Grip on Sports: An NFL career can end in a moment, even one that doesn’t look all that bad

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Just about everybody enjoys watching football. The television ratings tell us that. But something happened Sunday in the Seahawks game that also tells us something about football. Read on.

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• The play seemed innocuous. A typical play in a typical game.

The Hawks’ Cliff Avril chased down a ball carrier from behind and helped bring him down.

Then Avril didn’t get up.

He had hit his chin on the offensive player. Even on replay it didn’t look all that bad, not anything like the injury Chris Carson would suffer later.

But Avril’s may last longer. It may end his career.

At least that’s what coach Pete Carroll seemed to allude to Wednesday.

“(It) could be (long term),’’ Carroll told the media yesterday. “Could be. We are going to go very slowly and make sure that he takes all the opportunity to talk to as many people as he wants to make sure he knows what he’s got and what we need to do with it.

“We are just going to take care of him and make sure that he is well. And if he wants to come back and we want to bring him back we’ll let you know when we know. But right now we don’t.’’

That doesn’t sound good, especially considering Avril is 31, young in every category except professional athlete.

For years my father would preach to me you had to play every play on every field as if it could be your last. That was coming from a guy who broke his leg in about 35 different places in a softball game once – and limped ever after.

But who listened? We were young, (relatively) strong and felt we would play forever.

It’s not true. Nothing lasts forever, especially football careers. According to the NFL Players Association, the typical NFL career is 3.3 years.

So, in a way, Avril is lucky. His career has already lasted 10 seasons. But the statistical certainty of NFL injuries may have finally caught up with him.

Yes, it’s odd his season (and career) may end because his chin hit Jacoby Brissett’s heel. But the fact his season (and career) may end due to injury isn’t odd. It’s actually quite typical.

The only way Avril was successful was playing each play as if it was his last. The only inevitability was, sooner or later, it would be.

• Spokane needs more places for our youth to compete in sports. It has for years. It will for years to come.

So this news about a planned downtown sports complex is welcome. So is the financing plan, if only to blunt the voices of the usual naysayers.

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WSU: The long-anticipated reunion of Joe Salave’a and Washington State occurs this Saturday. Theo Lawson, who didn’t have the privilege of covering Salave’a when he was the Cougars’ defensive line coach – and main Polynesian recruiter – has this story on the occurrence. So do others. It’s just natural. … Theo also held a live chat yesterday as well as putting together some videos, all of which can be found on our WSU football page. … Carroll talked about Luke Falk recently – that’s not tampering, is it? – and the Times’ Stefanie Loh has a story. … Watching a football game at Martin Stadium always seems to be special for alums. … It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Pac-12 power ranking with WSU on top. … The Ducks are still trying to figure out who their quarterback will be, but whoever it is, he’ll be handing it to Royce Freeman. That’s smart.

Elsewhere in the Pac-12, It seems like a good day to pick games. … Washington faces California this week, which means Beau Baldwin gets another chance to attack the Husky defense. His Eastern Washington team did a number on it a few years back. … Both Stanford and Utah head into their game this week without much clue who will play quarterback. … The Oregon State defense will have its hands full with USC’s offense, though the Trojans will be without a starter up front. … UCLA’s Jim Mora isn’t happy. … Arizona State has some speed on the outside. … Colorado has size on the inside.

Gonzaga: There is a change on the GU radio broadcasts. Matt Santangelo has been replaced as the color commentator by Adam Morrison. … The women are more than ready to start the season. Jim Allen tells us why.

EWU: The fallout from the change in future Big Sky football schedules is pretty intense. Jim Allen explores it as well as trying to piece together the thoughts behind the move. … The women’s soccer team is on a hot streak. Jim has a story on that. … Around the Big Sky, Southern Utah has had a week to think about an odd loss. … Montana keeps its former players close.

Whitworth: The women’s soccer team defeated Whitman.

Chiefs: Overtime looked likely last night at the Arena, but Hudson Elynuik’s late goal lifted Spokane to a 5-4 win over visiting Everett. Kevin Dudley has all the particulars in this story. … Around the WHL, there has been a position change in Portland.

Preps: There is a changing of the guard in the S-R’s prep coverage, with Dave Nichols the latest in a long-line of prep guys that dates back to Merle Derrick and includes such fine folks as Dave Trimmer, Chris Derrick, Mike Vlahovich, Greg Lee and yours truly. Dave has an introductory column then jumps right in with a story about a GSL first. Mackenzie Lewis became the first female player to catch a pass in a league game. Wonder what Cam Newton might think of that? … Dave has another story on Gonzaga Prep football and takes over the Pick Six with Sam Adams. … Whitney Ogden has a feature on a U-Hi volleyball player. … You enjoy football rankings? Here are some.

Seahawks: One man’s injury is another man’s opportunity in the NFL. … Rees Odhiambo (pictured) has bounced back quickly from his hospital stay. … Marcus Smith has fit in nicely in Seattle. … Are the Hawks vulnerable?

Mariners: Don’t expect Jerry Dipoto to be as busy this offseason.

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• Ever done a celebratory dance? Me neither, until yesterday. It came in a doctor’s office. After he told me I didn’t have something he was worried I did. If there had been a football nearby, I would have spiked it. Hard. Until later …