'This brotha had muscles in his breath': Bo Jackson tells a story you need to hear

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'This brotha had muscles in his breath': Bo Jackson tells a story you need to hear
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Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps.
Bo Jackson, one of the most powerful running backs in the history of the NFL, a man who once ran over Brian Bosworth with such impunity, it became legend, was asked a simple question: Have you, Mr. Jackson, ever got, got?
Meaning, did Jackson ever get blasted himself while playing in the NFL, instead of what normally happened, which was Jackson doing the blasting?
The answer Jackson provided is one of the most entertaining NFL stories you will ever hear. It's one of those tales that takes you inside the sport, and illustrates how violent it can be.
Jackson has always been a Paul Bunyan-type figure. This story only adds to his legend.
And here it goes.
Jackson actually told this story some months ago on the 'Get Got' podcast with former NFL players Marshawn Lynch (who is a legend in his own right) and Mike Robinson. But for whatever reason this part of the podcast didn't get much attention. Boy, it should have.
The Raiders were playing the Cardinals, and a trap play was called.
'The trap play was designed because I was notorious for cutting back on you at full speed,' Jackson said. 'I didn't stutter step. I cut back on you and I'm already in fourth gear."
It can't be stressed enough how accurate this is. One of the unique things about Jackson as a player was how quickly he got to full speed. Jackson was a shade over 6-feet and about 225 pounds but moved with the quickness of someone much smaller.
'We were down on our 5-yard line. So I'm thinking about 95 yards. Imma bust it from 95. And I don't know this brotha's name. But it was a linebacker. This brotha had muscles in his breath.'
Yes, he said muscles in his breath. At this point, Lynch and Robinson start laughing uncontrollably. Have to admit, I was, too.
'I didn't see him. It's always the ones that you don't see that get you. And it was an off-trap play to the weak side. … I was going to go off tackle.
'Homeboy filled that hole. He hit me on the six and dropped me on the two.'
Hit me on the six and dropped me on the two.
"I never saw him. It was like me running out in front of an 18-wheeler."
The player who hit Jackson then helped him up, which Jackson found irritating.
On the next series, the Raiders QB, unbelievably, according to Jackson, called the same play. 'I looked at him and said, 'Have you lost your (expletive) mind?" Jackson said.
'We ran that play. Bo didn't cut back on it.'
First, one of our super-talented editors did a little digging and found a clip of the Raiders and Cardinals. Jackson played the Cardinals just once in his career, on Dec. 10, 1989, according to Pro Football Reference. I looked and didn't see that specific play. Did Jackson get the team wrong? Did he mean the Seahawks? Another team? It's possible. The game was a long time ago. I can't remember what I ate yesterday afternoon.
Second, who was the player who shook Bo Jackson like that? (If anyone knows who the player was or has video of the hit please let me know.)
Jackson played in the NFL from 1987-1990. A hip injury ended his career. To me, he is the second greatest American athlete ever behind Deion Sanders. (I said what I said.)
The league Jackson played in is different from the current version. Today's NFL is still tough and physical but in Jackson's day it was far more brutal. Imagine how hard you had to hit Jackson for him to tell a story like that.
These are the types of stories fans need to hear more about. Players need to take people inside the game.
One thing we know for sure is that none of us will ever have muscles in our breath. But we can dream.
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