There has been much talk about Brandon Marshall’s recent injury resulting in damage to an artery, vein, nerve, and tendons in his right arm. Marshall has reported that he slipped on a MacDonald’s wrapper while horsing around and put his hand through a television.

In initial reports, no mention was made of the horseplay, just that he had slipped on the wrapper. Had that been the full accounting for the story, it likely would have qualified as one of the strangest accidents involving an NFL player. Marshall and some of his teammates at first made light of the injury, before the extent of the injury was publicly known.

Injuries are no laughing matter. Some are the result of a violent blow, legitimately delivered, at game speed; others, due to off the field activities. All impact the athletes’ ability to earn an income and also affect their teammates.

There have certainly been some injuries, though, that are memorable because of their odd nature. Marshall’s injury brought to memory some of the other strange injuries that have happened to NFL players.

I’m certain there are other unusual injuries that qualify, but below are five of the strangest injuries to NFL players.

First, a couple of players who got caught up in the moment and let the celebration get away from them…….

Gramatica Tears ACL Celebrating Field Goal

In 2001, then 23 year old Cardinal’s kicker, Bill Gramatica, jumped in celebration after kicking a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter of a game against the Giants. That’s right, a FORTY-TWO YARDER in the FIRST quarter, no less. He landed awkwardly and tore his ACL, ending his season.

Frerotte Celebrates Touchdown by Head-butting Endzone Wall

Gus Frerotte, then QB for the Redskins in 1997, celebrated a one-yard scoring run against the Giants by head butting the end zone wall. The injury landed Frerotte in the hospital with a sprained neck. He ended up starting a few more games for the Redskins before becoming the journeyman quarterback that he is known as today.

Griese Falls on Teammate’s Driveway

In 2002, QB for the Denver Broncos, Brian Griese did a face plant as he was running down teammate Terrell Davis’s steep driveway to his car. He was knocked cold, needed seven stitches above his right eye, and needed repair for a chipped tooth. Griese followed this up later the same year with an ankle injury resulting from his dog running down the stairs and knocking him off balance. 2002, coincidentally, was Griese’s last with the Broncos.

Just Choppin’ a Little Wood

Then Jaguars punter, Chris Hanson, seriously injured his foot while swinging an ax at a wooden stump in the Jaguars locker room. The ax and stump were used by coach Jack Del Rio as a motivational lesson to “keep choppin’ wood.” Hanson missed the rest of the 2003 season. Bad luck seems to follow some people. The previous year, Hanson, his wife, and teammate, Jaret Holmes, were burned in a fondue party gone bad. The fondue pot spilled and injured the three.

The Mascot Got Him

Saints QB, Adrian McPherson, was run over by a golf cart driven by the Titans raccoon mascot in 2006 while warming up for the second half of a preseason game. McPherson, who had been signed to a three-year contract by the Saints, was cut shortly after the accident.

Again, injuries aren’t funny. However, some are downright odd. Place your vote for the strangest injury by voting in our poll.