Posts by Joan Courtney
Consistent Dedication
Long ago, Joe Thomas earned the title of NFL Iron Man. He has never missed a game since the Cleveland Browns made him the third pick in 2007. In fact, this 11th year man out of Wisconsin who plays center, has never missed a play in starting all 161 games of his career. He has…
Read MoreChanging Expectations
It’s difficult for a competitor to be picked up by a new team. And different expectations can be a challenge. A star player joined a new team and was not playing as much in a game as he thought he should be. The team was losing the game. The player felt he had more to…
Read MoreStop the Chatter
You attract the things you think about the most. If you envision having a successful and fulfilling day, you will probably have one. If you wake up each morning dreading the day ahead, the universe will give you lots of irritations to add to your to do list. While I understand this to my bones,…
Read MoreNothing Is Impossible
Long snappers are among the most unheralded of football players — unless something goes terribly wrong. This skill is precise and deliberate, often executed under tremendous pressure if a team needs the points to win. This year, though, everyone was talking about long snappers for a different reason. Jake Olson had a form of retinal…
Read MoreNew Beginnings
At the end of last year’s season, the reality of the situation in Cleveland was that the Browns had holes all over their roster — despite having 14 picks in the 2016 NFL Draft — and they were still a long way away from being able to compete in the AFC North. The offensive line…
Read MoreEarly Success
Each week a football team faces different challenges from the opposing team. Each game plan is different. It might be a strong emphasis on passing. Or perhaps an almost superhuman running back tipping the odds. Or the defensive line that’s a powerful force to be reckoned with. UCLA has had a phenomenal win or two…
Read MoreBlock the Punt
I get excited and enthused about something I’m doing, an activity I’m involved with. Something that piques my curiosity and encourages me to learn more about it. It could be a project, a trip, an interest. Something quite vast or tiny. It could touch my heart or be an intellectual pursuit. Sometimes when I share…
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