Running Back Jennifer Welter Makes History By Playing In Pro Football Game

[The Straight Story]

Football history was made rather quietly over the weekend in Texas.

During an Indoor Football League game between the Texas Revolution and the North Texas Crunch, 36-year-old Jennifer Welter got three carries, making her the first woman to play a non-kicking position in a pro football league.

Welter, who has starred at linebacker for a decade for the Dallas Diamonds of the Women’s Football Alliance, got her first carry midway through the third quarter. She took a handoff from two yards out of the endzone and scampered around the left tackle. But the 5-foot-2, 130 pound Welter was met by 6-4, 245-pound defensive lineman Cedric Hearvey for a one-yard loss.

Somehow, Welter was unfazed by the hit.

"I said 'Is that all you got?'" Welter asked Hearvey. "I didn't want them to think I was intimidated."

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/men-action/201402/groundbreaking-woman-makes-history-playing-pro-football-game

[AleksS]

1. Holy smokes, want any proof sexism is alive and well?

Holy smokes, want any proof sexism is alive and well?

Read the comments in that article. At the moment, it seems to be running near 50% along the lines of "What's she doing not in the kitchen making sandwiches!" The other 50% is made of other derogatory sexist rants. Comments approaching sanity are lost in the rounding error. It's cringe, and borderline vomit, inducing material.

If I ever find myself getting my undies in a bunch over a cause-du-jour in HoF, I just have to remember what's getting posted all over the internet every day in comments on articles like this one. More power to HoF--the fight obviously needs to be fought! Keep it up!

[Orrex]

2. A 130-pound linebacker? That's teeny-tiny!

Kudos to Ms. Welter for facing down sexist commentary both from her critics and (perhaps unintentionally) from her supporters.

Somehow, Welter was unfazed by the hit.

"Somehow?!?" She's a professional football player, that's how! Do her male teammates "somehow" do their job? Why not simply say "Welter was unfazed by the hit" instead?