The cliché says football is a collision sport, but why do some players collide with the injury list more often than others? Is it bad luck, lack of heart or something even deeper? Actually, let's not try and find a hidden meaning here. Just feel lucky you're not spending too much time in a trainer's room or the operating table. — Sid Saraf
 

Let's face it, he's a likable guy. He doesn't pop off at the mouth and he has tons of talent. Plus, men with a receding hairline always cut a sympathetic figure. But, he's gotta stay on the field. In 2007 he missed five games (concussion, separated shoulder) and another five in 2008 while dealing with knee problems. When he plays an entire season, like his Pro Bowl campaign in 2009, he's great. Coincidence? — Sid Saraf

Sure, he hasn't lived up to the grand expectations he carried out of USC, but is it fair to call him a bust? A torn knee ligament cost him four games in 2007; the next season was worse as a torn meniscus followed by a sprained MCL kept him out several weeks and a led to a trip to the injured reserve. He missed just three games in 2009 as the Saints won the Super Bowl (coincidence?). However, he suffered a broken leg in last season's Week 2 and was out until Thanksgiving. — Sid Saraf

You gotta love him: He's small, fierce and not afraid to stuff the run. But … he played just four games in the 2006 regular season, six in 2008, two in 2009 and just part of one in 2010. It's sad because when he's out there, he's a game-changing spark who improved the Colts' defense by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, Indy had enough and let him go earlier this year. Here's hoping he lands on his (healthy) feet someplace. — Sid Saraf

It's hard to figure out why McNabb (pictured when we was with the Eagles) catches so much flak. He's charismatic, patient and his mother makes a great soup commercial. What's not to like? Sure, he missed six games in 2002 with a broken ankle, but people forget he gutted out the Week 11 game when it happened. Yeah, he ended 2005 and 2006 on the injured reserve. So do Philly fans have a right to be critical of their former star QB? — Sid Saraf
 

He's unique because he's missed games purely because of scraps with teammates: one in 2002 for a film-room fracas and two more in 2008 for breaking Ken Lucas' nose. He's been hurt in games too. A broken leg in the season opener cost him all of 2004. A bad hammy and a toenail issue kept him out a couple weeks the next season. Smith broke his forearm in Week 16 of 2009, which he proceeded to make worse in the offseason when he broke it again while playing flag football. — Sid Saraf

Three weeks missed in 2006, three games and parts of two others in 2009, then finally 10 in 2010 with what was described as a mid-foot sprain. It's frustrating because when he plays, he's great. Williams ran for 1,515 yards in 2008 with 20 total touchdowns and followed that with another 1,117 yards in just 13 games in 2009. Career lengths for running backs seem to be at an all-time low in today's game, so let's hope Cam Newton's presence in Carolina can somehow take some pressure off him. — Sid Saraf

How does this guy ever get hurt? He's huge at 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, but somehow it happens. After taking over for Tiki Barber in 2007, the litany of nicks started. Knee and hamstring injuries kept him out of five games that year and after undergoing wrist surgery in the 2008 offseason, he missed two more contests with lingering knee problems. Is that it? Nope, he rewarded the Giants for placing a franchise tag on him by ending that campaign on the injured reserve. OK, that has to be it, right? Sorry … in 2010 he threw his helmet into the stands, which injured his wallet to the tune of $10,000. — Sid Saraf

Paying taxes and Joseph Addai on the Colts' injury report are undisputed facts of life. After running for 1,081 yards with seven touchdowns as a rookie, he missed four games with hamstring, knee and shoulder problems in 2008. Then there was a mysterious surgery mixed in that's never been fully explained. That would have been enough, but it got worse for Addai in 2010 (contract year) as he played in just eight games thanks to a nerve injury in his neck. — Sid Saraf

Stafford showed tons of promise as a rookie in 2009, but everything was derailed by a bad knee followed by a separated shoulder that eventually led to an IR stint. OK, his sophomore season would be better right? Umm, no it was worse. Here's a summary: Three games, another banged-up shoulder and a date with Dr. James Andrews. Do we have another Chad Pennington on our hands? — Sid Saraf

OK, he's had only the one ugly knee injury in Week 1 of 2008 and we all know what happened next: Matt Cassel became a star! But anyone who follows the Patriots knows coach Bill Belichick keeps Tommy Boy's name on the injury report every week. Yet, come Sundays, voila! Brady saunters out of the tunnel without even the hint of a limp or a grimace. Why? What's the point? Is Belichick playing some mental game? America is not stupid! — Sid Saraf