Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been

When people hear the name Bo Jackson, they think of an incredible two-sport athlete. They think of a man with electrifying speed and the strength of an ox.

And then they think what could have been.

Vincent Edward Jackson was born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the eighth of ten children, and did not have a father. The first time he met his dad was when he 10 years old.

He was named after his mother’s favorite actor, but because of his unruly and rambunctious behavior, his family referred to him as the “wild boar”. This was eventually shortened to “Bo”, which is what we have called him ever since.

Bo attended to McAdory High School, in McCalla, Alabama. He was a multi-sport athlete while there, dominating on the gridiron, diamond, and track.

As a senior in football, Jackson rushed 108 times for 1,173 yards, which comes out to 10.9 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns.

In the ensuing spring Jackson moved on to baseball, hitting 20 home runs, which tied the national record.

He was also fantastic in track. As a senior, he won state titles in multiple dashes, hurdles, the high-jump, and the long-jump.

He was even a two-time decathlon state champion.

All of this led to him being drafted in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, directly out of high school. But Bo turned down their offer to go to college.

Obviously, Jackson was very heavily recruited coming out of high school. Ultimately, he decided to attend Auburn University. The day he committed himself to Auburn marked the beginning of one the most prolific careers in college sports history.

As a freshman, Jackson was the Tigers’ starting running back. He proved to be an immediate difference maker, scoring the game-winning touchdown against hated rival Alabama, which gave Auburn their first win in the series in over a decade.

He was also a key contributor in their 33-26 Tangerine Bowl victory over Boston College.

In his sophomore year, Bo rushed 158 times for 1,213 yards, and a 7.7 average. He led the team to an 11-1 record that season. His best performance of the year came against Alabama, when he carried the ball 20 times, going for 256 yards, which is a 12.4 average.

They ended up facing Michigan in the Sugar Bowl that year. They would win that game 9-7, and Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player. Bo was also a consensus All-American that season.

In 1984, as a junior, Jackson missed a big portion of the season with a separated shoulder. But he was able to return late in the year and lead Auburn to the Liberty Bowl, where they would defeat Arkansas 22-15, with Jackson being the MVP.

As a senior in 1985, he set school records with 1,786 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 6.4 yards per run.

Once again, he had his best performance in the Iron Bowl, the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn. This time, Jackson had 142 rushing yards and a pair of scores. And he did it all with two cracked ribs.

In his last college football game, he was named the 1986 Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

That year he was again a Consensus All-American. In addition to this, he was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award, the Chic Harley Award, and was named the UPI Player of the Year, as well as the Sporting News Player of the Year.

Oh yeah, and he the Heisman Trophy, too. He won the vote over Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by just 45 points, which is still the closest outcome in Heisman history.

He concluded his collegiate career with 4,303 rushing yards, a 6.6 average, and 43 TDs.

In baseball, he found great success as the Tigers’ center fielder. Although his baseball stats and performances are not as well documented as they were for football, he was a top-notch player in both sports.

His best season was in 1985, when he hit 17 homers, had 43 RBI, 55 runs, and a batting average of .401. He was declared ineligible to play as a senior because he accepted a free plane ride to Tampa Bay to undergo a physical for the Buccaneers of the NFL.

In track, he qualified for the 100-meter dash as a freshman and sophomore, with his best time being 10.4.

He even considered running for the United States Olympic Team, but eventually decided to stick with his other sports.

At the 1986 NFL Combine, Bo ran a 4.12 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded at the event. This led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to select him with the first pick overall of the 1986 NFL Draft.

Jackson would decline this offer, and instead enter the 1986 MLB Draft, where he picked in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals. Since he did not sign with the Buccaneers, they were forced to forfeit his draft rights.

But before we get into his baseball career, we should talk about his days as a football professional football player.

Although Jackson was committed to playing baseball, he adopted football as his “offseason hobby.”

He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 after they drafted him in the seventh round of the draft, 183rd overall. Owner Al Davis allowed him to miss the beginning of each season to finish up with baseball and join the team midseason.

Unfortunately, his NFL career only lasted four years, because, in a playoff game in 1991, he suffered a serious hip injury that ended his time as a football player.

But his career was remarkable while it lasted. He never played more than 11 games in a season, but there are tons of memorable moments and performances from the Wild Boar’s career.

In Jackson’s first appearance on Monday Night Football , he had what may be his greatest game ever and signature performance.

That night, Bo ran wild for 221 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. One of them was an electrifying 91-yard run, and another ended with Jackson literally trampling Seahawks’ linebacker Brian Bosworth. His 221 yards remain a Monday Night Football record.

Other notable plays from Jackson’s career include slipping a tackle from New York Giants’ Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, and running over hard-hitting, Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott of the San Francisco 49ers.

Bo is the only player in NFL history to have two rushes of at least 90 yards. The longest runs of his career were 92, 91, and 88 yards apiece.

At the conclusion of the 1990 regular season, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl. However, he was unable to actually play in the game due to a severe hip injury he suffered on Jan. 13, 1991, in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This injury caused the joint in his hip to deteriorate and prevented him from every putting on the pads again.

In his four-year career, Jackson racked up carried the ball 515 times for 2,872 rushing yards, giving him a 5.4 average, and scored 16 touchdowns. In addition, he caught 40 passes for 352 yards, which is 8.8 yards per catch, and two more scores. And he did this all while in the same backfield as Hall of Fame halfback Marcus Allen.

As a baseball player, the injury did not end his career, but did put it in jeopardy.

His professional baseball career began in 1986 when he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as was said before.

That year, he spent most of his time in the Royals’ farm system, where he played right field and designated hitter for the Memphis Chicks. He was called up to play for Kansas City on a couple occasions, put saw most of his time in the minors that year.

Then, in 1987, he was promoted to the organizations big league roster. He would play very well for the Royals for the next four years, and was even voted a 1989 All-Star, representing the American League.

Jackson became the first player selected to an All-Star game in two different sports when he made the Pro Bowl in the ensuing football season.

Just a few months later, Jackson went down with the aforementioned hip injury. When he did not respond well to his treatment, things were not looking bright for him.

Jackson was a very valuable member of the Royals in his years there. He was able to play in all three outfield spots, although he normally a left fielder and could play DH.

However, after he went down, the Royals no longer felt this way about him, and he was consequently released by the team following the 1990 season.

Jackson by then had given up football and was focused on salvaging his baseball career.

He was able to sign with the Chicago White Sox in 1991 and played in the minor leagues for most of the year. He played outfield and designated hitter for the Sarasota White Sox and the Birmingham Barons.

His injury worsened in 1992, and he was forced to sit out for the entire season. It had gotten so bad that he was forced have to have surgery and get an artificial hip.

Bo vowed to his mom that he would hit a home run on his first at bat when he was able to come back. Although his mother died before the 1993 season, Bo held true to his word.

On opening day of the 1993 season, Jackson made his first appearance at the plate since 1991. By this time, he was on the White Sox and out of the minors. In his first at bat, Jackson hit a home run in honor of his mom. That ball is now engraved in her tombstone.

Jackson would play with the White Sox for just three years, signing with the California Angels following the 1993 season. Still, in his time in Chicago, Bo did make his one and only playoff appearance, when the Sox were knocked off by the Blue Jays in six games.

He then moved on to the Angels, where, again, he played both left and right field, as well as designated hitter. After playing the 1994 season, Jackson retired. The combination of his injury and the infamous 1994-1995 MLB Strike were enough to make him call it quits.

However, just because he retired early does not mean he did not have his fair share of spectacular moments.

In addition to being named to the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, Jackson was also named the MVP of the game.

He started off the game with a towering 448 foot lead-off home run. He followed that with a steal, which made him the second player ever to record a home run and a steal in an All-Star game, and a single.

He even played well on defense, snagging a line-drive hit by Pedro Guerrero which would have scored a couple runs.

In 1993, Jackson was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and won the Tony Conigliaro Award, which goes to the player who had to overcome the toughest obstacles, whether they be injury, illness, disability, or emotional issues, while still having a productive year.

He also is tied with multiple players for the most home runs in consecutive at bats with four. Three were hit in the same game, which was against the Yankees. He got hurt during the game and went on the DL.

In his first time up after coming back, Jackson homered off of Randy Johnson to make it four in a row.

One of the most notable plays of Bo’s career came on June 5, 1989. The Royals, Jackson’s team at the time, were playing Seattle Mariners.

Harold Reynolds was on first base for the Mariners when Scott Bradley stepped up to the plate. Bradley knocked the ball deep into left-center field.

Jackson was playing left field that day. As Reynolds was rounding third base, Jackson got to the ball and, from the warning track, threw a bullet to home plate, barely robbing the Mariners of a run that they easily would have gotten against other teams.

Another example of Jackson’s remarkable athleticism occurred July, 11, 1989, when Kansas City was playing the Baltimore Orioles. Bo was once again out in left field.

When a ball was hit into the warning track, he made an incredible overhead grab. Being that he was still going full speed toward the wall when he caught it, it seemed that a collision was bound to happen. But rather than slamming into the wall, Jackson literally ran up the wall, jumping down once he reached the top.

In his career, Jackson tallied 598 hits, 341 runs, 415 RBI, and 141 home runs, and had a batting average of .250.

What makes all of this so incredible is that he had very little time to train and sometimes even none. Once baseball ended, football began, and once that was over, he only had a couple of months to train for baseball, and no time for football.

Now 46, Bo has been out of professional sports for the past 15 years. But he has still been given a few more honors in more recent years.

On Oct. 31, 1992, Jackson’s number 34 jersey was officially retired by the Auburn Tigers football time during halftime of a game. In 2007, ESPN had Bo at No. 8 on their “Top 25 Players In College Football History” list. Jackson has even been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

With all of this being said, it is clear that Bo is one of the greatest athletes of all-time.

Other fantastic multi-sport athletes from history are Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Otto Graham, and Deion Sanders. All of these men are fantastic athletes, but I feel that it is safe to say that Jackson ranks above them all.

But don’t think this gets to his head. “When people tell me I could be the best athlete there is, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. There is always somebody out there that is better than you are.”

His sincere humbleness and modesty is just another thing that makes him one of the most beloved athletes in history.

His famous “Bo Knows” commercials and video games “Bo Jackson Baseball” and “Bo Jackson’s Hit and Run” have only added to the legend that is Bo.

So the next time you think of Bo Jackson, you should think of a man who was driven by virtues and morals on and off the field. You should think of a phenomenal athlete whose all-around ability may have been unparalleled by all others.

And then, you should ask yourself just how good Bo Jackson could have been.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been

When people hear the name Bo Jackson, they think of an incredible two-sport athlete. They think of a man with electrifying speed and the strength of an ox.

And then they think what could have been.

Vincent Edward Jackson was born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the eighth of ten children, and did not have a father. The first time he met his dad was when he 10 years old.

He was named after his mother’s favorite actor, but because of his unruly and rambunctious behavior, his family referred to him as the “wild boar”. This was eventually shortened to “Bo”, which is what we have called him ever since.

Bo attended to McAdory High School, in McCalla, Alabama. He was a multi-sport athlete while there, dominating on the gridiron, diamond, and track.

As a senior in football, Jackson rushed 108 times for 1,173 yards, which comes out to 10.9 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns.

In the ensuing spring Jackson moved on to baseball, hitting 20 home runs, which tied the national record.

He was also fantastic in track. As a senior, he won state titles in multiple dashes, hurdles, the high-jump, and the long-jump.

He was even a two-time decathlon state champion.

All of this led to him being drafted in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, directly out of high school. But Bo turned down their offer to go to college.

Obviously, Jackson was very heavily recruited coming out of high school. Ultimately, he decided to attend Auburn University. The day he committed himself to Auburn marked the beginning of one the most prolific careers in college sports history.

As a freshman, Jackson was the Tigers’ starting running back. He proved to be an immediate difference maker, scoring the game-winning touchdown against hated rival Alabama, which gave Auburn their first win in the series in over a decade.

He was also a key contributor in their 33-26 Tangerine Bowl victory over Boston College.

In his sophomore year, Bo rushed 158 times for 1,213 yards, and a 7.7 average. He led the team to an 11-1 record that season. His best performance of the year came against Alabama, when he carried the ball 20 times, going for 256 yards, which is a 12.4 average.

They ended up facing Michigan in the Sugar Bowl that year. They would win that game 9-7, and Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player. Bo was also a consensus All-American that season.

In 1984, as a junior, Jackson missed a big portion of the season with a separated shoulder. But he was able to return late in the year and lead Auburn to the Liberty Bowl, where they would defeat Arkansas 22-15, with Jackson being the MVP.

As a senior in 1985, he set school records with 1,786 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 6.4 yards per run.

Once again, he had his best performance in the Iron Bowl, the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn. This time, Jackson had 142 rushing yards and a pair of scores. And he did it all with two cracked ribs.

In his last college football game, he was named the 1986 Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

That year he was again a Consensus All-American. In addition to this, he was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award, the Chic Harley Award, and was named the UPI Player of the Year, as well as the Sporting News Player of the Year.

Oh yeah, and he the Heisman Trophy, too. He won the vote over Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by just 45 points, which is still the closest outcome in Heisman history.

He concluded his collegiate career with 4,303 rushing yards, a 6.6 average, and 43 TDs.

In baseball, he found great success as the Tigers’ center fielder. Although his baseball stats and performances are not as well documented as they were for football, he was a top-notch player in both sports.

His best season was in 1985, when he hit 17 homers, had 43 RBI, 55 runs, and a batting average of .401. He was declared ineligible to play as a senior because he accepted a free plane ride to Tampa Bay to undergo a physical for the Buccaneers of the NFL.

In track, he qualified for the 100-meter dash as a freshman and sophomore, with his best time being 10.4.

He even considered running for the United States Olympic Team, but eventually decided to stick with his other sports.

At the 1986 NFL Combine, Bo ran a 4.12 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded at the event. This led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to select him with the first pick overall of the 1986 NFL Draft.

Jackson would decline this offer, and instead enter the 1986 MLB Draft, where he picked in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals. Since he did not sign with the Buccaneers, they were forced to forfeit his draft rights.

But before we get into his baseball career, we should talk about his days as a football professional football player.

Although Jackson was committed to playing baseball, he adopted football as his “offseason hobby.”

He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 after they drafted him in the seventh round of the draft, 183rd overall. Owner Al Davis allowed him to miss the beginning of each season to finish up with baseball and join the team midseason.

Unfortunately, his NFL career only lasted four years, because, in a playoff game in 1991, he suffered a serious hip injury that ended his time as a football player.

But his career was remarkable while it lasted. He never played more than 11 games in a season, but there are tons of memorable moments and performances from the Wild Boar’s career.

In Jackson’s first appearance on Monday Night Football , he had what may be his greatest game ever and signature performance.

That night, Bo ran wild for 221 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. One of them was an electrifying 91-yard run, and another ended with Jackson literally trampling Seahawks’ linebacker Brian Bosworth. His 221 yards remain a Monday Night Football record.

Other notable plays from Jackson’s career include slipping a tackle from New York Giants’ Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, and running over hard-hitting, Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott of the San Francisco 49ers.

Bo is the only player in NFL history to have two rushes of at least 90 yards. The longest runs of his career were 92, 91, and 88 yards apiece.

At the conclusion of the 1990 regular season, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl. However, he was unable to actually play in the game due to a severe hip injury he suffered on Jan. 13, 1991, in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This injury caused the joint in his hip to deteriorate and prevented him from every putting on the pads again.

In his four-year career, Jackson racked up carried the ball 515 times for 2,872 rushing yards, giving him a 5.4 average, and scored 16 touchdowns. In addition, he caught 40 passes for 352 yards, which is 8.8 yards per catch, and two more scores. And he did this all while in the same backfield as Hall of Fame halfback Marcus Allen.

As a baseball player, the injury did not end his career, but did put it in jeopardy.

His professional baseball career began in 1986 when he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as was said before.

That year, he spent most of his time in the Royals’ farm system, where he played right field and designated hitter for the Memphis Chicks. He was called up to play for Kansas City on a couple occasions, put saw most of his time in the minors that year.

Then, in 1987, he was promoted to the organizations big league roster. He would play very well for the Royals for the next four years, and was even voted a 1989 All-Star, representing the American League.

Jackson became the first player selected to an All-Star game in two different sports when he made the Pro Bowl in the ensuing football season.

Just a few months later, Jackson went down with the aforementioned hip injury. When he did not respond well to his treatment, things were not looking bright for him.

Jackson was a very valuable member of the Royals in his years there. He was able to play in all three outfield spots, although he normally a left fielder and could play DH.

However, after he went down, the Royals no longer felt this way about him, and he was consequently released by the team following the 1990 season.

Jackson by then had given up football and was focused on salvaging his baseball career.

He was able to sign with the Chicago White Sox in 1991 and played in the minor leagues for most of the year. He played outfield and designated hitter for the Sarasota White Sox and the Birmingham Barons.

His injury worsened in 1992, and he was forced to sit out for the entire season. It had gotten so bad that he was forced have to have surgery and get an artificial hip.

Bo vowed to his mom that he would hit a home run on his first at bat when he was able to come back. Although his mother died before the 1993 season, Bo held true to his word.

On opening day of the 1993 season, Jackson made his first appearance at the plate since 1991. By this time, he was on the White Sox and out of the minors. In his first at bat, Jackson hit a home run in honor of his mom. That ball is now engraved in her tombstone.

Jackson would play with the White Sox for just three years, signing with the California Angels following the 1993 season. Still, in his time in Chicago, Bo did make his one and only playoff appearance, when the Sox were knocked off by the Blue Jays in six games.

He then moved on to the Angels, where, again, he played both left and right field, as well as designated hitter. After playing the 1994 season, Jackson retired. The combination of his injury and the infamous 1994-1995 MLB Strike were enough to make him call it quits.

However, just because he retired early does not mean he did not have his fair share of spectacular moments.

In addition to being named to the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, Jackson was also named the MVP of the game.

He started off the game with a towering 448 foot lead-off home run. He followed that with a steal, which made him the second player ever to record a home run and a steal in an All-Star game, and a single.

He even played well on defense, snagging a line-drive hit by Pedro Guerrero which would have scored a couple runs.

In 1993, Jackson was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and won the Tony Conigliaro Award, which goes to the player who had to overcome the toughest obstacles, whether they be injury, illness, disability, or emotional issues, while still having a productive year.

He also is tied with multiple players for the most home runs in consecutive at bats with four. Three were hit in the same game, which was against the Yankees. He got hurt during the game and went on the DL.

In his first time up after coming back, Jackson homered off of Randy Johnson to make it four in a row.

One of the most notable plays of Bo’s career came on June 5, 1989. The Royals, Jackson’s team at the time, were playing Seattle Mariners.

Harold Reynolds was on first base for the Mariners when Scott Bradley stepped up to the plate. Bradley knocked the ball deep into left-center field.

Jackson was playing left field that day. As Reynolds was rounding third base, Jackson got to the ball and, from the warning track, threw a bullet to home plate, barely robbing the Mariners of a run that they easily would have gotten against other teams.

Another example of Jackson’s remarkable athleticism occurred July, 11, 1989, when Kansas City was playing the Baltimore Orioles. Bo was once again out in left field.

When a ball was hit into the warning track, he made an incredible overhead grab. Being that he was still going full speed toward the wall when he caught it, it seemed that a collision was bound to happen. But rather than slamming into the wall, Jackson literally ran up the wall, jumping down once he reached the top.

In his career, Jackson tallied 598 hits, 341 runs, 415 RBI, and 141 home runs, and had a batting average of .250.

What makes all of this so incredible is that he had very little time to train and sometimes even none. Once baseball ended, football began, and once that was over, he only had a couple of months to train for baseball, and no time for football.

Now 46, Bo has been out of professional sports for the past 15 years. But he has still been given a few more honors in more recent years.

On Oct. 31, 1992, Jackson’s number 34 jersey was officially retired by the Auburn Tigers football time during halftime of a game. In 2007, ESPN had Bo at No. 8 on their “Top 25 Players In College Football History” list. Jackson has even been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

With all of this being said, it is clear that Bo is one of the greatest athletes of all-time.

Other fantastic multi-sport athletes from history are Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Otto Graham, and Deion Sanders. All of these men are fantastic athletes, but I feel that it is safe to say that Jackson ranks above them all.

But don’t think this gets to his head. “When people tell me I could be the best athlete there is, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. There is always somebody out there that is better than you are.”

His sincere humbleness and modesty is just another thing that makes him one of the most beloved athletes in history.

His famous “Bo Knows” commercials and video games “Bo Jackson Baseball” and “Bo Jackson’s Hit and Run” have only added to the legend that is Bo.

So the next time you think of Bo Jackson, you should think of a man who was driven by virtues and morals on and off the field. You should think of a phenomenal athlete whose all-around ability may have been unparalleled by all others.

And then, you should ask yourself just how good Bo Jackson could have been.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been

When people hear the name Bo Jackson, they think of an incredible two-sport athlete. They think of a man with electrifying speed and the strength of an ox.

And then they think what could have been.

Vincent Edward Jackson was born on November 30, 1962 in Bessemer, Alabama. He was the eighth of ten children, and did not have a father. The first time he met his dad was when he 10 years old.

He was named after his mother’s favorite actor, but because of his unruly and rambunctious behavior, his family referred to him as the “wild boar”. This was eventually shortened to “Bo”, which is what we have called him ever since.

Bo attended to McAdory High School, in McCalla, Alabama. He was a multi-sport athlete while there, dominating on the gridiron, diamond, and track.

As a senior in football, Jackson rushed 108 times for 1,173 yards, which comes out to 10.9 yards per carry, and 17 touchdowns.

In the ensuing spring Jackson moved on to baseball, hitting 20 home runs, which tied the national record.

He was also fantastic in track. As a senior, he won state titles in multiple dashes, hurdles, the high-jump, and the long-jump.

He was even a two-time decathlon state champion.

All of this led to him being drafted in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, directly out of high school. But Bo turned down their offer to go to college.

Obviously, Jackson was very heavily recruited coming out of high school. Ultimately, he decided to attend Auburn University. The day he committed himself to Auburn marked the beginning of one the most prolific careers in college sports history.

As a freshman, Jackson was the Tigers’ starting running back. He proved to be an immediate difference maker, scoring the game-winning touchdown against hated rival Alabama, which gave Auburn their first win in the series in over a decade.

He was also a key contributor in their 33-26 Tangerine Bowl victory over Boston College.

In his sophomore year, Bo rushed 158 times for 1,213 yards, and a 7.7 average. He led the team to an 11-1 record that season. His best performance of the year came against Alabama, when he carried the ball 20 times, going for 256 yards, which is a 12.4 average.

They ended up facing Michigan in the Sugar Bowl that year. They would win that game 9-7, and Jackson was named the Most Valuable Player. Bo was also a consensus All-American that season.

In 1984, as a junior, Jackson missed a big portion of the season with a separated shoulder. But he was able to return late in the year and lead Auburn to the Liberty Bowl, where they would defeat Arkansas 22-15, with Jackson being the MVP.

As a senior in 1985, he set school records with 1,786 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground. He also had 6.4 yards per run.

Once again, he had his best performance in the Iron Bowl, the annual rivalry game between Alabama and Auburn. This time, Jackson had 142 rushing yards and a pair of scores. And he did it all with two cracked ribs.

In his last college football game, he was named the 1986 Cotton Bowl’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

That year he was again a Consensus All-American. In addition to this, he was the recipient of the Walter Camp Award, the Chic Harley Award, and was named the UPI Player of the Year, as well as the Sporting News Player of the Year.

Oh yeah, and he the Heisman Trophy, too. He won the vote over Iowa quarterback Chuck Long by just 45 points, which is still the closest outcome in Heisman history.

He concluded his collegiate career with 4,303 rushing yards, a 6.6 average, and 43 TDs.

In baseball, he found great success as the Tigers’ center fielder. Although his baseball stats and performances are not as well documented as they were for football, he was a top-notch player in both sports.

His best season was in 1985, when he hit 17 homers, had 43 RBI, 55 runs, and a batting average of .401. He was declared ineligible to play as a senior because he accepted a free plane ride to Tampa Bay to undergo a physical for the Buccaneers of the NFL.

In track, he qualified for the 100-meter dash as a freshman and sophomore, with his best time being 10.4.

He even considered running for the United States Olympic Team, but eventually decided to stick with his other sports.

At the 1986 NFL Combine, Bo ran a 4.12 in the 40-yard dash, the fastest time ever recorded at the event. This led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to select him with the first pick overall of the 1986 NFL Draft.

Jackson would decline this offer, and instead enter the 1986 MLB Draft, where he picked in the fourth round by the Kansas City Royals. Since he did not sign with the Buccaneers, they were forced to forfeit his draft rights.

But before we get into his baseball career, we should talk about his days as a football professional football player.

Although Jackson was committed to playing baseball, he adopted football as his “offseason hobby.”

He signed with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1987 after they drafted him in the seventh round of the draft, 183rd overall. Owner Al Davis allowed him to miss the beginning of each season to finish up with baseball and join the team midseason.

Unfortunately, his NFL career only lasted four years, because, in a playoff game in 1991, he suffered a serious hip injury that ended his time as a football player.

But his career was remarkable while it lasted. He never played more than 11 games in a season, but there are tons of memorable moments and performances from the Wild Boar’s career.

In Jackson’s first appearance on Monday Night Football , he had what may be his greatest game ever and signature performance.

That night, Bo ran wild for 221 yards and three touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks. One of them was an electrifying 91-yard run, and another ended with Jackson literally trampling Seahawks’ linebacker Brian Bosworth. His 221 yards remain a Monday Night Football record.

Other notable plays from Jackson’s career include slipping a tackle from New York Giants’ Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor, and running over hard-hitting, Hall of Fame inductee Ronnie Lott of the San Francisco 49ers.

Bo is the only player in NFL history to have two rushes of at least 90 yards. The longest runs of his career were 92, 91, and 88 yards apiece.

At the conclusion of the 1990 regular season, Jackson was selected to the Pro Bowl. However, he was unable to actually play in the game due to a severe hip injury he suffered on Jan. 13, 1991, in a playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

This injury caused the joint in his hip to deteriorate and prevented him from every putting on the pads again.

In his four-year career, Jackson racked up carried the ball 515 times for 2,872 rushing yards, giving him a 5.4 average, and scored 16 touchdowns. In addition, he caught 40 passes for 352 yards, which is 8.8 yards per catch, and two more scores. And he did this all while in the same backfield as Hall of Fame halfback Marcus Allen.

As a baseball player, the injury did not end his career, but did put it in jeopardy.

His professional baseball career began in 1986 when he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals as was said before.

That year, he spent most of his time in the Royals’ farm system, where he played right field and designated hitter for the Memphis Chicks. He was called up to play for Kansas City on a couple occasions, put saw most of his time in the minors that year.

Then, in 1987, he was promoted to the organizations big league roster. He would play very well for the Royals for the next four years, and was even voted a 1989 All-Star, representing the American League.

Jackson became the first player selected to an All-Star game in two different sports when he made the Pro Bowl in the ensuing football season.

Just a few months later, Jackson went down with the aforementioned hip injury. When he did not respond well to his treatment, things were not looking bright for him.

Jackson was a very valuable member of the Royals in his years there. He was able to play in all three outfield spots, although he normally a left fielder and could play DH.

However, after he went down, the Royals no longer felt this way about him, and he was consequently released by the team following the 1990 season.

Jackson by then had given up football and was focused on salvaging his baseball career.

He was able to sign with the Chicago White Sox in 1991 and played in the minor leagues for most of the year. He played outfield and designated hitter for the Sarasota White Sox and the Birmingham Barons.

His injury worsened in 1992, and he was forced to sit out for the entire season. It had gotten so bad that he was forced have to have surgery and get an artificial hip.

Bo vowed to his mom that he would hit a home run on his first at bat when he was able to come back. Although his mother died before the 1993 season, Bo held true to his word.

On opening day of the 1993 season, Jackson made his first appearance at the plate since 1991. By this time, he was on the White Sox and out of the minors. In his first at bat, Jackson hit a home run in honor of his mom. That ball is now engraved in her tombstone.

Jackson would play with the White Sox for just three years, signing with the California Angels following the 1993 season. Still, in his time in Chicago, Bo did make his one and only playoff appearance, when the Sox were knocked off by the Blue Jays in six games.

He then moved on to the Angels, where, again, he played both left and right field, as well as designated hitter. After playing the 1994 season, Jackson retired. The combination of his injury and the infamous 1994-1995 MLB Strike were enough to make him call it quits.

However, just because he retired early does not mean he did not have his fair share of spectacular moments.

In addition to being named to the 1989 MLB All-Star Game, Jackson was also named the MVP of the game.

He started off the game with a towering 448 foot lead-off home run. He followed that with a steal, which made him the second player ever to record a home run and a steal in an All-Star game, and a single.

He even played well on defense, snagging a line-drive hit by Pedro Guerrero which would have scored a couple runs.

In 1993, Jackson was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year and won the Tony Conigliaro Award, which goes to the player who had to overcome the toughest obstacles, whether they be injury, illness, disability, or emotional issues, while still having a productive year.

He also is tied with multiple players for the most home runs in consecutive at bats with four. Three were hit in the same game, which was against the Yankees. He got hurt during the game and went on the DL.

In his first time up after coming back, Jackson homered off of Randy Johnson to make it four in a row.

One of the most notable plays of Bo’s career came on June 5, 1989. The Royals, Jackson’s team at the time, were playing Seattle Mariners.

Harold Reynolds was on first base for the Mariners when Scott Bradley stepped up to the plate. Bradley knocked the ball deep into left-center field.

Jackson was playing left field that day. As Reynolds was rounding third base, Jackson got to the ball and, from the warning track, threw a bullet to home plate, barely robbing the Mariners of a run that they easily would have gotten against other teams.

Another example of Jackson’s remarkable athleticism occurred July, 11, 1989, when Kansas City was playing the Baltimore Orioles. Bo was once again out in left field.

When a ball was hit into the warning track, he made an incredible overhead grab. Being that he was still going full speed toward the wall when he caught it, it seemed that a collision was bound to happen. But rather than slamming into the wall, Jackson literally ran up the wall, jumping down once he reached the top.

In his career, Jackson tallied 598 hits, 341 runs, 415 RBI, and 141 home runs, and had a batting average of .250.

What makes all of this so incredible is that he had very little time to train and sometimes even none. Once baseball ended, football began, and once that was over, he only had a couple of months to train for baseball, and no time for football.

Now 46, Bo has been out of professional sports for the past 15 years. But he has still been given a few more honors in more recent years.

On Oct. 31, 1992, Jackson’s number 34 jersey was officially retired by the Auburn Tigers football time during halftime of a game. In 2007, ESPN had Bo at No. 8 on their “Top 25 Players In College Football History” list. Jackson has even been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

With all of this being said, it is clear that Bo is one of the greatest athletes of all-time.

Other fantastic multi-sport athletes from history are Jim Thorpe, Michael Jordan, Otto Graham, and Deion Sanders. All of these men are fantastic athletes, but I feel that it is safe to say that Jackson ranks above them all.

But don’t think this gets to his head. “When people tell me I could be the best athlete there is, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. There is always somebody out there that is better than you are.”

His sincere humbleness and modesty is just another thing that makes him one of the most beloved athletes in history.

His famous “Bo Knows” commercials and video games “Bo Jackson Baseball” and “Bo Jackson’s Hit and Run” have only added to the legend that is Bo.

So the next time you think of Bo Jackson, you should think of a man who was driven by virtues and morals on and off the field. You should think of a phenomenal athlete whose all-around ability may have been unparalleled by all others.

And then, you should ask yourself just how good Bo Jackson could have been.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Drew Brees: Your NFL MVP at the Quarter Pole

Things are really going well for the New Orleans Saints.

Maybe it is the running game, which has finally started to come around. Maybe it is the fact that they are getting good production out of their offensive line. Maybe it is that the defense is not blowing leads and is beginning to play well.

Or, maybe it is Drew Brees.

So far this year, Brees already has 87 completions, a 67.4 completion percentage, 1,031 yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and an astounding 108.4 quarterback rating.

In addition to his numbers, Brees has also put his team in first place in the NFC South and a tie for the NFL best with a 4-0 record.

He got things going in the right direction in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, when he burned and humiliated Detroit’s secondary.

He started things off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to his favorite receiver, Marques Colston.

He then hit Robert Meachem for a 39-yard score.

In the second quarter, Brees found Jeremy Shockey in the end zone from 1 yard out. Later in the quarter, he completed a pass to Shockey again, this time for a 15-yard TD. It should be noted that Shockey had zero touchdowns last year.

In the second half, Drew threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Devery Henderson.

In the last quarter, Brees threw his last score, a 13-yard completion to the newly acquired Heath Evans.

Henderson was his leading receiver that day when he caught five passes for 103 yards and the touchdown.

In all, he was 26-of-34 and posted 358 yards, six touchdowns, and an unbelievable 137 QB rating in a 45-27 blowout over the Lions.

Getting torched like that is bad even by Detroit’s standards.

After this game, Brees was on pace for 96 touchdowns on the year. Although his touchdown rate has since dropped off, he still was dominant in his next game.

This game was the Week Two showdown between the Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles, a game which was expected to be one of the toughest matchups of the season for both teams.

He picked up where he had left off in Week One with a 15-yard TD strike to Marques Colston early in the first quarter.

In the next quarter, Brees again located Colston, who, in turn, made his way into the end zone on a 25-yard touchdown.

His final touchdown came when he threw an 11-yard pass to fullback Heath Evans in the third quarter.

On the day, Brees was 25-of-34 and had 311 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a solid 118.6 QB rating.

More importantly, he lead the Saints to a 48-22 victory over the Eagles.

Week Three was a different story for Brees and the Saints, though.

They played against the Buffalo Bills, who, although they do not have the greatest defense, were able to slow down Brees’ production by putting all of his emphasis on stopping the aerial attack.

As a result, Brees only was able to convert on 16 of his 29 passes. He had a season-low 172 yards and did not throw a single touchdown. He didn’t have any interceptions either, but did lose a fumble. He also ran for 8 yards on six carries. He finished the game with a QB rating of 72.8.

Colston was again the team’s leading receiver, but this time he only had 67 yards. The running game was what fueled the team that day, as Pierre Thomas carried the load for the Saints in a 27-7 win.

The New York Jets took a similar approach when they met the Saints in Week Four.

Once again, Brees failed to reach the 200-yard mark and was held without a touchdown.

The defense was the difference in this game. New Orleans’ D was able to score two touchdowns, and finished the day with 14 of the team’s 24 points. It forced four turnovers in all.

Thomas also played well, but he was not the main focus of the Jets’ defense.

This, obviously, was Brees, who had just 190 yards on 20-of-32 passing. He also had 5 yards on the ground and a 78.9 rating. His main target was Thomas, who had 86 yards receiving.

Nonetheless, the Saints won the game, 24-10.

Although it appears that teams have figured out how to stop Brees from picking them apart, this is only possible when they focus solely on the passing attack and, for the most part, ignore the running game.

But this strategy has yet to work because the Saints are still 4-0. As soon as his opponents begin to respect the New Orleans running backs, Brees will be back to form.

Last year, Drew had career bests with 5,069 yards and 34 touchdowns. His 413 completions and 13 sacks taken were the second best of his career, and the only time he ever took fewer sacks was his rookie year, when appeared in only one game. His 96.2 QB rating was a tie for his second highest.

At age 30, it appears Brees is in his prime right now. Since 2001, it was apparent that Brees was going to have a great career. He started off on the right foot with the San Diego Chargers and is now doing even better with New Orleans.

He looked very good a few years ago, and now that he is at his peak, he appears to be one of the most dangerous players in the league.

Brees is currently the leader of the NFL’s highest scoring team, averaging 36.0 points per game, and the league’s No. 2 offense, which has an average of 414.2 yards per game.

He has completed passes to 10 different receivers already this season.

Jeremy Shockey is the team’s leading receiver, having already caught 18 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

The team’s most productive receiver, as he leads the team in receiving touchdowns and is barely second in yards, has been Colston. He has 17 catches 228 yards and three scores.

The only guy on the Saints who has more yards than him is Henderson, who has 14 receptions, 235 yards, and one TD.

Reggie Bush has been a reliable option out of the backfield for Brees to throw to, as he has already caught 14 balls for 121 yards.

Likewise, Heath Evans has been a solid option when releasing from the backfield. Brees has found him seven times for 62 yards and a pair scores this year.

Pierre Thomas has five catches for 42 yards this year.

Robert Meachem and David Thomas each have four receptions, with Meachem gaining 52 yards and scoring a touchdown, while David Thomas has 52 yards.

Finally, there is Lance Moore, who has three catches for 39 yards, and Mike Bell, who has one grab for 9 yards.

This just goes to show how Brees is able to spread the ball around the field and keep teams from keying in on one or two guys.

For all of these reasons, it is apparent that Brees is making a case for NFL MVP honors.

But hot on his trail are Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, and maybe even Brett Favre? These guys, along with many others, will make this an interesting race.

But remember, we are only a quarter of the way through the season. A lot can change from now to the end of the year.

Look for Brees to rebound rebound from a couple of dismal performances and assert himself as one of the league’s top players.

I give my vote for MVP of the first four weeks of the 2009 NFL season to Drew Brees.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Best of the Rest: NFL’s Top Available Free Agents for 2009

This is a list of the best players who have not been signed so far in the 2009 season. When injuries occur, these are the guys that teams should look at to replace the injured player. Most of them are savvy veterans who have been solid throughout their careers and are now looking for a new team. Others may be younger players who have not panned out or have had disciplinary issues, but are still worth looking at. Some of them will even surprise you, as it is a wonder they are unsigned. Whatever the reason may be, these guys are the can’t miss free agents for the 2009 NFL season.

Begin Slideshow

David Tyree: From Super Bowl Hero to Potential Free Agent?

On Feb. 3, 2008, Eli Manning hooked up with David Tyree for what is now one of the most famous plays in NFL history.

It was this 32-yard pass that thrust the New York Giants to victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Just four plays later, Plaxico Burress caught the game winning touchdown to put the G-men up 17-14.

Many forget that Tyree scored the Giants’ only other touchdown of the game. It is safe to conclude that Big Blue would never have hoisted the Lombardi Trophy without him.

Now, as we approach the start of the 2009 NFL season, Tyree’s standing with the team is in jeopardy. Following the preseason finale against the Pats, New York and the 32 other NFL teams will trim their roster from 75 to 53 players.

In the Giants’ case, they will actually keep a 54th man, being that Michael Boley will be suspended for the season opener and one extra guy will be kept around until he returns.

It’s unknown whether Tyree will be among the 54 to make the team or the 21 to be cut. It’s been speculated that he might not be playing in the Meadowlands during the upcoming season.

One reason is that Tyree has not been in uniform since that memorable night in Arizona. This is because he was plagued by injuries last year, and spent the entirety of 2008 on injured reserve.

He has been bothered by an ongoing hamstring injury. He has felt the effects on this throughout training camp. This has caused him to sit out frequently. Even when he is on the field, he has played with a great deal of inconsistency.

Another reason is that Tyree has never really been the most productive receiver. Since he was drafted out of Syracuse in 2003, he has only caught 54 passes, going for 650 yards and four scores on 12.0 yards per catch average.

Still, he has found a way to stay on the roster for all these years by contributing on special teams. In 2005, Tyree made the Pro-Bowl as a special teamer. This makes David a tough guy to let go of.

And it’s not like Tyree’s 2005 performance was a fluke. In addition to being an outstanding college receiver, he was also a dominant force on special teams. In his career as an Orange Man, Tyree recorded a staggering six blocked punts.

With the regular season right around the corner, Tyree will have to make a firm impression on his coaching staff if he wants to stay a member of the Big Blue Wrecking Crew.

Against the Pats, Tyree had what will more than likely be the shining moment of his career. Now, however, he is at a crossroads.

Tyree might never play another game for the Giants again. But that’s how it is in the NFL: 75 guys vying for 53 spots.

All I have to say is, come Sunday, Sept. 13, I hope to see David Tyree wearing his blue and white No. 85 jersey when the New York Giants take on the Washington Redskins.

NFL Players Who Once Played Positions You Might Not Expect

This article is about some interesting careers of NFL players before they went pro that you may not have heard about. It is about the guys who switched positions at some point in their career before making it big as a pro. You may be surprised at some of the names on this list, as well as what position they once played. These are people you all know about as a professional, but might have heard much about them prior to then. This article also includes a general background of the featured players’ athletic careers. They are all big names, some who are even legends who will be remembered for playing one position better than most others. But if you don’t know how these guys started off their football careers, you can now find out.

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Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 2 (Defense and Special Teams)

This a follow-up to “Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 1”, which focused on my predictions for the best offensive players in the NFC for 2009. If you have not read my offensive picks yet, here is the link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/206809-preseason-picks-for-nfl-all-pro-nfc-part-1-offense. With that being said, it should not be a surprise that this slide will honor the top defensive and special teams players in the National Football Conference. It will be of a similar format to its predecessor, one player for every position on a standard defense.

Preseason Picks for NFL All-Pro: NFC, Pt. 1 (Offense)

This is a slide show consisting of my preseason picks for the top players in the NFC for 2009. Instead of NFL All-Pro, this is the all NFC All-Conference Team, or a smaller version of the NFC Pro Bowl Team. The list will feature one or two players of each position on offense. There will be a follow-up for this slide, which will focus on the NFC’s defense and special teams.

Brett Favre To Hop On The Vikings’ Ship?

Sorry, but I had to do it. Another Brett Favre article. It’s not the first, and certainly will not be the last.

If you have picked up a newspaper and opened the sports section or turned on ESPN at any time during the past few months, then you have heard the news speculating a return from Brett Favre.

Again.

It was not enough to come out of retirement once, so Favre will have to make another appearance with another team. At least that is what some people believe.

After being released by the Jets following his retirement, which makes him a free agent if he returns, it is a apparent that Favre and New York are parting ways.

If Favre does take another crack at it, it is almost certain that he will do it in Minnesota Vikings’ purple, his long time nemesis.

Assuming this is where he ends up, the inconsistent Tarvaris Jackson and recently-traded-for Sage Rosenfels will be his main competition.

You might think he would have the edge right away, but Favre is getting old and is injured, while Jackson and Rosenfels have already been learning the system for a while.

Last season ended ugly for Favre, and that is how the entire season will be remembered. But he did show flashes of brilliance and started the season on a hot streak.

He reached his pinnacle in Week Four against the Arizona Cardinals, a game not to be forgotten in which Favre threw for six touchdowns, looking like an explosive 24-year-old rather than a rusty 38-year-old.

All-in-all, Favre had an average season: not terrible, but not great. He completed 343 passes on 522 attempts, with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He had a grand total of 3472 passing yards and a solid 80.1 quarterback rating. He also added 43 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Statistics are statistics, and you can take them as you like. However, the fact is that a late season collapse from Favre and the Jets caused them to lose their grip on the AFC East lead and miss the playoffs altogether. This is far more important than a few numbers and averages in the NFL, and it is why Favre’s season is seen as a failure.

Although the talk of Favre and the Vikings has died down a bit, there was once a time in which Favre garnered more attention than anybody who was actually on an NFL roster.

Still, the fact that Favre has been working with high school teams and is being treated by the world-renowned orthopaedic surgeon James Andrews, has raised a few eyebrows.

If you ask me, I personally do not feel that Favre is going to make a comeback, but who am I to say?

I am 100 percent sure, however, that Favre will not settle into the world as a typical human being as he says he would like to. The spotlight will always be on him and there will always be questions for him to answer. Well, maybe they will leave him alone once he reaches his 50’s, but until then, you can be confident that you have not heard the last of Brett Favre.

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