Football: The Good and the Bad

Tonight I watched probably one of the greatest college football games ever played, in which little Boise State upset, in overtime, perennial football powerhouse Oklahoma State. This game was not even supposed to be close, but Boise St. played as if every member of their team was straight out of the Western movie "True Grit" with John Wayne. They lost an 18 pt. lead in the fourth quarter only to drive down the field with less than a minute left, call an insane pass play, and miraculously dive into the end zone as time ran out. Players on both sides played their heats out, did not taunt each other, and the coaches seemed to call every play on the planet, including the ancient Satue of Liberty play which won the game for Boise when they WENT FOR THE 2-pt. conversion instead of tying the game and heading to a second O.T. It was insane. I'm still sweating.

But as for the bad, a Denver Broncos cornerback was shot to death on New Year's Eve while sitting in his stretch humvee outside a Denver nightclub. Also, insane. Here is a PARTIAL list of NFL players who have been shot recently:

Shootings involving NFL players since 1992

ESPN.com

A partial list of shootings involving NFL players since 1992.

• Jan. 1, 2007 -- Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting early Monday, his limousine sprayed with bullets in downtown Denver.

• Sept. 3, 2006 -- San Diego Chargers linebacker Steve Foley was shot twice near his Poway home by an off-duty Coronado police officer who had followed him for several miles after suspecting him of driving drunk. He missed the entire 2006 season due to injuries.

• July 16, 2006 -- Cowboys defensive back Keith Davis was shot in the head and right thigh while driving on a Dallas Interstate. Davis was treated and released from Baylor Hospital from what police are believing was a car-jacking attempt. Davis recovered from his wounds and would go on to play in every game during this 2006 season.

• July 28, 2005 -- Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jerome McDougle was shot in the abdomen during a robbery attempt in Miami. He missed the entire season due to injury but retured for the 2006 season.

• July 4, 2003 -- Chargers defensive back Terrence Kiel was shot outside a Houston mall in an attempted car-jacking. Kiel was shot once in his ankle, once in his knee and once around his stomach. Kiel went on to recover from his wounds and would eventually start seven games that season as a rookie.

• June 29, 2003 -- Cowboys defensive back Keith Davis was shot in the elbow and hip outside a Dallas area strip club. Davis would make it to the first day of training camp but was cut that day by the Cowboys. The shooting came about a month after Coach Parcells issued a warning to players about hanging out at places they weren't welcomed.

• Aug. 31, 2003 -- Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter was one of six people shot (one was killed) outside a Denver sports bar. Porter was shot and wounded in the left buttock. He recovered and went on to play 14 games that season.

• July 6, 2000 -- Carolina Panthers running back Fred Lane was shot and killed by his wife, Diedra, during a domestic dispute. Lane's wife is serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter charges.

• May 3, 1992 -- Indianapolis Colts defensive end Shane Curry was shot in the head and killed outside a Cincinnati nightclub after a dispute regarding a blocked vehicle.