‘I Jumped Up, Reached for the Ball … and My Life Changed Forever’

Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member Topic Starter

6 years ago

NFL | Behind the Face Mask

‘I Jumped Up, Reached for the Ball … and My Life Changed Forever’
John W. McDonough
Sports Illustrated
The MMQB

By Brandon Bostick | February 26, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — Sometimes I wake up in the morning and it’s the first thing on my mind. There are nights when I dwell on it before falling asleep. Sometimes the thought creeps up on me when I’m lifting weights, or eating dinner, or sitting on my couch at home. I flash back to that moment—I can see the ball floating right in front of me—and I wonder: What if?

I messed up in the NFC Championship Game, and trust me, it hurts. I’ll probably think about my role in the botched onside kick every day for the rest of my life. It haunts me like a recurring nightmare.

Most of America didn’t know my name before Jan. 18, 2015. I grew up in Florence, South Carolina, and played Division II football at Newberry College (enrollment: about 1,000 students). I signed with the Packers in 2012 as an undrafted free agent and spent the entire year on the practice squad. The transition to the NFL is difficult, especially for a small-college guy. My first year in the league was humbling: I busted my ass every week to get better and to help the team, only to watch them play on Sundays, knowing I couldn’t contribute. But by 2013 I had cracked the lineup, and last season I began playing pretty regularly. Still, most people—perhaps even some Packers fans—didn’t know who I was until there were two minutes and seven seconds left to play in the NFC title game.

We led the Seahawks, 19-14, when they attempted an onside kick. Andrew Quarless lined up next to me. “I got this guy, you got this guy,” he said. “You know your assignment?”

“Yeah,” I said. “I got this.”

I was supposed to block for Jordy Nelson, who was right behind me. We had practiced this dozens if not hundreds of times before. But when the ball appeared in front of me, just floating in the air, my mind went blank. I forgot everything I was supposed to do. It’s not that CenturyLink Field was too loud, or that I crumbled under the pressure of the situation. Instinct just kicked in. The ball was in front of me and I wanted to grab it. I jumped up, I reached for it … and my life changed forever.

Read on . . .

Brandon Bostick wrote:

Poor guy never really had a career after that play. He drifted around the league as a scouting team player for a couple of years but never cracked an active roster again. His life is dominated by the question What could have been? That's got to sting.

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Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member Topic Starter

6 years ago

Nonstopdrivel
Preferred Member Topic Starter

6 years ago

nerdmann
Premier Member

6 years ago

He was supposed to block that guy, and let Jordy get the ball.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

wpr
Preferred Member

6 years ago

Yeah you have to feel a little sorry for him. Everyone makes mistakes. I certainly do. Then again he was a professional. He is supposed to be held to a higher standard than some guy off the street. He had a job to do and failed. If you don't do your job they are going to find someone who can.

3 other teams checked him out and didn't see NFL worthy material. It may be sad but life is harsh.

Cheesey
Preferred Member

6 years ago

He saved his biggest screw up for the biggest game of his career.
I do understand his "instincts" kicking in. But as was said by WPR, he was a professional, and you do what you were coached to do in that situation.
He didn't.
Had he done what he was supposed to do, he maybe would have a Super Bowl ring, and still have his job.

Smokey
Veteran Member

6 years ago

Brandon Bostick ? At least I can post his name without assuming that everyone knows him.
I don't quite understand why the pining over a player that flashed so briefly. Now let us move forward to more relevant subjects like the future of the GB Packers.

[twocents]

Zero2Cool
Elite Member

6 years ago

Good read, old but that's ok. I thought it was new. I can't feel bad for him. He got caught up in the moment. No big deal. Packers had numerous chances to seal that game. No way was it his fault.

packerfanoutwest
Member

6 years ago

this was the game where Mike McCarthy should have been fired.

KRK
Veteran Member

6 years ago

#10

The guy screwed up, and for that I was disappointed.

But he was a stand up guy after the fact...took total responsibility for his actions. And I admire the heck of him for that. He didnt blame anyone but himself.

Whether its on the football field, in Washington, or in life, there is not enough of that.

In Luce tua Videmus Lucem KRK

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packerfanoutwest (1h) : as I just said,,gtheyh are in no matter what

Zero2Cool (1h) : Packers should get in. I just hope it's not 7th seed. Feels dirty.

packerfanoutwest (1h) : If packers lose out, no matter what, they are in

packerfanoutwest (1h) : both teams can not male the playoffs....falcon hold the tie breaker

packerfanoutwest (1h) : if bucs win out they win their division

beast (1h) : Fine, Buccaneers and Falcons can get ahead of us

packerfanoutwest (2h) : falcons are already ahead of us

beast (2h) : Packers will get in

beast (2h) : If Packers lose the rest of their games and Falcons win the rest of theirs, they could pass us... but not gonna happen

packerfanoutwest (2h) : they still are in the playoffs

packerfanoutwest (2h) : If Packers lose the remaining games,,,,at 10-7

Zero2Cool (3h) : We can say it. We don't play.

Mucky Tundra (5h) : But to say they are in is looking past the Saints

Mucky Tundra (5h) : That said, their odds are very favorable with a >99% chance of making the playoffs entering this week's games

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buckeyepackfan (18h) : Am I wring in saying if Tge Vikings beat The Seahawks, The Packers clinch?

Mucky Tundra (21-Dec) : Agreed; you stinks

Zero2Cool (21-Dec) : I'm not beating anyone. I stinks.

Mucky Tundra (21-Dec) : rough injury for tank dell. guy can't catch abreak

beast (21-Dec) : So far the college playoffs have sucked... One team absolutely dominates the other

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Martha Careful (21-Dec) : I think MLF want Love to look past the end half issues, and feel good about his play. Our coaches generally keep a very positive tone.

beast (21-Dec) : I think a great running game will do that for most QBs

packerfanoutwest (21-Dec) : Coach Matt LaFleur has said quarterback Jordan Love is playing the best football of his career.

beast (21-Dec) : Oh, that's how you keep beating buckeye, with cheating

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