Top NFL Offensive Lineman Encourages High Schoolers To Play Multiple Sports

Take it from Jake Long: Top tips for young athletes from an NFL star

By Bill Vilona
Years before Jake Long ascended to NFL stardom with the Miami Dolphins, he played three positions on his high school football team and excelled in three sports.
Take it from Jake: There doesn't necessarily have to be a singular focus for young athletes.
Whenever someone asks about whether to play and enjoy different sports, Long can speak from his own experience.
For full article:  http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106290329

Titan CB Cortland Finnegan Aides Cancer Patient

Milton grad, Titans' Cortland Finnegan shows caring side

Written by

Bill Vilona

The soft side of Cortland Finnegan often gets obscured by his feisty, on-field reputation in the NFL.
But Finnegan, a Milton High graduate and mercurial cornerback for the Tennessee Titans, showed his alter ego in aiding, inspiring a Nashville high school player battling cancer.
Kelsey Towns, a volleyball player at Nashville's Father Ryan High, is fighting a rare form of cancer that resulted in surgery a year ago to remove part of her right thigh.

For Full Article from the Pensacola News Journal go to:  http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011106290332

Faneca Has Strong Case For Hall of Fame

Former LSU great and Houston native Alan Faneca recently announced his retirement from an illustrious NFL career that included 9 Pro Bowl appearances.  Offensive Guards are not frequent Hall of Fame inductees, but Faneca's candidacy is about as strong as they come according to ESPN blogger Jason Vida:

  

Alan Faneca has a case for Canton

By Jason Vida

Faneca

There seems to be little rush to open the doors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to guards -- only Randall McDaniel and Bruce Matthews have a bust among guards to play in the NFL over the past 15 years -- but after announcing his retirement Tuesday, Alan Faneca faces five years of scrutiny on what looks like an impressive Canton resume.

 

For full article go too: 
http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/19619/alan-faneca-has-a-case-for-canton

IS BREES ON THE ROAD TO CANTON?

ESPN'S NFC South Blogger Pat Yasinskas argues that Drew Brees isn't quite Hall of Fame material yet.

Drew Brees closing in on Hall of Fame
By Pat Yasinskas

He already has thrown for 7,000 more yards than Terry Bradshaw, completed one fewer touchdown pass than George Blanda and won one more Super Bowl championship than Jim Kelly and Fran Tarkenton combined.

So they already should be carving Drew Brees from the shoulders up in Canton, Ohio, right? The quarterback of the New Orleans Saints could retire tomorrow and waltz straight to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in five years, correct?

For the full article go to:  http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/21713/drew-brees-closing-in-on-hall-of-fame

Favre hosting 7 on 7 Camp at USM

Brett Favre was recently back at his Alma Mater to host the "Brett Favre 7 on 7 at the Rock"  football camp to raise money for his Favre 4 Hope Foundation.  Here is a link to the Associated Press article on NFL.Com:  http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d8205130c/article/favre-enjoying-postnfl-life-hasnt-decided-next-move?module=HP_headlines