Brain Typing Discovers Quarterback Phenom
Have you ever heard of a sports evaluator finding a frail 10-year-old who’s never played football before and then telling the lad’s parents that he has the realistic potential to be—get this—an NFL star quarterback?!
Now couple this with the fact that the talent evaluator had never even seen the skinny boy, appropriately called “Bones,” ever throw a football! In addition, the evaluator had never even met the boy but had only heard and seen him for a short while on videotape.
Sounds bizarre, doesn’t it?
That is, unless you’ve followed the work of the Brain Typist and sports scientist, Jonathan P. Niednagel, commonly known as the “Brain Doctor.”
Before we tell you more of the story, let’s consider where the young man presently is. Well, Bones has not become an NFL superstar—yet—but he’s well on his way. It’s been eight years since JN made his radical claim (he doesn’t make many like this) and the once-lean lad is now an 18-year-old freshman QB at the University of Tennessee. For those who don’t know, very few legitimate frosh get playing time in varsity football at Division 1 universities, but this one does.
In fact, all Bones did in his first 3 college games was to throw 8 touchdown passes, ranking him first in the SEC and fourth in the nation in passing efficiency. He led his team to 3 consecutive victories, including a thrilling come-from win over the highly-ranked Florida Gators. Though it was early in the NCAA season, this amazing frosh QB was even voted by the “ESPN Heisman Watch” as one of the top 11 college players vying for the coveted annual Trophy. Television sports commentators have alerted viewers to keep a close watch on him; they see potential stardom. All of this coming from a young guy only months out of high school and who only played, get this, part time and didn’t even start until his 4th college game! And all he had to do was beat out the seasoned upperclassmen QBs at Tennessee and another frosh—who was a highly touted All-American High School QB! This is remarkable, to say the least.
What’s perhaps even more noteworthy is that JN believes if the maturing youngster stays healthy, and is coached and played properly over the next few years (and he continues his good character development), he should not only be a coveted 1st round NFL draft pick, but he should be drafted in the top 5 spots with a contract most likely in excess of $50 million! JN believes the “filling out” Bones has all the makings to be a genuine franchise quarterback.
Now before we get ahead of ourselves, this possible scenario is still a ways to go and statistically unfathomable to most, but for JN, it should happen “if” the above-mentioned items continue properly.
Who is the young and talented QB we’re speaking of? His name is Erik Ainge and if the last name sounds familiar to you, he is indeed the nephew of former NBA basketball All-Star, Danny Ainge (now Basketball Operations Director for the legendary Boston Celtics). JN was working for Danny Ainge and the Phoenix Suns back in the mid-1990s. Not only did Danny find Brain Typing (BT) valuable for the team but for better understanding and working with his family. Danny also told, among others, his older brother Doug of BT’s benefits. So in 1996, Doug contacted JN by phone and asked how he might have his children assessed with Brain Typing. Since JN lived in Southern California and Doug resided in Oregon, JN suggested he video his children talking and performing a few sporting activities and send it in. Doug did just that and then JN Brain Typed them.
After seeing such things as a short interview with the 10-year-old 5th grader and watching his older sister beat him in a basketball game—where young Erik quit out of frustration—JN then told Doug (and Danny) that Erik’s BT was called ESTP. JN apprised Doug of the many unique mental, motor, and spatial skills of the ESTP and then sent him more information describing this BT (in sports and life). JN communicated to Doug that ESTP was the same BT as his brother Danny, an athletic BT but one especially gifted at quarterback. JN had come to the conclusion that ESTPs were the best QBs, after many years of NFL research. (Past and present ESTP QBs have included such stars as Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, John Elway, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and most other highly-renowned names over center.)
JN made it very clear that many things had to go right for young Erik to become a top QB, but if he were handled properly, and he grew to at least 6’2” or 3”, his odds for success were very high. Since JN knew that Danny, his father Don, and Erik’s dad Doug, were all around 6’5”, son Erik could someday be around that size, too. If that came true, Erik had the potential to be “star” QB. Yet JN told Doug not to put him in football unless both he and his wife felt completely comfortable with this decision. Erik had never even played football before and Doug told Jon that his wife would not want Erik to play this rugged sport (for obvious “mother” reasons). After all, they saw Bones as a baseball and basketball player. A week or so later Doug called back to tell Jon that he and his wife decided they would like to expose Erik to football and quarterback—if this is what he wanted.
In Erik’s 6th grade year, he decided to play on his first football team. From that point on, the aspiring QB was cautiously directed by his father to see if this was a good fit. The rest is pretty much history.
JN actually met Erik for the first time during his junior year in high school. After watching him play a pick-up basketball game where he displayed his athleticism and size, and seeing him briefly throw a football (in a hotel parking lot!), JN knew then that Erik had the necessary things going for him to be the highly successful ESTP QB he once predicted. Erik had been brought along properly, plus he had some athletic genes that gave him good mobility for his height. At that time, JN told Erik’s parents to get prepared for the national acclaim that was surely soon to come.
By Erik’s senior year he was now a highly-touted high school QB and gaining media attention. His father Doug told inquiring reporters of how his son got his highly unusual start—at the encouragement of the JN and Brain Typing. (We’ve included one such article below.)
The media inquiries have kept increasing over the past year and only within the past few weeks Sports Illustrated also cited (with a few factual errors) the Erik Ainge and JN connection in their issue (9-27-04) highlighting SI’s 50th anniversary. With the national media attention now coming to this highly improbable story, we at BTI have decided it is time to make it public for the first time—and report the facts properly since they can easily be lost in the media.
As we close this atypical story, we’d like you to consider some key questions as to the probability of Erik Ainge’s now and potential success. Do you have any idea how many boys try out for quarterback as youngsters across America? Many thousands. Of these, how many make it to play QB in high school, much less at Div 1 universities? You’re getting the point. Of these, do you know how many make it to the NFL, and stick? Lastly, how many 6’6” quarterbacks have stuck in the NFL, much less become stars? You’re now down to one hand, perhaps no fingers!
The (non-Brain Tying) odds of E. Ainge making it to the pros and becoming a high draft pick have been extremely slim. Las Vegas would have bet you anything in 1996. But as we approach 2005, the odds aren’t so slim anymore. Could it be BT that separates Erik from the others—providing him the high probability for success? (See JN’s recent European article on BTI web site front page for the genetic basis for athletic stardom.) All college football players have worked hard to get where they are but something separates the best from the others. Many factors play into this of course, but as JN has repeatedly said for a few decades now, “One’s BT is the single greatest determinant for what he or she does in life—on or off the field of play.”
Yes, Peyton Manning is the top QB in America. This ESTP has clearly risen to the top among all current NFL QBs. Those who’ve followed JN and his uncanny Peyton Manning and Ryan Leaf predictions back in 1998 know that he has been proven 100% accurate on both of their NFL futures. This is another highly improbable occurrence. Now, JN has undertaken an even more unheard of step by discovering a 10-year-old non-gridiron ESTP and encouraging his football development (only after the parents and boy gave hearty approval).
Like all quarterbacks, Erik Ainge will make mistakes along the path to success (as will all those of his “gambling” ESTP Brain Type, but stick with this best of inborn QB designs, and they’ll almost always make up for previous mixups—even in the same game!).
Yet regardless of what E. Ainge does from this point on in his football pursuits, he’s already gone far beyond the skeptics’ beliefs while achieving for himself a sport (and playing position) that he now loves. It has provided him a free university education and the adoration of 100,000 screaming orange-clad fans, especially appreciating his “inborn” talents—once “hidden” to those not aware of BT. Each day science is demonstrating more and more the validity of BT. So also is the empirical approach.
(An update on Erik from games 4 and 5: In game 4, the Vols played highly-ranked Auburn and were soundly beaten. Erik was swarmed by defenders and threw multiple interceptions, yet only one was considered his fault. The next week Erik led his Vols into enemy turf, taking on the nation’s 3rd-ranked team, the Georgia Bulldogs. In classic ESTP fashion, Erik had some remarkable throws, tossing for 2 TDs and back again to no turnovers. Now after upsetting the nation’s 3rd ranked team on their home field, the frosh and “Houdini” Bones is continuing to gain more and more national attention.
Erik Ainge Update:
For those following the Erik Ainge story, Erik was injured in Tennessee's ninth game of the 2004 season, versus Notre Dame. On the last play before halftime, a bad center snap forced Erik (set up in the shotgun) to chase down the ball, which in turn allowed an Irish defender to broadside him into the ground--separating his shoulder. Erik had already racked up 150 passing yards in the first half and had his Volunteers in the lead. Not being able to play in the second half, the Irish went on to win 17-13.
Erik Ainge was on his way to breaking super-star Peyton Manning's frosh passing records at Tennessee when this unfortunate injury occurred. Ainge had not only won over the Volunteer coaching staff, but many NFL scouts looking for the next impact QB. Erik Ainge is presently recuperating and may be healthy enough to play in the Volunteers Cotton Bowl game on January 1, 2005.
Consider some testimonials/comments regarding Erik Ainge after he led his Volunteers to a shocking upset over the 3rd rated Georgia Bulldogs
''I love the look he has in his eyes when you're talking to him and the game's on the line,'' Tennessee offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said of his freshman quarterback.
The media reported:
Each time, Ainge was able to avoid pressure and find the open man.
''A lot of times, he's out there and it's like the game happens for him in slow motion vision-wise,'' Sanders said. ''He can really see things, and he's not intimidated.
''He's not intimidated by crowds, by the situation, the pass rush, whatever. He just goes out and plays. It's amazing how fast he's learning right now.''
While other teammates celebrated yesterday, Ainge seemed to be taking it all in stride.
On Ainge's touchdown pass to Hannon, he was being chased to the right sideline by Georgia All-America defensive end David Pollack. Hannon made a nice adjustment in the end zone, and Ainge put the ball right where he had to.
''We're getting used to seeing that from him,'' senior receiver Derrick Tinsley said. ''He might be a freshman, but we have a lot of confidence in him.
''Nothing ever seems to bother him.''
Sanders asked Ainge to throw it only 21 times yesterday by design. The goal was to get an early lead (which the Vols did at 10-0) and then run the ball.
Nearly all of the above comments sound like they are about a seasoned NFL star QB rather than an inexperienced 18 year-old frosh playing against the 3rd ranked college team in the country—on their home field.
What is the best explanation for these rave reviews? We at BTI and JN personally have no doubt what it is. If Erik Ainge didn’t have the inborn ESTP/FEIR Brain Type, his highly improbable success at this stage and these comments from players and coaches would not have come.
Below are some excerpts of articles on Erik Ainge from his first 3 games:
Monday, 09/27/04
Fulmer won't name Ainge starter just yet
KNOXVILLE — Tennessee freshman quarterback Erik Ainge leads the SEC and is fourth nationally with a 184.1 passing rating.
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Sunday, 09/19/04
Ainge proves his mettle in victory
By TIM VACEK
For The Tennessean
KNOXVILLE — For now, the whole thing is still a blur to Erik Ainge.
The three touchdown passes. The missed extra point. The fourth-down conversions. The game-winning field goal.
They all kind of run together for Tennessee's true freshman quarterback. All Ainge was sure of when he walked off the field last night was his team beat Florida 30-28 in the first SEC game of his career.
'I don't really remember a whole lot about it,'' Ainge said. ''Once you get out there and you're calling plays, you get in that zone.''
Ainge's zone resulted in 192 yards and three scores on 16-of-24 passing in the Vols' come-from-behind win. He led three scoring drives in the fourth quarter.
''He ain't human,'' said wide receiver Jayson Swain, who caught the touchdown that brought the Vols within 28-27. ''He's not a regular freshman.''
Added Coach Phillip Fulmer: ''He won't have any problem getting a date I bet.''
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Thursday, September 30, 2004
Schaeffer started Vols' 1st 3 games
Associated Press
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee has a new starting quarterback.
Erik Ainge will start Saturday night's game against eighth-ranked Auburn (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference), coach Phillip Fulmer announced Thursday.
Fellow freshman Brent Schaeffer started the No. 10 Volunteers' first three games with Ainge entering the game for the third series, but Schaeffer's playing time declined in the last two victories over Florida and Louisiana Tech.
"He's played well and deserves a chance to start," Fulmer said. "I talked to both of them individually and collectively. That's the right thing to do for Erik."
Ainge, a 6-6, 200-pounder from Hillsboro, Ore., has completed 36-of-56 passes for 508 yards and eight touchdowns with one interception in three games. He ranks first in the SEC and fourth in the nation in passing efficiency.
Ainge led the Vols (3-0, 1-0) on the final drive that set up a game-winning touchdown against Florida, and he played against Louisiana Tech until Tennessee was well ahead.
Fulmer's announcement wasn't a huge surprise, but he had not made any indication earlier this week that he would change the order the quarterbacks would play
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Consider the below article written while Erik was still in high school. It partially explains his link to BT.
A piece of brain work
Athletic heritage, brain type give Erik Ainge a nice base for football
CHRIS CHANCELLOR; The News Tribune
(Published 2:38PM, February 4th, 2004)
HILLSBORO, Ore. - Four letters changed Erik Ainge's athletic destiny.
Those letters led him to play quarterback for Glencoe High - where he passed for 2,960 yards and 24 touchdowns in the fall - and to an oral commitment to play football at the University of Tennessee.
They also helped him become one of the top high-school prospects in the Northwest and part of The News Tribune's Northwest Nuggets class for 2004.
It was a path he almost didn't travel.
He's from a basketball family. His father, Doug, played basketball at Brigham Young University and Linfield College and is an assistant men's coach at Linfield. His uncle, Danny, also played at BYU and had a 14-year career in the NBA.
Doug and his wife, Diane, didn't want their son to play football.
Danny Ainge, who was coaching the Phoenix Suns at the time, asked Erik to take a brain-typing test as a sixth-grader in 1997 [it was actually as a 5th grader in 1996].
Those results changed everything.
"It was (Dad) and my uncle that ultimately decided that," said Erik, referring to the exam. "All I knew that it meant was I got to play football."
Erik was examined by brain-typing specialist Jonathan P. Niednagel, who gave Erik four letters that read like Powerball-winning numbers to the adolescent: ESTP.
Brain typing began in the early 1900s when Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung developed eight letters, which later were expanded to 16 possible brain-type designs by Niednagel's Brain Typing Institute. [BTI note: BTI was not the first to identify 16 types. We were, however, the first to call the 16 designs “Brain” Types and to state that each had specific inborn mental, motor, and spatial skills.]
The E stands for extroversion over introversion (I). According to braintypes.com, E types are "expressive" and "energy-expending" rather than "internal" and "energy-conserving." Erik also relies on his five senses (S) instead of intuition (N); thinking (T) "logic" rather than feeling "emotion" (F), and perceiving (P) instead of judging (J). The final letter determines whether a person is right-brained (perceiving) or left-brained (judging).
Before the 2003 season, eight NFL quarterbacks had 40,000 yards or more in career passing. From those eight, only Dan Fouts and Warren Moon were not ESTP brain types.
"He was wired right," Doug Ainge said. "We let him play in sixth grade and he completed balls to six different players in his first game."
Doug Ainge said ESTP brain-types, such as John Elway, Dan Marino, Joe Montana and Peyton Manning, have the ability to run the two-minute drill better than quarterbacks with different brains. That's because ESTP brain-types are known as "opportunists" who "seek fun and excitement" and "enjoy the moment," according to braintypes.com.
That doesn't mean non-ESTP quarterbacks can't succeed, as New England's Tom Brady proved two years ago by winning the Super Bowl. But Doug Ainge said teams often simplify offenses for those quarterbacks, citing former New England coach Bill Parcells when he coached Drew Bledsoe.
One major aspect that makes ESTP brain types successful quarterbacks is their mentality.
"They make a mistake, and they don't care," Doug Ainge said.
While Erik Ainge continued his development as a quarterback, pulling him away from baseball and basketball wasn't easy. As recently as August, he was considering playing basketball despite football scholarship offers from several Pacific-10 Conference schools and Tennessee.
"I actually wanted to be a basketball player," he said. "It wasn't until last summer when I was playing for a Portland select team that I changed my mind. There were a couple of former quarterbacks that told me they could see me as a pro. I wasn't hearing that with basketball."
Doug Ainge said his brother, Danny, also an ESTP brain-type, still wonders what he could have accomplished as a quarterback despite playing both baseball and basketball professionally.
Danny Ainge, a two-time all-state quarterback at North Eugene (Ore.) High, played three seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, leaving a .220 career batting average behind to sign with the Boston Celtics in 1981. He averaged 11.8 points per game during his NBA career.
"Danny says to this day that he would have been a better quarterback," Doug Ainge said. "He says, 'Think if I would have been trained knowing that.'"
Knowing your brain type can be beneficial.
Taylor Barton, a 1998 graduate of Beaverton (Ore.) High and son of former NFL quarterback Greg Barton, has helped Erik develop his skills.
"The sky is the limit for him," said Barton, a '98 Northwest Nuggets selection who chose Colorado, and later played at Washington. "He's got his head on straight."
Barton never took a brain-typing exam, but said, "I know a lot of people who put a lot of emphasis on it, especially in the NFL with all those millions."
But he warned it is not the end-all in determining how good a player can be.
"You have to be careful with it. If one kid has a brain type of Peyton Manning or John Elway, and another kid has a brain type of a pea ... it doesn't necessarily mean that kid will get on the field faster," Barton said. "But if you have the same brain type as Peyton Manning ... you are playing the right sport."
"The one thing I want to emphasize is that a good athlete will succeed no matter what," Doug Ainge said. "Brain typing is a way for us to understand others and ourselves. If there was only one great brain type, then ESTP (quarterbacks) would win all the Super Bowls."
Diane Ainge, Erik's mother, agreed. "Most great players have family tradition," she said. "It's not just brain-type."
Niednagel's research has determined the ISTP brain-type is ideal for basketball. Some of the great ISTP brain types include Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, John Stockton and Jerry West.
Erik Ainge was a good but not great basketball player. Still, training as a point guard was beneficial to his development as a football player.
"It definitely helped," Erik Ainge said.
Being a point guard means reading defenses and finding open players, skills that transfer well to football.
"I understand a lot about the intellectual side of the ball," Erik Ainge said. "I know how to read a defense."
Examples abound in the Erik Ainge season highlight film, which shows him directing two-minute drills and frequently exposing defensive flaws by finding 5-foot-7 wide receiver Cory Ellis for big gains and winning touchdowns. The team averaged 38.4 points per game and finished with a 6-5 record.
Erik Ainge decided early that he wasn't afraid to leave the Northwest for college, and he fell for Tennessee.
"I just felt on my trip down there that I hit it off with the players," he said. "The Southeastern Conference does get you ready for the NFL, if that's the goal."
With QB Casey Clausen graduating, Erik Ainge will get to compete for playing time early.
The opportunity wouldn't have been possible without four letters.
"He got an opportunity to do something he wouldn't have," Doug Ainge said.
Chris Chancellor
(Published 2:38PM, February 4th, 2004)
Note: BTI provided no input to this media source before they wrote the article. This is the case with the vast majority of articles written or presentations made by the media regarding Brain Typing. We can only attempt to correct factual errors if and when we become aware of them.
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