Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy is coming off a solid season in which he recorded 11 sacks. But this year his goal is a season that would be a lot more than “solid.”
Actually, his goal is something totally impossible: More than doubling the NFL record and getting 50 sacks in 2013.
“Fifty,” Hardy told ESPN.com. “Why shoot low, right? If I’m going to shoot at it, I’m going to shoot at it with a 50 caliber. I’m going to shoot at a little bird with a 50-caliber bullet. That’s the goal for this year, 50 sacks, that’s where I’m at. That’s the goal, 50. You heard it first.”
Obviously, that’s utterly ridiculous. Michael Strahan’s NFL record is 22.5 sacks in a season. Hardy’s goal is to more than double that. Hardy’s target of 50 sacks is like a running back aiming for 5,000 yards in a season, or a quarterback hoping for 150 touchdown passes, or a receiver trying for 300 catches.
Really, if Hardy wants to aim high, why not go for 100 sacks or 1,000 sacks? His chances of getting to 100 or 1,000 are exactly the same as his chances of getting to 50: Zero.
But it’s good to have goals.