It's the season of giving, but we've been giving out NFL best bet recommendations that have put money in readers' pockets all year. Santa's sleigh will need a couple of extra reindeer if we keep making it rain on the sportsbooks! Let's keep that winning spirit going, and highlight our favorite Week 14 spread, moneyline, over/under, and prop wagers.Every Wednesday, we meticulously review the betting offerings on like my daughter inspects her food to ensure no vegetables were snuck in. We find the best bets for the upcoming slate of NFL games, typically selecting eight-to-10 wagers that strike us as both interesting and most likely to win you some cash. We analyze the stats, betting trends, and sharp betting reports to offer you the best advice and give you the greatest odds of achieving weekly betting succe s.Last week was another Travis Wood Jersey "W" for us. We nailed our top pick against the spread, the Browns -8 over the Texans. Our moneyline picks went undefeated, highlighted by the Vikings -155 over the Jets and the Steelers -110 over the Falcons. We also cruised to the OVER (51) in the Jaguars-Lions game and easily cashed on Jakobi Meyers' UNDER 50.5 receiving yards (-115). All told,our best bets yielded five hits, three mi ses, and one push. A .626 winning percentage we'll take it!We'll continue to expect even more from ourselves and aim to get you bigger returns on your NFL investments. So, let's get right back into it and confidently roll into the weekend like Tom Brady strutting into Levi's Stadium to face Brock Purdy.Here are our best bets for Week 14 of the NFL season.JUMP TO: | | | All odds are courtesy of .Buccaneers (+3.5) at 49ersWe don't know how he does it, but 45-year-old Tom Brady continues to step up late in games to pull off victories. It helps, of course, that he has a fantastic defense with studs at every level. It also helps that rookie running back Rachaad White seems to be coming into his own with increased usage over the past few weeks. With Jimmy Garoppolo , we love the GOAT's chances to bag Tampa's fourth win in five games. San Francisco still has plenty of weapons for replacement Jeimer Candelario Jersey QB Brock Purdy and the Niners defense is as solid as it gets but we can't pa s up Brady and the points against his hometown team, especially against a backup QB who has thrown 46 career NFL pa ses.NFL WEEK 14 PICKS: | Bengals (-5.5) vs. BrownsThe Bengals have quietly been one of the hottest teams in the NFL over the past month, winning four straight games, including ma sive victories over the Chiefs and Titans. Even Cincy's lo ses have left reasons for optimism three of the Bengals' four Ls were by three or fewer points. Deshaun Watson looked like garbage last week, clearly rusty from not playing competitive NFL football for two years. It will take him some time to get back into the swing of things, and we don't expect him to figure it out soon enough to outduel Joe Burrow with all his weapons firing on all cylinders. Cincinnati should have Joe Mixon (concu sion) and Ja'Marr Chase back on the field together for the first time since Week 7, too. This one won't get super ugly, but we feel safe betting on Burrow to win by a TD. Cleveland has surrendered the sixth-most points in the league and allowed Cincy to put up 32 points and 440 total yards when these squads met on Halloween.Bills (-10) vs. JetsCan we stop talking about Josh Allen's elbow yet? The Pro Bowl QB seems just fine, and while he has thrown Matthew Boyd Jersey an abnormal number of red-zone interceptions, we can't help but think Buffalo should take care of busine s at home against a young Jets squad. The last two poor pa sing offenses the Bills faced, New England and Cleveland, have lost to Buffalo by an average of 11 points. The Mike White hype was fun while it lasted, but the second-year QB came crashing back down to Earth in Minneapolis last weekend. If a bad Vikings pa s defense can make White throw multiple interceptions and log a 59.8 QB rating, just imagine what a Bills D ranked fourth in scoring and 10th in yardage can do to him.MORE NFL WEEK 14: Vikings (+105) at LionsWe rolled with the Vikings last week over the Jets, and we're doubling down by picking the Purple in Motown this weekend. Dan Campbell's squad has won four of its past five games, with the only lo s in that stretch coming to Buffalo by a field goal, but the fun stops here. Kirk Cousins is 8-2 Jack Morris Jersey lifetime against the Lions, and both Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook are bad, bad men. Oh, and don't forget Minnesota acquired stud tight end T.J. Hockenson from Detroit via trade earlier in the season. The Lions can move the ball with their vast array of ever-growing playmakers, but the 10-2 Vikes have way too many offensive weapons to suddenly lose to a five-win Lions squad.Ravens (+105) at SteelersThis was the easiest moneyline pick of the week. Ravens QB Tyler Huntley looked great last week in relief of injured star Lamar Jackson (knee), connecting on 27-of-32 pa ses for 187 yards and adding 41 rushing yards and a TD in a gritty 10-9 win over Denver. Head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman clearly have Huntley prepared at all times he's the backup to the best mobile QB in the history of the game, after all so there's no doubt in my mind the third-year signal-caller can exploit a beatable Steelers secondary this weekend. Against rookie Kenny Pickett, who has failed to reach 200 yards in six of nine career starts and is still yet to throw two TDs in a game, we think Roquan Smith and this improved Ravens D will feast.Seahawks (-190) vs. PanthersThe most underrated offensive player in the NFL this season is Geno Smith, who very quietly ranks fourth in pa sing TDs (22) and eighth in pa sing yards per game (264.1). Letting go of Ru sell Wilson might have been the best thing to ever happen to these Seahawks, who continue to thrive thanks to a strong nucleus of skill players. Even if Kenneth Walker III sits out this weekend Al Kaline Jersey because of his , we still like Seattle better than Carolina on both sides of the ball. The Seahawks are looking ahead at the , whilethe Panthers are looking ahead to the 2023 NFL Draft. Dolphins at Chargers: OVER 53.5 (-110)This game has been sent from the heavens to please all fans of offensive football. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (ankle) should be all systems go, and Bolts QB Justin Herbert might have stud receiver tandem Keenan Allen and Mike Williams (ankle) both in action together. The Chargers will need all the aerial support they can get, as Miami receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have been two of the most electric playmakers in the NFL this season. Miami has surrendered 27 or more points in three of its past five games and has given up the eighth-most points in the NFL acro s the season. Los Angeles has allowed 27 points per game over its past three and ranks 30th in overall scoring defense. Go OVER and get the popcorn ready.Patri

Rising tempers on the Broncos' sideline are becoming more commonplace.Last week, it was shouting at quarterback Ru sell Wilson. This week, it was Jerry Jeudy screaming and shoving aside teammates as the offense retreated while trailing the Chiefs 27-0 with 3:45 left in Brandon Dixon Jersey the first half.It's hard to blame Jeudy. At that point, the Broncos were being boat-raced Travis Wood Jersey in what was beginning to look like a fifth straight lo s and the team's most lopsided defeat of the season.Wow, Jerry Jeudy Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) MORE: But that fire appeared to translate almost immediately to production. The next drive, Jeudy caught a pa s for 17 yards and then another for an 18-yard touchdown.Touchdown, . : CBS Denver Broncos (@Broncos) The Broncos got the ball back on a Pat Kirk Gibson Jersey Surtain interception and marched down the field in seven plays, capped by another Jeudy touchdown, this one from 5 yards.. x2 : CBS Denver Broncos (@Broncos) MORE:Those touchdowns accounted for 14 of 21 consecutive points by the Broncos as they fought back in the AFC West matchup. Kansas City scored another touchdown toward the end of the third quarter, but the Broncos scored a fourth touchdown to open the fourth quarter after Ru sell Wilson left Shane Greene Jersey the game with an injury.Backup QB Brett Rypien's target? That would be Jeudy once again.HAT TRICK, ! : CBS Denver Broncos (@Broncos) The 28 points marked the most scored by the Broncos all season. They came in averaging 13.8 points per game, lowest in the NFL. Unfortunately for them, the 34 points allowed through three quarters was the most the defense had given Nick Castellanos Jersey up all season.

Just a week into his Clayton Richard Jersey fourth season in the NBA, Grizzlies guard Ja Morant is again taking the league by storm, and everyone is taking notice. Among those wowed by the 23-year-old's continued ascension is Nets forward Kevin Durant, someone who knows a thing or two about being a superstar at a young age.With the Nets in Memphis for an early-season showdown with the Grizzlies, it was Morant's star that shined brightest as he lead his team to a statement victory. After the game, Durant gave some meaningful praise Gerardo Reyes Jersey to the guard."He's the most marketable guy in our league the face of our league going forward," Durant told reporters postgame, . "There are so many kids that are inspired by what he does."MORE:More than just having last names that rhyme, Durant and Morant share some similarities in their respective journeys. Both players were selected second overall in their respective draft cla ses and broke out to earn Rookie of the Year honors, placing them each on the fast track toward making a leap into superstardom.Beyond the parallels, it should be clear San Diego Padres Jersey that Durant is a ma sive fan of Morant's.Last season, explaining that Memphis' guard has elements of Allen Iverson, Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose and Ru sell Westbrook in his game.Fast forward a few months, and Durant is using some of those same names to try to describe what Morant does on a nightly basis, only to clarify by saying that Morant is a one-of-one.MORE:Morant's unique ability as a player coupled with his competitive nature and magnetic personality is exactly why Durant envisions him as the face of the NBA moving forward.Seeing this performance firsthand likely helped, too:Ja Morant tonight Matt Strahm Jersey in the win:38 PTS8 REB7 AST2 STLHe's on FIRE to start the season. NBA (@NBA) At 23, Morant is one of a host of special young players in the league under the age of 25, a group that also includes fellow All-NBA Team members Luka Doncic (23), Freddy Galvis Jersey Jayson Tatum (24) and Trae Young (24). This season, 22-year-old Zion Williamson will look to join that group as well.The league is in great hands.

Collared.If you've tuned in to an NFL game recently, you may have noticed something interesting around the necks of NFL players. No, it's not jewelry, but something that might be the new wave in head injury prevention: the Q-Collar.The Q-Collar is the latest attempt Garrett Richards Jersey in head injury prevention, but there's more than a bit of controversy surrounding the use and implementation of it.Still, NFL players have taken to using the Q-Collar, with more and more players using the gear during games.MORE: Here's what to know about the latest device: The Q-Collar is a small, lightweight necklace-type device to applies a small bit of pre sure to the wearer's internal jugular vein. Inside the plastic frame is a metal spring that keeps the collar in place.The idea is to increase blood flow surrounding the brain, so when there's impact, the blow is le sened, thus attempting to avoid concu sions."This puts a kink on the hose, so the jugular is slower to drain Ronald Bolanos Jersey ," "This kink fills capillaries around the brain with just about a tablespoon of extra blood, stabilizing it almost like bubble wrap." A number of NFL players have started sporting the Q-Collar in 2023, including:Chargers LB Drue TranquillCowboys RB Tony PollardCowboys TE Dalton SchultzPanthers LB Shaq ThompsonRams S Taylor RappEagles RB Boston ScottSeahawks TE Colby ParkinsonIn addition to NFL players, a number of athletes The collar puts a small bit of pre sure on the jugular veins, slowing blood flow to ve sels around the brain. E sentially, extra blood around the brain operates as almost some kind of pillow, to reduce head injuries.Per the Q-Collar website:Because the brain floats inside the skull, it moves sometimes with great force when the head is exposed to an impact. By applying light pre sure to the sides of the neck, the Q-Collar Chase Headley Jersey increases blood volume in the brains venous structures, reducing the harmful internal movement that causes brain injury.This claim, though, has been met with some skepticism from medical experts. With the NFL's concu sion i sues persisting through the years, players have made it a habit to try and use any new technology and gear to try and reduce the effects of brain injuries and concu sions. The Q-Collar falls into that category.This is nothing new, considering players have tried all sorts of things to try and alleviate concu sion i sues, from neck boards to oversized helmets.MORE: Q30, the Q-Collar's maker, sponsored a Hunter Renfroe Jersey study of 284 high school football players in 2018. After a season, 77 percent of athletes who wore the Q-Collar reported no significant changes to the brain, while 73 percent of the athletes who didn't wear the collar did. While the device is FDA-approved, that doesn't mean that there's enough medical evidence to prove that the Q-Collar succeeds in its goal to limit head trauma. The FDA's approval statement says as much: "data does not demonstrate that Gerardo Reyes Jersey the device can prevent concu sion or serious head injury." "the Q-Collar has not been demonstrated to prevent long-term cognitive function deficits, and the ultimate impact on clinical outcomes has not been evaluated."Some experts also say that the theory of cushioning the brain makes sense, but could lead to other problems, including disallowing the brain to expand."The brain sits in an enclosed space within a hard skull, and thus has very little room to expand if put under additional pre sure,"All that's to say, you can wear it, but it might not do much good. There's simply not enough known yet.

Warriors star Stephen Curry mi Jason Vargas Jersey sed his first free throw of the season on Tuesday night, and he instantly knew why.The two-time MVP pointed right at TNT play-by-play broadcaster Kevin Harlan, who said just as the shot was launched that Curry hadn't mi sed a free throw yet this year."Curry has not mi sed this yearSteph pointed to the announcers after Kevin Harlan jinxed his FT Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) Reggie Miller immediately said, "Why? Why? Why?" as fellow color analyst Candace Parker joked, "That is you, Kevin!" Miller and Parker both pointed at Harlan before Curry joined in on the fun.Harlan says Curry hasn't mi sed a free throw.Curry mi ses a free throw.Curry turns Adalberto Mondesi Jersey right to Harlan and calls him out for the jinx.Fantastic television. Matt Petersen (@TheMattPetersen) Curry was a perfect 22-of-22 from the free-throw line heading into tonight's matchup with the Suns, and he made it 23 in a row with an early and-one opportunity. Curry ultimately mi sed another free-throw in the third quarter tonight.Steph Curry was 100% from the free throw line this season, hes 3/5 tonight and its Kevin Harlans fault Bovada (@BovadaOfficial) Steph Curry mi sed another free throw."You opened up an avalanche, and now, he can't make a free throw."- Reggie Miller to Kevin Harlan Awful Announcing Hunter Dozier Jersey (@awfulannouncing) Tuesday's game marks the first of four meetings this season between the Warriors and Suns, two of the West's most talented teams. Golden State's defense has struggled mightily through the first three games of the season, so every Curry free-throw has some value.MORE: The idea of an announcer's jinx resurfaces whenever a commentator mentions an active streak that ends shortly after the comment. While it may not be an actual factor in the end of any streak, it's hilarious to see Curry have some fun with it.In football, broadcasters get blamed for mi sed field goals. During the 2020 season, Joe Buck a streak of 70 consecutive made field goals from inside 40 yards by Ravens kicker Justin Tucker.Seconds before the mi sed kick, Buck referenced the idea of a jinx, saying, "I'm just gonna say he is making the field goal . No announcer's jinx, come on." Tucker, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, mi sed the attempt.There are plenty of examples: While Curry Kelvin Herrera Jersey will always be best known for his skills from beyond the three-point line, he's also a historically good free-throw shooter.Curry is shooting 90 Alex Gordon Jersey .9 percent on free-throws in his career. He's led the league in free-throw percentage on four occasions and has a 92.2 percent mark from the free-throw line since 2017-18.MORE: While Curry's career still has a long way to go, he stands alone as the NBA's all-time leader in free-throw percentage. Steve Nash sits just behind Curry with a 90.4 percent mark, and Mark Price is the only other player with a career rate over 90 percent.Among active players, Damian Lillard is the closest player to Curry with an 89.3 percent mark.

Stephen Curry' Joakim Soria Jersey s resume continues to grow.After earning yet another All-Star and All-NBA selection during the regular season, Curry led the Warriors to their fourth championship in eight seasons by defeating the Celtics in six games in the 2022 NBA Finals.The icing on the cake? Curry was crowned Finals MVP for the first time in his career.The title and Finals MVP bookend a historic season for Curry that saw him rewrite the record books in more ways than one.Here are the moments that defined the Warriors star's unforgettable season.MORE: 50-pieceOn Nov. 8, 2021, Curry scored a season-best 50 points in a blowout victory over the Hawks.Stephen Curry WENT OFF. 50 points (NBA season high) 10 dimes, 3 steals, 9 threes 3rd player with 50p/10a Oldest player ever with 50p/10aGSW improves to an NBA-best 9-1! NBA (@NBA) It was the 10th time that Curry had scored 50 or more points in a game in his career. Only have more, a list that includes the likes of Wilt Chamberlain (118), Michael Jordan (31 Alex Gordon Jersey ), LeBron James (14) and Allen Iverson (11).MVP front-runnerThat 50-piece against the Hawks wasn't Curry's only big game to start the season.Curry scored 30 or more points nine times in Golden State's opening 25 games, including four 40-point performances. His brilliance helped the Warriors get off to a 21-4 start, .In a straw poll on Dec. 10, 2021, Curry received 94 of a po sible 100 first-place votes for MVP from media members, making him the early front-runner for the award."Curry's 94 first-place votes creates the highest percentage of first-place votes received in any of the straw polls, surpa sing the 91 votesJames Hardenreceived in the spring of 2018, the season he would win his lone MVP award while with theHouston Rockets," wrote Bontemps.Curry cooled off shortly thereafter, but his scorching start turned out to be a sign of things to come.MORE:The (official) 3-point kingDec. 14, 2021, is a night Curry won't forget.In a win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Curry knocked down the 2,974th 3-pointer of his career.The significance? It moved him past Ray Allen for the most 3-pointers in NBA history.Curry broke Allen's record in 511 fewer games. He has since surpa sed 3,000 career 3-pointers, making him the first player to ever reach that milestone.Making the moment all the more special is Curry has a history with New York. Not only did the Knicks want him " " in the 2009 NBA Draft, but his came under the bright lights of the Garden.A historic All-Star GameCurry has a history of struggling in the All-Star Game. This year, Ryan Goins Jersey not so much.Voted in as a starter, Curry led Team LeBron to victory with 50 points while knocking down 16 3-pointers. It's the second-highest scoring performance and the most 3s ever made in an All-Star Game.16 threes.In one game. went off for 50 POINTS and shattered the record for threes to lift and take home the Kobe Bryant trophy! NBA (@NBA) To no surprise, Curry was named All-Star Game MVP.MORE:Coming off the benchIt's easy to forget that Curry started Golden State's championship run coming off the bench.Curry mi sed the final 12 games of the regular season with a sprained ligament in his left foot. He returned in time for the first Brad Boxberger Jersey game of the playoffs, only Jordan Poole started in his place for four straight games.Some of that had to do with Curry working his way back from injury and being on a minute restriction, but it speaks to his unselfishne s that ."End of the day, it's on all of us to make the nece sary adjustments and be ready," . "If youre worried about anything other than winning the game, youre approaching it wrong."As a reserve, Curry averaged 27.5 points in 28.1 minutes. Not bad.The turning pointCurry delivered an all-timer when the Warriors needed it most.Trailing the Celtics 2-1 in the Finals, Curry exploded for 43 points and 10 rebounds to lead Golden State to a 107-97 victory in Boston. He knocked down seven 3s, .The 3-point ( ) splashed down 7 3-pointers in Game 4 for his 4th consecutive game with 5+ 3PM NBA (@NBA) In addition to helping the Warriors regain homecourt advantage, it was the first of three straight victories for Golden State, marking a turning point in the Finals.TSN's Jordan Greer as the best Finals performance of Curry's career.MORE:Finals MVPAh yes, the one honor that had eluded Curry in his career.Curry was nothing short of brilliant in the 2022 NBA Finals, averaging 31.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 a sists on 48.2 percent shooting from the field and 43.7 percent from 3-point range.For his efforts, Curry earned Finals MVP , I should add.Eight All-Star selections. Eight All-NBA selections. Four championships. Two regular-season MVPs. One Western Justin Grimm Jersey Conference Finals MVP. And now one Finals MVP.What else is there for Curry to do?

Stop us if you've heard this one before: The Chargers are back on "Sunday Night Collin McHugh Jersey Football."MORE: Sunday's prime-time matchup will feature the Los Angeles hosting the Miami in SoFi Stadium, a game that will pit two quarterbacks drafted in 2020 against each other.This is a big game for the Chargers, as they try to claw their way back into the playoff picture after dropping to .500 with last week's lo s to the Raiders. They find themselves the second team out, while the 8-4 Dolphins are sixth in the AFC as they battle within a crowded AFC East that features three playoff teams heading into this week.Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa are the headliners of this game, with both of them putting together solid seasons. Herbert has dealt with injuries up and down his receiving corps thus far, whereas Tagovailoa has dealt with injuries of his own and capitalized on the presence of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.This game was flexed into prime time to replace Broncos-Chiefs, and it could end up having ramifications on the playoff picture when it's all said and done. But for the Chargers, this game could be make or break.MORE: Matchup:Dolphinsvs. ChargersLocation:SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif.The Dolphins find themselves playing meaningful football in December, meaning Mike McDaniel and Tagovailoa have them way ahead of schedule. At 8-4, the Dolphins started to turn heads Xander Bogaerts Jersey this year when they moved to 3-0 with a win over the Bills. After they went to 3-3, some of the reverence faded, but they then went on a five-game win streak to reestablish their legitimacy before losing to the 49ers last week.The Chargers, meanwhile, have had their annual roller coaster so far this year. The team continues to lack consistency, yet finds itself second in the AFC West and just a game out of the AFC playoff picture. At this point, Brandon Staley could well be coaching for his job, although it should be noted the Chargers have Blake Swihart Jersey dealt with injuries all year.With that being said, expectations were high in Los Angeles this season, and they aren't getting any lower. A win over the Dolphins would go a long way for the Chargers moving forward, while a lo s would bring them to under .500 on the season. In that sense, this is a big game as they fight for their playoff lives.It's all set to the backdrop of Tagovailoa and Herbert playing their second game against each other. Tagovailoa and the Dolphins got the better of the Chargers in their first showdown against each other in 2020, winning 29- Brock Holt Jersey 21 in a two-touchdown game for Tagovailoa. Date:Sunday, Dec. 11Start time:8:20 p.m. ET (5:20 p.m. PT)As has been the case all season, this week's "Sunday Night Football" matchup will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET. The game will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Local time for kickoff will be 5:20 p.m. PT.Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play duties and Cris Collinsworth will offer analysis as a color commentator. Meli sa Stark will report from the sidelines, providing analysis and injury updates. Game:Dolphins vs. ChargersDate:Sunday, Dec. 11TV channel (national):NBC (U.S.) | TSN1/4/5(Canada)Live stream:Peacock,NBCSports.com, (U.S.) | (Canada)NBC will air the broadcast of Sunday night's Dolphins vs. Chargers game, but there are several other ways to watch the action.Those with cable subscriptions can watch the game on NBCSports.com. Peacock and , also will have the game on offer.Viewers in Canada can watch on TSN or , which carries every NFL game. Dolphins vs. Chargers will be broadcast on NBC. Those with a cable subscription can find the game on NBCSports.com as well. The game will also be streamed on Peacock and .Other streaming options for Dolphins vs. Chargers are as follows Roger Clemens Jersey :Streaming optionCable subscription needed?Free?CostFree trial?NFL AppYesYesYahoo! Sports AppYesYesNFL+NoNo$9.99/monthYesDirecTV StreamNoNo$49.99/monthYesNoNo$69.99/monthYesHulu Plus Live TVNoNo$69.99/monthYesSling TVNoNo$35/monthYesYouTube TVNoNo$54.99/monthYes

Andrew Luck has largely remained out of the public eye since his shocking decision to retire at age 29 just before the 2019 NFL Dustin Pedroia Jersey season.Now, the former Colts quarterback is explaining exactly what led him to leave the game the game that he loved during his prime.Luck told in a rare interview that he didn't just retire due to the physical toll the game took on him. It also was related to the emotional weight of being the proverbial franchise quarterback."To play quarterback, you're not allowed to worry about anything except the task at hand," Luck explained. "And that seeps into other areas of life. It's not the healthiest way to live."MORE: What did Luck mean by that? He developed almost a monomaniacal obse sion with becoming the best quarterback that he could. In doing so, he put a strain on his personal life and had something of an identity crisis.As Wickersham explained, "Luck's most Wade Boggs Jersey natural version of himself was to be one of the guys." He wasn't able to do that as much at the NFL level given his leadership expectations as a top quarterback.As such, he felt pre sure to take on a new persona to effectively serve in that role.Luck didn't like that part of his personality he had to tap in to create this. That said, he felt like he had no choice but to use it. It was the best way, in his mind, to establish himself as a leader in the room.How did that personality change impact Luck? He realizes now that too much of his identity was tied to being a quarterback."A lot. A lot. A LOT," Luck said when asked how much he self-identified as a quarterback. "And I didn't realize that until after the fact."MORE:Luck's self-identification as a quarterback put extra pre sure on him to be perfect to control everything about the environment around him. Roger Clemens Jersey That worked on the field, as he was able to turn into one of the NFL's best quarterbacks.However, Luck struggled personally to manage that pre sure as he fought through injuries. Wickersham explained that Luck fell victim to his "worse impulses," which included feeling guilty about being unable to play while trying to remain stone-faced through his emotional turmoil.This led to i sues with his self-worth off the field.Eventually, he was Rick Porcello Jersey able to open up about those problems and concerns. That allowed him to better connect with his partner, Nicole, and realize that he was more than just a quarterback.MORE: Still, his bad impulses returned as he battled an ankle injury before the 2019 NFL season. But this time, he came to the realization that he had reasons to walk away if he decided to call it quits, as detailed by Wickersham:He was not just a quarterback. In the offseason he and Nicole had married, and she was pregnant with Lucy. He had responsibilities and promises beyond himself and the Colts. He was coming close to saying out loud what he had disclosed only to Nicole and a few others: that he wasn't sure he wanted to do this anymore. Not could. Wanted. He had proved that he could play at a high level. He had received plenty of praise and criticism, enough to know that neither of those things matters.So, to preserve not only his physical health but his mental health too, Luck decided to retire.And while the decision may have been a shock to the NFL world, it was one that Luck had been mulling for a Alex Verdugo Jersey long time.