10 Dumbest Off-Field Injuries in Pro Sports

Getting injured on the field is one thing.  Missing time because you broke your collar bone falling down a flight of stairs is another. 

Sure, athletes are just as prone to injury in everyday life as everybody else, but there's just something funnier about an athlete accidentally shooting himself in the leg.

Out of pity, we won't pick on Plaxico in this slideshow.

10. Steve Smith

Some players just can never get enough football. Don't believe me? Ask Steve Smith, WR on the Carolina Panthers. 

During the 2010 offseason, Smith decided to take part in an adult flag football league at the local YMCA.

Nothing harmful, right? The essence of flag football revolves around the fact that it is a non-contact form of football.

False. This game was in fact the YMCA championship, so there was no way Smith wasn't going hard.  Somewhere en route to his first "championsip", Smith managed to break his left forearm, almost causing him to miss the start of the 2010-2011 season.

Luckily for Smith, the Panthers did not decide to void his contract after the injury. 

9. Chris Coghlan

Ok, maybe this wasn't exactly off the field, but it wasn't during a game either.  And it's also a pathetic way to injure yourself.

When Florida Marlins teammate Wes Helms knocked in the game winning run, an excited Coghlan immediately volunteered to be the one who pies Helm in the face, which is a common practice in baseball.

Apparently, Coghlan was a bit too caught up in the moment.  After jumping in the air to pie his teammate, Coghlan landed awkwardly, tearing his meniscus.  He missed the rest of the season.

8. David Wells

When this man falls, he falls hard.  And it isn't hard to imagine that it doesn't take much to make Wells take a tumble.

Apparently, during the 2004 season, while he was pitching for the Padres, Wells and his friend were at his bar when his friend playfully slapped him on the neck (?).  When Wells tried to turn around and tell him to cut it out, he kicked his 40lb bar stool and fell over it, falling onto a wine bottle and cutting up his whole right arm.

Wells was placed on the 15-day DL after that incident.

He later joked to a reporter, "Yeah, I cut my wrist because of my lack of run support."

Or lack of coordination. Either one.

7. Chris Hanson

Matt Stroshane/Getty Images

JACKSONVILLE, FL - AUGUST 19: Punter Chris Hanson #2 of the Jacksonville Jaguars kicks against the Carolina Panthers during the NFL game on August 19, 2006 at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Jaguars 17 - 10. (Photo by

As the punter for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003, Hanson felt the need to motivate the team in some way.  He decided to place an axe and wood stump in the team locker room with a sign that said "keep chopping wood". 

Everyday, players would take chops at the wood, so one day after his workout, Hanson decided to give it a go. In all his excitement, Hanson cut his leg instead and missed most of the season.

Apparently the team wasn't too inspired, and the Jags went 5-11 that year.

6. Joel Zumaya

Keep on rockin, Joel

This one gets me laughing every time.  In 2006, Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya took a trip to the doctor to check out his sore left arm. 

He was diagnosed with a case of "too much video games". 

Zumaya then admitted to playing Guitar Hero almost everyday during his off time.  Because of it, he got more off time as he was placed on the DL.

When asked if he is going to play it every again, Zumaya answered "I'm still gonna play it.  Just not as often."

Now that's dedication.

5. Jeff Kent

During the 2002 season, the once NL MVP thought his truck needed a good cleaning.

Not a big deal.  Except Kent insisted on cleaning it himself.  Somewhere along his soapy quest, Kent allegedly slipped off the back lift of his truck, using his wrist to break the fall. 

He then missed 4-6 week with a broken vancular bone.

It was later suspected that the injury occured on his motorcycle, which would have voided his contract.

On the bright side, the truck was in good shape.

4. Joe Sakic

Apparently, being skilled on the ice doesn't have any connection to being skilled in the snow.

In 2008, Colorado Avalanche captain Joe Sakic broke three fingers in a "snowblower incident", causing him to miss three months of play.

Frankly, I don't even know how to go about doing that. Trying to fix the blades when it's on? This injury beats me.

3. Erik Johnson

When I think of golf cart incidents, I think of flipping over into a lake or something comical like that. 

2006 first overall pick for the St. Louis Blues Erik Johnson thinks of getting his foot caught between the brake and the accelerator during a team outing, and then writhing in pain after he tears his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee.

Johnson missed the entire 2008-2009 season after that injury. 

2. Glenallen Hill

This once cracks me up every time. 

Now, I don't like spiders, but Hill apparently HATES them.

One night, Hill had a nightmare about spiders, and, in his sleep, ran around his house trying to escape them until he ran into and onto a glass table. 

Hill missed several games with cuts all over his body. Just imagine if that was caught on camera.

1. Carlos Boozer

Maybe you should look down instead of ahead when you walk.

Normally a spot reserved for Plaxico Burress, number one goes to Carlos Boozer, who inspired me to write this piece.

As the story goes, Boozer was innocently walking through his house to answer the doorbell when he stumbled over his gym bag. 

Actually, stumbled is the wrong word to use.  Took a faceplant is the right word here.  Boozer fell over the bag and broke his pinky trying to break his fall.

And this is a professional athlete who just signed a max contract with the Bulls.

He will miss the first three weeks of the 2010-2011 season as a result.