ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The question was posed by an editor of mine. With the Olympics around and former Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best representing St. Lucia in the 100-meter dash this week, this question seemed apt.
If all things were equal -- money, prestige, everything -- would you rather do football or track?
For the answer to this question, I stuck mostly with speed guys or, in the case of Ezekiel Ansah, guys who have at least some background in track. We even asked a couple of Pittsburgh Steelers this question as well in this week's Question of the Week.
As always, here are their answers:
DE Ezekiel Ansah: I don't know. All I know is football now, you know. It would be fun to run for my country, you know. I can't take that away from anybody. But that's not what it is now, you know.
WR Marvin Jones: Football. I never ran track before. It would definitely be fun, the pay would be cool, but I never ran track. I'm pretty sure I would love it but football.
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CB Nevin Lawson: Football. It's more competitive. It's more fun. It's a team game, and I would definitely do it.
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WR Quinshad Davis: Football. I never ran track in my life. One time I tried out in high school, and they were like, 'Q, you'd be good for the 400, you got long legs.' I was like, 'OK, I can do that.' Then I got out there, and they told me, 'Q, the 400 is around the track one time.' I said, 'Around this big old track? No, coach, I can't do it. I'm sorry.'
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CB Darius Slay: Ooh, maybe track. Less contact on the body, save my body more. It's all about my body now. I'm trying to live long, man. I ain't trying to have a beat-up body, man. So I like the idea of track.
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S Glover Quin: Football. I don't like running.
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CB Quandre Diggs: Football. I'm a football player. I like contact.
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S Miles Killebrew: Football. I'm a football player. In high school I ran some track. I was a hurdler. But, you know, football all day, man.
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CB Darrin Walls: I probably would have chose football. It's just the ultimate team sport. Everyone, growing up, I learned a lot of values and built my character through football. I think if it wasn't for football, I don't know how my life would be different, but I know that it taught me a lot of good things.
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WR Anquan Boldin: Football. I'm not a track guy.
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Steelers CB William Gay: Football. I was better at it.
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Steelers CB Ross Cockrell: Football. I like team sports.
And two athletes I spoke with changed the question, saying if everything were equal, they would go with a sport other than the options given:
Lions CB Johnson Bademosi: I love football. I'm actually a rugby player as well, and rugby is in the Olympics as well, so if all things were equal, I would be doing both right now.
Steelers S Mike Mitchell: I would play baseball. Way more money, and you can play for a lot longer time. And I think it's probably a little healthier and better for your body.