ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Putting aside promotions sponsored by the Department of Defense this decade — the jet flyovers, uniformed color guards, unfurled field-length flags and other armed forces’ tie-ins — the NFL has commingled with military terminology for a long time.
Deep passes are bombs. Defenses blitz the quarterback. Offenses use ground attacks to set up air attacks. The game sometimes (but always ill-advisedly) is referred to as war.
When teams “go to battle,” trust is essential. Players are counted on to show up when they’re supposed to and do what they’re supposed to. Unreliable teammates quickly fall out of favor.