On the first play of the Denver Broncos–Miami Dolphins game, Broncos linebacker got hit in the groin. In medical terms, he got “drilled in the balls.” It was so painful that Miller took himself out of the game and missed the series.

This led a writer for Mile High Report to tweet: “Von will be fine, took a hard hit to the “groin area” that’s–why you should always wear a cup folks.” Former NFL linebacker Chad Brown had a retort:

Brown knows of what he speaks. NFL players used to wear cups years ago, as ESPN.com reported, but no longer. I asked Brown via Twitter why the practice stopped:

Cups are bulky and players say they feel they don’t run fast enough with them on. Then there’s the problem of malfunction, as Giants quarterback Eli Manning told the New York Times:


"You know, it's supposed to be centered, obviously," Manning said. "So, if it goes to the side and then you get hit and it presses into. … " He trailed off."Well, that's not good," he said.

Not good at all. I have never worn a cup ever playing sports. Would love hearing from readers as to whether they have and why and what sport.

Here is some visual evidence from Sunday that players indeed don't wear cups:

Von Miller’s teammate Emmanuel Sanders (Photo by AAaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

emmanuel sanders

Absolutely not Dez Bryant, hanging left. (Photo by Al Bello / Getty Images Sport)

dez bryant


J.J. Watt of the Texans ( (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

jj watt