Arizona Cardinals running back Ryan Williams admitted to the Arizona Republic that  he played through last season in a state of fear, worried that his surgically repaired right knee wouldn’t hold up.

Williams told the paper that he was freaked out about running a play called “39 toss,” that ended up being an outside run play that left his knee vulnerable to a hit.

“That was my least favorite play, because running to the outside, my whole right side was exposed,” Williams told The Arizona Republic on Thursday. “As soon as I saw (linebacker Takeo) Spikes coming to hit me, I curled up and forgot about the ball. It was something where I was trying to protect my leg instead of trying to protect the football.

“It’s a scary sight being a running back and being scared to run the ball. That’s something that no running back should feel. I was pretty much scared all last year to get the ball in my hands.”

Williams ended up hurting his shoulder and missing the remainder of the season, but he called it a blessing in disguise, because it gave him a chance to heal.

The Steelers wide receiver recently launched his own fine line of luxury sock called the Plaxico Burress Collection. 

Burress launched the collection, this week in New York City.  Burress says he wants to design bow ties, cuff links and belts once the socks take off according to the New York Times.

To help promote the line, Burress has gotten the word out to the news media,  and started a Twitter account, @PlaxicosSocks.

 “I’ve been planning my sock line from behind the scenes for a couple of years; nobody even knew I was doing it,” said Burress, excited to talk about colorful socks instead of colorful former coaches. “So it’s a lot of hard work that got me to this point.”

“I’ve always considered myself a pretty stylish guy,” he said. “I may not have had the means to do so coming up. I had an eye for what looks good on me.”

Head coach Jim Harbaugh doesn’t think he’ll out for the entire season, but for now the 49ers need to find a viable replacement.

One of the names thrown around is Randy Moss who played for the 49ers last season, and exhibited a good attitude even though he didn’t produce much.

According to Around The League, Jim Harbaugh has no interest in bringing Moss back, and likes the receivers he has.

“We’re excited for the young receivers that we have,” coach Jim Harbaughsaid when asked about a Moss reunion. “Really feel that somebody’s going to emerge there because they have to. And competition will create that. And we’ll look forward to watching that.”

2012 first round pick A.J. Jenkins may be finally ready to ascend to a productive level.

TMZ is reporting that Rodriguez just sold his Miami Beach mansion for $30 million, making a $15 million profit.  Rodriguez reported accepted a $30 million offer for a 19,861 square foot property that he paid $7.4 million for in 2010.

After he bought the mansion, A-Rod poured another $7.6 million into refurbishing and turning it into a dream home.  The mansion is an oceanfront estate with 9 bedrooms, 11 full bathrooms (plus 2 half bathrooms), a 4-car garage, state of the art security system with 16 cameras and a Zen garden.

A-Rod had previously priced the mansion at $38 million, but after getting no takers, reduced the price some.

Rodriguez reportedly is neighbors with Matt Damon as well.

Things have been quiet in regards to Tebow mania for a few days now, but Norris has chosen to ratchet all that discussion back up.

Norris took time out of his schedule to write a 1,500 word blog post for the non-profit website Newsbusters, and in it, he took time to explain why “Tebow is so clutch, and how Tebow reminds Norris of himself.”

“Tebow is a player who rises to the occasion and delivers big in critical game moments.”

“He reminds me of myself when I used to compete in martial arts. I would spar with my black belts in class, and sometimes they would outscore me. Yet in the tournaments, I would defeat them. My students used to ask me, ‘Why can we contend equally against you in class, but we can’t beat you in the tournaments?’ My answer was always the same, ‘When it counts, I rise to the occasion.’ The same is true of the former Heisman Trophy winner: When pressure mounts and the game is on the line, Tim’s turbo turns on!”

Bush was with his new team for the start of their OTAs, and let it be known that he’s about his business, and he’s in Detroit to win championships according to the Detroit News. 

“I came here to work,” Bush said, via the Detroit News. “I didn’t come here to vacation. I came here to win championships, to win football games, and that’s what I look forward to doing.”

Bush also admitted that right now, he’s happier with the Lions than he ever was with the Saints or Dolphins.

“Some guys have been asking me, ‘How was Miami? How was South Beach,’” he said. “I tell them, you know, it’s nice but if the football isn’t right, it doesn’t matter where you are at. If your work isn’t right, you are not going to be happy. As long as we take care of business here, this can be an amazing place. I think it has a lot to offer. I look forward to getting into that stadium and hearing those fans be as loud as ever.”

Of course now everyone wants to know if that block will prevent LeBron James from challenging Hibbert at the rim?

According to the New York Daily News, James let it be known he’d have no problem challenging Hibbert at the rim.

“Me?” James said incredulously. “Me?”

Reassured the question was about him, James dismissed the notion.

“Nah.”

“If I think I can finish over the top then I’m going to go for it,” said James, who has played in five of the last seven Eastern Conference finals. “Once you get in the air you want to think, score first, pass second, and see where it takes you.

LeBron James is not Carmelo Anthony, so if Hibbert does meet James at the rim, he better early and nowhere late, or he’ll be a poster.

Not everyone thinks Kelly’s offense will be a hit or a success.  Ron Jaworski of course is a Philadelphia legend and studies film for a living working for ESPN.

Jaworski was a guest on 97.5 The Fanatic here in Philadelphia, and said that Kelly, who has no NFL experience at all, “is much more likely to adjust his offense to the realities of the NFL than to revolutionize the NFL by bringing his spread offense to the next level.”

When asked point-blank if the offense will work, Jaworski had no problem saying no.

“It’s easy to say, ‘Yeah, it worked in college,’” he said. “But then I looked at a game like Stanford. Stanford, a good defensive football team, shut them down. I hope it works. I like the innovation, but I think it’s going to be very difficult. The NFL is a different league with fast players that have all week to prepare for you. At the collegiate level, you have 20 hours to prepare for that Oregon offense. Take out three hours of game time. You’ve got 17 hours in the course of a week to practice and prepare for that style of offense. It kills you in college. But in the NFL, these guys work 17 hours a day. A day, not a week – 17 hours a day getting ready, so there’s no secrets.”

Smith said that Jay Z did not play that big a role in his decision according to the New York Daily News.

“I think it’s just his agency,” Smith said on Wednesday. “When you talk about being in New York from a standpoint of what they can do in the city, the connections that they have, I think it’s a good move. My mother and my family were comfortable with it. I’m comfortable with it.”

“I’m just going to move on from there,” Smith added. “It’s not going to be a big deal and just remain humble and keep focusing on football.”

Smith’s contract agent will be Kim Miale, who represents no other players that are currently on any roster.

Smith reiterated that creating a marketable image is “not that important to me honestly.”

 “The only thing that’s important to be is the image that is perceived around this lockerroom, the guy that I am to my teammates, to my coaches and the work that I put in on the football field,” Smith said.  “I’m all about football. I’m all about getting better and that’s the one thing that I’m focused on: Better myself daily and prepare myself to be there when the time comes.”

“I don’t worry about the outside world’s perception,” Smith added. “I’m comfortable with who I am, strong in my faith. I know that this isn’t because of an image thing or trying to market myself. It’s just being comfortable with the guys who’s going to represent me. That’s ultimately why I made that decision.”

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the 49ers haven’t commented on the injury.  The trade for Anquan Boldin looms huge at this time.