mikoangelo's blog: "MichaelAngelo "

American football has been a popular sport since its start in the late 1800's.  Its original leagues, the American Football Association, and the National Football League, each had their own teams and at the end of the season, would have each of their best teams face one another. More recently, the NFL has become the most widely recognized association. Football has led to many inspirational, "edge-of-your-seat" moments, shared in American households across the nation. Football has an ability to bring people together and drive its competitors to new heights of athleticism.  Below, we can read what some of the greatest paragons of the sport had to say in these great football quotes.   "The athlete who says it can't be done should not get in the way of the one who is doing it." -John Wooten  Wooten was a guard in the NFL for nine years. He played for both the Cleveland Browns, and the Washington Redskins.  As a guard for such an extensive period, John Wooten had vital exposure to hesitation and last second game changing plays.  He has shown over the years that he is a go-getter, earning him a spot on the Cleveland Browns Legends Program.   "Football is an honest game. It's true to life.  It's a game about sharing. Football is a team game. So is life."- Joe Namath  Once his NFL career started, Joe Namath was a valuable quarterback for the New York Jets, and later, the Los Angeles Rams.  Along with his undeniable skill, his overall demeanor helped him earn a place in the Hall of Fame in 1985. His team skills have been proven time and time again, once notably in a 1974 game where he threw a tie-breaking touchdown pass to Emerson Boozer.   "I don't care how complicated they make the game seem, it's really based on two principles, and those are tackling and blocking."-Red Grange  Red Grange was a pioneer of the NFL. His contract with the bears assisted in solidifying the legitimacy of the league. Given his title of "Best College Football Player," it isn't surprising that the game came naturally to him, leading him to believe in the simplicity of it.   "I loved the game. We played it because we loved it."-Jim Brown  James Nathanial (Jim) Brown was a running back for Cleveland Browns from 1957 through 1965.  Having been drafted in the first round, Brown's love of the game was hardly a secret. His induction into the Hall of Fame in 1971 only solidified such claims.  A love of the game was probably one of his most vital ingredients for success.   "...Cause there's only one reason for doing anything that you set out to do. If you don't want to be the best, then there's no reason going out and trying to accomplish anything." - Joe Montana  Joe Montana helped lead the 49ers into 4 Super Bowl games with his astonishing skills as a quarterback. Having been inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, Montana easily proved his place in the top ranks among the best of the best.  Only an attitude like the one portrayed in the quote can help lead to greatness.   "You don't have time to think about the record. They're going to keep getting bigger and bigger."- Peyton Manning  Peyton Manning has accumulated a vast list of records over the course of his career. They include, but are not limited to; most seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards, most seasons with 12+ wins as starter, and most AP NFL MVP awards. His career has spanned over many years, leaving his records plenty of time to be matched or broken. Throughout his experience, through this quote, it can be seen that he's learned not to focus on records, and just being the best he can be.   "Before the first year, nobody gave it a chance. Now, 36 years later, everybody knows about Monday Night Football." - Frank Gifford  A seasoned athlete with twelve seasons under his belt, Frank Gifford has seen Football undergo a drastic change in popularity. Through his time with the New York Giants, Gifford became familiar with a rise in popularity. What was once a pastime for here and there has sprouted into one of the greatest American traditions.   "For me, winning isn't something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream." - Emmitt Smith  Emmitt Smith, "considered as one of the greatest running backs in history," started his career at a college level, showing an early dedication to the game. After a slow start, the Dallas Cowboys signed Smith. He soon proved his worth by leading in rush attempts.  Through his success he remembered his slow start, and the importance to continue improving.   "If winning isn't everything, why do they keep score?" Vince Lombardi  Vince Lombardi started off playing football in high school. He progressed to coaching at St. Cecilia High School, and later Fordham University.  Following this, he was introduced to the NFL by the New York Giants. He later went on to coach the Greenbay Packers, where his true successes shone. He led the Greenbay Packers through eight years without a losing season.  In his whole NFL career his record sat at 149 wins, 47 losses, and 6 ties.   "To me it was never about what I accomplished on the football field, it was about the way I played the game." - Jerry Rice  Widely considered one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, Rice was chosen as The Top100: NFL's Greatest Players. For that, tenacity for hard work and giving it your all was born.During his time with the Seattle Seahawks, Rice spoke with Hall of Famer Steve Largent, and was granted Largent's Jersey number, which at the time was retired.