl XXXIV win, two NFL Most Valuable Player awards and four Pro Bowl selections, Kurt’s community work remains his biggest source of pride. After visiting flood-ravaged regions in 2008, he created a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to sponsor home builds throughout the Midwest. To date, he has raised over $650,000, including a $100,000 personal contribution, $100,000 from his foundation, and $100,000 each from the Arizona Cardinals and the NFL Disaster Relief Fund. Kurt established the aforementioned First Things First Foundation in 2001 and has personally contributed more than $1.5 million since then to fund trips for Make-A-Wish families, home builds for underprivileged families, and Punt, Pass and Kick clinics with Special Olympians. Kurt is an active participant in both league-wide and team-based community programs, including NFL Network’s Keep Gym in School initiative and the NFL PLAY 60/American Heart Association What Moves U in-school fitness program.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Kurt Warner NFL Man of the Year

When my CE asked me to write a post about why I love football, I said to myself, “Self, this will be easy.” I’ve answered this question more times than I can remember.

On this first Monday without Monday Night Football in I don’t know how long (a long time), I wax sentimental about what the game means to me. I know football means something different to everyone, but to me, football mirrors life. The game of football is exactly the same as the game of life. And the lessons it teaches you can be applied to your life every day. Of course, I don’t want to forget this is a game. I’m not trying to make something complicated out of something simple. I enjoy football at its most basic existence, as pure entertainment. I enjoy it for the great players and the great plays. I enjoy the strategy, the game-planning and the preparation. I enjoy it as a career. I’ll never get over being paid to watch a football game and to talk with NFL players (and if I do it’s time to do something else), but that is my fortunate reality. Where it goes deeper, though, can be summed up by one of the greatest football players of all-time. From his autobiography, the late Walter Payton said:

“Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It’s ok to lose, to die, but don’t die without trying, without giving it your best.”

Football means a lot of things to me. I could go into great detail about my comparisons of all aspects of the game of football and the game of life. But I’ll spare you. More than anything, football has taught me to never give up. It has taught me to play all four quarters. It has taught me that I will get knocked down, but that I am victorious in getting back up to play again. The victories are great. But the strength gained in learning from the losses is even greater. Legendary Green Bay Packers head football coach Vince Lombardi said:

“The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”

Isn’t that what football and life are all about?

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Post Pattern: ‘Why I Love Football’