The big hurts ...

Professional athletes are a different breed. They’re bigger, faster and stronger than most of us, and make a lot more money. But there are times when they simply look human.

Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs recently was spotted at signing appearance with a big white bandage on his right hand. This is the same Lance Briggs who, two years ago, walked away unscathed after wrecking his Lamborghini, but apparently a straight razor proved to be his undoing. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Briggs, who is 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, told autograph seekers that he cut himself while trying to give himself and old-fashioned shave.

This got me thinking about other pro athletes who have injured themselves doing everyday things:

First there’s pitcher Adam Eaton of the Baltimore Orioles. Attempting to remove the plastic around a new DVD with a knife, the tall right-hander sliced his hand open. Perhaps using "On Demand" would work a bit better?

How about Marty Cordova, who won the 1995 AL Rookie of the Year with the Minnesota Twins? He “injured” himself when he fell asleep in a tanning bed. When he awoke, he was burned so badly that doctors told him to stay out of direct sunlight. The Twins must have been away from the Metrodome that week.

But taking the cake is New England Patriots punter Chris Hanson. In 2003, when he played for the Jaguars, Hanson gave himself a gash in the leg after swinging an ax, which was placed in the team's locker room by coach Jack Del Rio as a motivational tactic. After losing the first three games of the season, Del Rio’s mantra was “keep chopping wood,” and players were to take a swipe at a large tree stump.

He didn’t mention, however, that punters should refrain.