Nonstopdrivel
7 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

UserPostedImage

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.
UserPostedImage
Nonstopdrivel
7 years ago
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
Nonstopdrivel
7 years ago

UserPostedImage
nerdmann
7 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
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
7 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.
UserPostedImage
Cheesey
7 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.
UserPostedImage
Smokey
7 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]

UserPostedImage
Zero2Cool
7 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.
UserPostedImage
7 years ago
this was the game where MM should have been fired.
KRK
  • KRK
  • Veteran Member
7 years ago
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
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (5m) : The menu you expanded to log in, it's the first icon under "PackersHome" .. maybe i should add text to it
dfosterf (10m) : Feelin' pfowish can't find the sun. No big deal, will drag a laptop out when the time comes
Zero2Cool (26m) : if you're on mobile, open the menu and its the "sun" icon
dfosterf (28m) : Can't find the toggle, lol
dfosterf (28m) : I can find that the Microsoft lady rep for Titletown Tech is the philanthropy boss for the entire Microsoft corporation, but. .
Zero2Cool (34m) : There's a toggle for light/dark theme. Super easy.
dfosterf (1h) : The white background beta was hard to read, especially the quotes
dfosterf (1h) : Hopefully the color scheme remains the same
dfosterf (1h) : *Friday*
dfosterf (1h) : 100 million would be 539 million as of Fridsy
dfosterf (1h) : Heck, they could have taken a hundred milliion and invested in DAVE inc. last year (semi random, humor, but real)
dfosterf (1h) : Beer brat and ticket is where the money comes from
dfosterf (1h) : The 40th is Titletown Tech itself. This is a pet project of both Ed Policy and Mark Murphy
Zero2Cool (1h) : New site coming along nicely. The editor is better than what we have here. Oh yeah!
dfosterf (1h) : No profit that I know of. 0 for 40
dfosterf (1h) : The woke reference has to do with the makeup and oftentimes objectives of the companies they invested in
packerfanoutwest (1h) : beer and brats woke? say whom?
beast (1h) : I don't want to get into politics, but how is, beers and brats considered to be "woke"? Food is food...
beast (1h) : That being said, I'm not saying all 100% should be that way, but not surprised if majority are Wisconsin based
beast (2h) : And if everyone has heard of them, then it it probably has less growth potential and less community based
beast (2h) : Well isn't the investing person supposed to invest the money?
dfosterf (2h) : I swear if I were to discover that one of them has invented a virtue signalling transmitter I will not be surprised, lol
dfosterf (2h) : 39 companies so far that I bet no one has ever heard of.
dfosterf (2h) : -Not saying woke, but should- borderline philanthopist venture capital excercise
dfosterf (2h) : Well for one, they are pouring resources into Title Town Tech. Investing beer, brat, hot dog, ticket money into what is pretty much...
beast (9h) : Wow, 95% drop in investment revenue? Would be interesting to hear the details of why...
dfosterf (25-Jul) : It's my one day deal complaint dept. on shareholder meeting day
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Probably a homer access credential intimidation kinda thing
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Meathead "journalists" skip this, concentrating on operational revenue when convenient. They switch when net revenue is more favorable.
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Resulting in an actual drop of net revenue of 12.5%. She is from Minnesota. Just sayin'
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Any plans to hold Maureen Smith (CFO) accountable for a 95% drop in investment revenue?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : In your face, HBO!
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @ByRyanWood Mark Murphy: “A great source of pride of mine is that we were never on Hard Knocks.”
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : *years
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @mattschneidman Mark Murphy says he anticipates “many Packers games” being played in Germany, Ireland and/or the U.K. over the next 5-10 yea
dfosterf (25-Jul) : *cafeteria* I have hit my head also, so I sympathize
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Possibly hit his head leaning into the glass protecting the food in the cafateria
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Maybe a low flying drone
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Did Savion Williams run into a goalpost or something?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : also, no bueno when a guy starts getting concussions right off the bat in his career
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Concussion is worse. Banks probably vet off day via back booboo claim
Mucky Tundra (25-Jul) : @AndyHermanNFL Jordy Nelson out at camp today. No word if he’s in play for one of the two open roster spots ; )
dfosterf (25-Jul) : Is that better or worse than Banks bad back?
Zero2Cool (25-Jul) : Savion concussion ... not good.
packerfanoutwest (24-Jul) : Aaron Rodgers’s first pass of first team period was picked off
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : tbh I didn't hear of his passing
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : Cosby Show. Malcom Jamal Warner I think is real name
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : I was thinking of Ozzy and Hulk
Mucky Tundra (24-Jul) : Who's Theo?
Zero2Cool (24-Jul) : How is Theo alliteration?
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
32m / Feedback, Suggestions and Issues / Zero2Cool

1h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

25-Jul / Around The NFL / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / TheKanataThrilla

25-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

25-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Martha Careful

24-Jul / Around The NFL / beast

24-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

23-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

22-Jul / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

22-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.