Every NFL team has a Joe Montana. In fact, on average, each team has 18.
No, I don't mean that every team has a Hall-of-Fame quarterback who has won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award three times.
In that respect, there is only one Joe Montana. But these days, Montana isn't worried about blitzing linebackers. Montana's toughest battles are against himself—specifically against his hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure.
He isn't alone—about one of every three adults suffer along with him. On an NFL team, that would be nearly an entire offensive and defensive unit.
And while it's true that high blood pressure often isn't an issue until after the age at which at NFL career is usually over, those with readings above 120/80 need to take it seriously, Montana said last week while in Las Vegas to pass along some of his firsthand knowledge.
"A lot of people don't know they have high blood pressure, so there's not much of an awareness," Montana said. "The program I work with, BP Success Zone, isn't looking for a cure. We already have medicines that severely lower someone's risks and help control it—that's the beauty of this campaign. All we really want is for people to go see a doctor and get it checked and get that dialogue started."
Montana was shocked three years ago when he learned he had high blood pressure, and it took him weeks to get it under control.
"At first I tried looking at changing my diet and exercise routines, hoping to lower it without medication. But it really took the doctor finding the right medicine, along with my lifestyle changes, before we got it where it was manageable," he said.
Montana said he doesn't know if eating healthier during his playing days could have prevented his condition, and said his he knew his family has a history of heart problems. In some ways, this was scarier than looking at Lawrence Taylor across the line of scrimmage.
"At least I knew I'd live through a hit from L.T., but this was a life-and-death issue. High blood pressure is a precursor to a stroke and contributes to many deaths," said Montana, who's visited more than 30 cities to raise awareness. "We have the ability to really reduce that risk. In 90 percent of the cases, we don't know the cause. But we all have to worry about it."
Montana said stress can have a small effect on someone's blood pressure, though not as large as people are often led to believe. Still, when I asked him if he's glad he was able to play ball with the guy who made No. 80 famous in San Francisco, Jerry Rice, rather than No. 81, Terrell Owens—that was an easy one.
"Jerry, by far," Montana said, smiling.
For more information on BP Success Zone, visit
www.getbpdown.com.
My picks: After a second straight 2-1 week against the spread, I'll try to keep my BP from rising by taking the Patriots plus 3 at the Chiefs, the Seahawks-Giants over 47 and the Saints-Jets under 37.
Lance Burton (16-17)
Falcons -3 over Lions
Bengals -9 vs. Ravens
Colts -4 at Steelers
Danny Gans (16-17)
Raiders -7 vs. Dolphins
Patriots +3 at Chiefs
Chargers -3 at Redskins
Oscar Goodman (13-20)
Bengals -9 vs. Ravens
Chargers -3 at Redskins
Giants +4 1/2 at Seahawks
Clint Holmes (14-18-1)
Redskins +3 vs. Chargers
Bills +4 vs. Panthers
Saints -1 1/2 at Jets
Kevin Janison (18-15)
Patriots +3 at Chiefs
Dolphins +7 at Raiders
Giants +4 1/2 at Seahawks
Mark & Mercedes (14-17-2)
Broncos -1 1/2 at Cowboys
Rams -4 at Texans
Cardinals +3 1/2 vs. Jaguars
Wayne Newton (22-11)
Giants +4 1/2 at Seahawks
Panthers -4 at Bills
Rams -4 at Texans
Penn & Teller (14-19)
Raiders -7 vs. Dolphins
Eagles -4 vs. Packers
Steelers +4 vs. Colts
Rita Rudner (15-15-3)
Bears +3 vs. Buccaneers
Vikings -4 1/2 vs. Browns
Falcons -3 at Lions
Sal DeFilippo can really move outside of the pocket before tossing that pigskin.