Professional football players are paid to play football and win. And the fact is that most — if not all — of them love what they do. This is not lost on the majority of fans. Would it be that we would all love our jobs so much! Unfortunately, most of us don’t. Still, I hate it when I hear someone say that ‘NFL players are arrogant, selfish people who have it easy because, after all, they get paid handsomely to play a game.’ I beg to differ. All one has to do is watch them at a charity function and one would see how wrong the supposition is that they are arrogant and selfish.
On Tuesdays during the season, barring an unusual game schedule, the Washington Redskins usually get the day off. But this past week several teammates spent a majority of the day on the practice field. Only on this particular day, they were playing with and against people a fraction of their height, weight and age. And, if watching them were any indication, they had as much fun that day as they do during any regular season game.
Students from four local middle schools (Fred Lynn, Woodbridge, Va., Harper, Leesburg, Va., Eastern, Silver Spring, Md. and Sousa, Washington, D.C.) were brought to Redskins Park to partake in the “Get the Ball Rolling Flag Football Experience” presented by Coca-Cola and hosted by the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation.
The kids arrived by bus late in the morning. Standing just inside the door, I watched as they entered the Redskins’ practice bubble (which is hideous for camera exposure settings), took in the sights and, amid gasps and giggles, realized how lucky they were to be there. Their excitement was contagious and the Redskins’ players there caught the kids’ enthusiasm. Cornerbacks Josh Wilson and DeAngelo Hall, fullback Darrel Young and running back Alfred Morris were on hand to host a clinic that promotes a healthy lifestyle, proper football technique and nutrition.
Each of the Redskins players was to play quarterback to four separate “teams” made up of the students. At one point, defensive lineman Stephen Bowen stopped in and showed the kids a little bit about working the defensive line. During that time, one of the schools was lucky enough to have Wilson playing QB and Hall working the secondary with them.
The players seemed to be having as much fun as the kids did on this day. Wandering up and down the field, I saw evidence that they didn’t mind giving up their day off.
“A lot of these kids come from a lot of the same type of areas that I came from and there’s not much hope there,” Morris said at one point. “A lot of them are in poverty, relying on public aid, and that’s how I grew up. I can definitely relate to that and give back to them to let them know that there is hope.”
Wilson, frequently seen throwing long passes and getting razzed by the announcer that he should not give up his cornerback position, was frequently — and energetically — heard giving positive reinforcement to the kids for their every effort.
“I’m trying to get some autographs from these kids early and sign them to futures contracts” he joked. “I’m spotting talent for my future as an agent.”
Young looked at first as though he was engaging in some semblance of organization, taking time to huddle up with the kids and set up plays. That didn’t last long… in the end, they all just lined up beside him and then ‘went long.’
It didn’t matter whether or not these ‘tweens’ actually learned the specifics of X’s and O’s. They were there to get exercise and see what’s possible if you choose to believe in something and apply yourself. Many young NFL players are wise beyond their years. Alfred Morris is one of them.
“You don’t have to accept your surroundings and circumstances, and there’s more to life than what you’re surrounded by,” the running back said. “You can set goals and work hard to achieve them in order to get where you want to be.”
Hail.