They have a nickname for the guy who can wrap an ankle just about as fast as anyone in the NFL.

Family and friends know him as Jim Shearer. The coaches, players and busted ankles of the Arizona Cardinals, however, simply call him “the Machine.”

The Pro Football Athletic Trainers Society knows a thing or two about Shearer’s handy work , as well, awarding him their inaugural “Tim Davey Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year” award.

“Every organization has people behind the scenes that quietly do their jobs with excellence day after day, year after year,” Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill said via press release.

“Machine is a perfect example of that type of individual and it’s wonderful to see his work is not only recognized here at the Cardinals, but by his peers across the National Football League as well.”

Bidwell isn’t joking when he says ‘year after year.’

Shearer has been on the Cardinals’ sidelines since 1974 when the team resided in St. Louis.

In 37 seasons, the University of Wyoming alumnus has been a part of 745 Red Bird’s games.

The PFATS award is named after the late Tim Davey, a 33-year-NFL veteran as a former New York Jets assistant trainer and member of the NFL game operations department.

STRANDED AT SECOND BASE

“Culling the thoughts that occur when you’re standing around waiting for something to happen”

Manny Pacquiao, right, takes a punch from Miguel Cotto. Chris Cozzone/FightWireImages.com via US PRESSWIRE

Today is Boxing Day, the annual tradition where world-renown boxing champ Manny Pacquiao comes to your house and punches you in the solar plexus for giving him an ugly sweater for Christmas.

.

Snow has forced the postponement of the second Minnesota Viking game in three weeks. Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Vikings has been moved to Tuesday night. Forgive the Vikes if they’re feeling a bit snake-bitten lately. Or is it frost-bitten?

.

The Dallas Cowboys attempted a late-game Hail Mary pass on Saturday night, trailing 27-26 to the Arizona Cardinals. If there ever was a night where a Hail Mary seemed appropriate, it’s Christmas Night.

The Cowboys’ prayers, however, were not answered. Perhaps they should have put a “win” on their Christmas wish list.

.

Not so good tidings exist in some basketball locker rooms these days, despite the air of holiday cheer.

Two reports have surfaced of teammates stuffing each other’s stockings with their fists on Thursday.

The first incident came in the stands between Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey of Mississippi State. The other came hours later when Washington Wizards teammates Andray Blatche and JaVale Mcgee.

In the spirit of the season, fellas, let’s move on and put these incidents behind us…and blame it on the eggnog.

.

Can the NFL Network really call a Christmas night game played on Saturday as “Thursday Night Football?” Am I crazy or did I not just watch the Steelers beat the Panthers two nights ago on the same channel?

.

Tom Brady, No. 12, points to his flowing hair beneath his helmet. David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

How long before someone makes a serious reference to Tom Brady’s hair being his strength, a la the Biblical Samson.

Oh wait. According to Google, some 260,000 already have.

Interesting note about Samson: legend has it that he once slaughtered 1,000 Philistine men with just the mandible of a donkey. Let’s see Tom Brady do that.

.

If I’m NFL Network analyst Randy Moss, I’m changing my handle to “Randall,” as not to be confused with curmudgeon Tennessee Titan wide receiver Randy Moss.

.

(more…)

It was August of 2006 and the Arizona Cardinals were less than three weeks away from kicking off what would prove to be yet another unspectacular season.

Despite seven, soon-to-be eight, consecutive losing seasons, Redbird nation was abuzz at the open-house tour of its new, posh University of Phoenix Stadium — that silvery barrel cactus of a venue that squats in the former dusty swath of Glendale desert.

It was shiny, pristine and not a single droplet of beer had splattered on its then un-sticky floors.

Its turf wasn’t chewed up. In fact, its field wasn’t even in the building. It had been rolled out in the backyard to get some sun.

It robbed you of your breath, while rattling the same question over and over in the mind: “They’re going to play football here?” “NFL football?”

Carmelo Loconte leads a J-E-T-S chant Monday at New Meadowland Stadium. Aristide Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger)

Football is a sport that’s meant to be played on rugged fields with invisible divots, dangers and undulations.

Its battles are supposed to be waged underneath yellowy-dim lights and surrounded by unforgiving metal bleachers.

It’s designed to be played on front lawns with trees as end zone markers and protruding tree roots as landmines.

It’s supposed to be played in lumbering monstrosities such as the late Giants Stadium.

It took less than three years before an even bigger, more audacious stadium in Dallas replaced the Card’s home as the NFL’s crown jewel.

Like the portable turf of University of Phoenix Stadium, the NFL rolled out its latest bling on Monday night in New Jersey: the New Meadowlands Stadium.

(more…)