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Patriots Lineman Logan Mankins Played Entire 2011 Season With A Torn ACL

Aptly-named New England Patriots lineman Logan Mankins tore his right ACL in the first game of the 2011 season against the Miami Dolphins. Not only did he then finish the game with the injury, he went on to play every game that season on it. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, Mankins then tore his left MCL just in time for the Super Bowl. What a shame to have battled all season only to suffer another horrific injury that forced him to sit out the biggest game of his life… What’s that? He played anyway?

“It wasn’t 100 percent, but it was still functionable,” he explained in August of the torn right ACL. “I could still run, so there was no reason to sit out. There were no MRIs or anything, so we never knew exactly what was hurt. If you can still run and play, there is no reason to go see a doctor, right?”

Truly incredible, although, if I remember correctly, I don’t think Tom Brady had the best pass protection in that Super Bowl. Not saying Mankins was responsible for Brady being hounded by the New York Giants pass-rush all game, but it’s at least a coincidence.

Either way, we salute either Logan Mankins for his tenacity and amazing display of pain tolerance, or Bill Belichick for somehow scaring a 6-4 310 lbs. man into playing professional football with injuries that would render a normal person bedridden for a year.

[ESPN]

Photo via Getty

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