There Is a Growing Theory — and Data — Which Suggests an Electrical Substation Next to the 49ers' Facility Might Be to Blame for the Team's Injury Problems

Everyone knows the keys to building a winning franchise in the NFL: get the right general manager in place, have a good coaching staff and hit on a young quarterback. From there, everything else tends to fall into place.

And oh yeah, make sure your team's facility is at least 25 miles from the nearest electrical substation emitting low-frequency electromagnetic fields that degrade collagen.

In all honesty, I have no idea what any of this means beyond some magical electric force somehow causing more injuries for the 49ers than other NFL teams, but Peter Cowan seems to know what he's talking about and has been boots on the ground measuring the milligauss at the Niners' facility. Sounds like they've got a pretty serious deal over there.

Who knows whether or not this is real, but it seems some players may believe it is. And if that's the case, it may only take one key free agent who would otherwise go to San Francisco passing because of the injury risk for the team to seriously consider moving. The stadium is where it is, but there's no reason your facility has to be right there, too. Go build a nice place somewhere — maybe even in San Francisco instead of 45 miles south of the actual city.

Let's hope the electromagnetic field doesn't take any more Niners at least through their playoff run.