Sprint Game Ball Of The Week - Cowboys Edition

by Christopher Gates on Oct 20, 2010 4:20 PM CDT in Sprint Game Ball of the Week

This post is sponsored by Sprint.

Well, to the surprise of very few folks, this week's Sprint Game Ball of the Week is being awarded to linebacker E.J. Henderson. Henderson's two interceptions of Tony Romo in Sunday's 24-21 defeat of the Cowboys paved the way for 10 Vikings points. . .their first touchdown of the game to pull themselves even at 7-7, and the game-winning Ryan Longwell field goal late in the fourth quarter. He also racked up four solo tackles and five assists in the game. It's pretty safe to say that the comeback for E.J. is complete. . .he's gone from a guy that suffered what some thought was going to be a career-ending injury 10 months ago in Arizona to being one of the best middle linebackers in the NFL again. I know we've said it a lot of times on this site, but it really can't be overstated. . .E.J. Henderson's comeback is nothing short of miraculous, and we should be proud to have a warrior line Number 56 on our side.

Kevin Seifert over at ESPN.com's NFC North blog is actually debating over who has had the more significant comeback this season. . .Henderson or Bears' middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. Urlacher, you may recall, dislocated his wrist in the 2009 season opener and missed the entire season. I know I'm incredibly biased here, but come on. . .E.J. Henderson is playing with a freaking titanium rod in his leg and was projected to need at least a year to rehab and come back. Compared to that, quite frankly, a dislocated wrist looks like a damn paper cut.

Percy Harvin finished second in the Game Ball voting. As a consolation prize, he's been rewarded with the NFC's Special Teams Player of the Week award for Week 6. It's nothing compared to the Daily Norseman Game Ball or anything, but hey. . .we only give out one every week. Percy is now the only return specialist in Minnesota Vikings history to be named Special Teams Player of the Week twice, as he also won the award back in Week 3 of 2009 for his performance against San Francisco.

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Just how many game balls do the writers of this site have to give out, this week lol?

by puddnhead on Oct 20, 2010 6:13 PM CDT reply actions

Normally I would give it to E. J. for his patience in the new conservative defensive scheme .

But to see Percy and the Special Teams wake up give them the nod for the week . Look to Randy to eat up Woodson this week . As B. Marshall got 102 in the first half against him of their last game .

by gothicpurple on Oct 20, 2010 6:17 PM CDT reply actions

Urlacher ...really

He dislocated his wrist. So what. Cullen Jenkins has a broken hand, is in a cast and has it wrapped in padding like he’s wearing a boxing glove. Urlacher sat out with a dislocation with no fracture and Seifert is off his rocker for even mentioning him for consideration for comeback player. If Urlacher was really a big bad MLB in the mold of Bears LBs of the past, why didn’t he wrap it up and play. Seemed like he was kind of a pussy.

by Stubby83 on Oct 20, 2010 6:46 PM CDT reply actions

To be fair...

And don’t get me wrong, Urlacher is a little boy compared to Henderson, but a dislocated wrist is a pretty big deal. It’s a bit different than a broken hand in many meaningful ways. The wrist is a joint… it’s required to be able to move for your arm to be effective, really. He couldn’t push ANYONE with a dislocated wrist, which pretty much is going to shut down your effectiveness as a linebacker. And no amount of padding is going to change that- the fact that it has to move, and that it’s been dislocated, means there’s no way around it expect to heal it up. TBH tho, and I’m no NFL player here, I didn’t know a dislocation could take an entire season to heal…

by KJSegall on Oct 20, 2010 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions

EJ Henderson deserved the game ball.

Percy Harvin definitely jolted the offense into production, and sparked the team in general, with his ‘watch this ma!’ moment to start the second half. However, he in turn was sparked by Randy Moss’ halftime speech by all accounts (including his own), whereas EJ Henderson, the heart and soul of our defense, just did his thing and kept us in the game. And he probably WAS the guy sparking the defense too! Leader and warrior all at once. And not to mention, while Harvin DID have to make some health related comebacks himself, it’s fair to say that Henderson’s broken femur probably tops them.

Mad props to Percy Harvin for being who he is and doing what he does, but in all fairness, EJ beat him out for this fair and square. He got us TWO scoring opportunities- one to keep us in the game, and another to win it. And on top of the recovery, this was UNUSUAL for Henderson. Beast of a man he is, he’s not known for interceptions, whereas doing a kick return to sh*t on the other team is what Harvin IS known for.

So… coupled the fact that Henderson was both leader AND warrior, the fact that he’s recovered like THIS from a broken femur, the fact that he got us TWO scores (maybe not directly like Harvin, but without him, they wouldn’t have happened), AND the fact that he went above and beyond who he usually is as a football player… well, in my book, it just outweights Percy.

I do love Percy Harvin though. Really, really do. He WILL get a game ball before the season ends, and he will DESERVE it.

by KJSegall on Oct 20, 2010 9:29 PM CDT reply actions

If im not mistaking harvin got the game ball last week

by vikesfan4lyf on Oct 21, 2010 10:03 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

EJ needs to win Comback player

I broke my wrist in September and played 4 games with a cast. And your telling me Urlacher missed 15 and it was only dislocated. CMon Man

What you just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your entire rambling incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Oct 21, 2010 10:36 AM CDT reply actions