Protecting the Pocket: The Nameless Giants of the NFL

Who would you say the current stars in today’s NFL are?

Brady? Tomlinson? Sanders? I bet you could keep naming big playmakers who contribute to their teams every game.   

Right then, how many offensive linemen did you have in your list? None?  

That’s exactly the point of this article. To give a little credit and respect to the hefty guards, tackles and centers alike as they fight for the trenches so that the Brady’s and Tomlinson's can dance around defenders and make the magic happen.

I mean, you have to give these guys some credit. They block a 300-pound defensive lineman every play and the only recognition they get is from the referees calling their numbers out when one of them holds or false starts.

It’s a known fact that you can rearrange the letters of “Highlight Reel” to “No Love for O –Line."

The QBs take time at press conferences to thank their O-linemen, but you won’t be buying a bobble head of your favorite guard any time soon, will you?

There has never been an offensive lineman who won the Super Bowl MVP, or offensive player of the year.

I don’t expect that to change unless they start allowing bulldozers into the NFL.

So when you’re watching the big game, take some time to acknowledge the heroes that allow your favorite stars to put their faces up on the Jumbotron and make the fans shell out even more cash for a jersey of the game-winning touchdown receiver while they lie on the ground.

They’re the soldiers of the trenches: the offensive linemen of the NFL.

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