Pain is elevated as something akin to a badge of courage among football players. Athletes who play more than one team sport say that the emotional bond among football players is tighter than among baseball or basketball teammates because of the pain factor. It is an arresting moment that brings an entire stadium to utter silence, when a player lies motionless on the field. Players on both teams kneel and pray that he will move a limb, that he will recover from the hit that may have paralyzed him...
