Flag football is fun, but injuries can happen. Tery Red
What readers should know:
What: VAVI Sport and Social Club
When: Sunday (April 29, 2018)
Where: Pacific Beach, California
VAVI Flag Football Co-ed League, Pacific Beach.
SportsMap was able to catch a glimpse into a Coed Flag Football Game in Pacific Beach, California. On the way to the host facility there was a brief distraction with a nearby game going on. What kind of ball is that? It was not a basketball or a dodgeball. You guessed it. A Kickball game was in session!
Talk about tickled pink, I had not seen a Kickball game since grade school! To see active adults out in an organized effort on a sunny, breezy day, enjoying a fun yet challenging game of foot to ball to base was quite refreshing! Stay Focused! Get to the Flag Football!
Local resident Pam Woods enjoys the VAVI co-ed game.
Ah yes! The Turf was impressive! I honestly had to touch it to be sure, YEP, field turf! Now that's the stuff. Oh no! As I imagined being at the NRG, I hear a man's war cry. At that moment I see an injured player, rolling in the turf in agony. Wait, isn't this "flag football?" Here is a receiver, Keith Russel Hunter, who has been playing in the VAVI Flag Football League for two years, a real semi-pro NFL hopeful. I watched as fellow coed teammates along with the referee hop into action to assist. After they have Russell stabilized, I see Q.B. Kim Spinardi, a south paw from SDSU B-Ball / Combo Guard (2006-2010) gear up her next play. She has quite the impressive arm. As her eyes search up field for her receiver Katy, pass complete, going for the touchdown! Yikes! Flags stripped by fellow contender. Nice play, well done.
This was way more than just a leisure activity. Both teams had very good support, competitive contenders who treated each other with dignity and respect. Excellent sportsmanship displayed here and a real enjoyment for the comradery was definitely observed . It was quite a treat!
Will Tank Dell be ready when the season begins? Composite Getty Image.
Earlier this week, Cal and Hannah McNair discussed Tank Dell's recovery from a gunshot wound he sustained in late April. Dell is expected to make a full recovery, but he will have to rehab to get back to where he was before his most recent injury.
They also talked about their conversations with Tank being private.
“That’s a hard situation to be in. I think that’s something we’ll talk about privately. In any situation in life, you’re going to learn something from it,” said Hannah McNair.
That quote caught our attention because Chad "Ocho Cinco" Johnson said something similar about “learning from it” on his podcast with Shannon Sharpe after texting with Dell.
From all accounts, Tank was a victim that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And the venue he was at wasn't your typical nightclub. It appears to be a more family oriented restaurant with swimming pools, cabanas, and TVs to watch sporting events, according to the website. Their motto is, “Eat. Drink. Swim. Sports.” Dell was reportedly there for a private event.
Which made us wonder if Johnson was victim blaming, or if he had other reasons to make that statement. We don't know who was hosting the event, who was invited, or how a sixteen-year-old was able to bring a gun into the establishment. To be fair, most restaurant/sports bars don't check people for weapons at the door. So all of this is pure speculation that we won't get into.
But we did find these comments curious. Obviously, the most important takeaway is that no one was seriously injured, and Tank should make a full recovery.
Let's get to how this impacts the team on the field.
This injury appears to be a little more serious than many initially believed. According to KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson's sources, Dell suffered “a flesh wound that went through one side of the leg and exited through the other side.” So this wasn't a glancing blow. Fortunately, it appears he “avoided structural damage to the leg.”
Wilson's sources are also saying they expect Dell “to be cleared for physical activity at some point this spring and is expected to make a full recovery in advance of training camp in July.”
If this is accurate, that means Dell will likely miss mandatory mini-camp, which begins on June 4. If that's the case, Tank's absence could provide more reps for newly acquired receiver Stefon Diggs. Along with the rest of the Texans receiving corps that's returning everyone from 2023.
Here's something else to keep an eye on. When asked if Dell would be ready for Week 1, The Associated Press reported that Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans refused "to directly answer the question.” DeMeco was also asked whether Dell would miss practice time, and again deflected.
“I’ve answered all that about Tank — he’ll be all right,” Ryans said.
There could be several reasons for how Ryans addressed these questions. Here are a few possibilities. One, it's a medical issue that has nothing to do with a football injury. Two, this injury could keep Dell from starting the season on time. Three, Ryans doesn't have to give injury reports in the offseason, and doesn't want to reveal information to opponents for competitive reasons. The NFL schedule will be out next week, and teams start preparing for their Week 1 opponents months ahead of time. Why tip your hand on Tank's availability for Week 1 when you don't have to?
Whatever the case may be, we have to treat this injury with the seriousness it deserves. This isn't an action movie, being shot through the leg, especially for a receiver who depends on speed and quickness, will take some time to fully heal.
And we know how much CJ Stroud thinks of Dell, and his impact on the offense. When Stroud selected his “Perfect Offense” recently, the only Texans receiver he drafted was Dell. So we know what he means to Stroud, and the team's chances of taking another step forward in 2024.
Just don't be surprised if Tank needs a little more time to back to full speed. He's working his way back from two significant injuries (broken fibula, gunshot flesh wound).
There's so much more to the story! Be sure to watch the video above for the full breakdown.
