We work ourselves throughout. But we created a baseball organization out of the facility. We created a basketball organization out of facility. The heads that come with it and the stuff that comes with it and things that break. But, at the end of the day, it was my love for my community to help our kids have a place that they can train and be better.
I trained in Miami. I trained in LA. I trained in all these different cities. So we created this space for young athletes as well as adults to come and work out.
You finished your career, most of your career was in Jacksonville, but you finished your career in Oakland. Does playing in the Bay Area, is there a benefit to players actually playing out there and being close to all of this?
For me, going back home was more I just wanted to play in front of my family again. In Jacksonville, we had a couple times we came out to the Bay Area. So, the kids that I went to high school with may now work at such and such tech or may do this. It opens doors. Just like going to New York. Because of that market that New York provides. Well, the Bay Area is a little bit different where you get an opportunity to see tech every day.
They are able to open doors for you and different ventures that you may be able to I remember at the Raiders, we would have dinners or lunches, their player development guy would set up, I think his name is LaMonte, LaMonte Winston. Now, obviously, hard to imagine life without it.
What was it like as player to basically come into the League with no social media and by the time you left what, nine seasons later, it was probably all anyone talked about? Second or third. We were one of the first schools with Facebook and so, it was weird being able to have a site. It was kind of like Myspace in a way, right? Everyone had a Myspace or things like that.
But to have Facebook, that was only for college kids in the very beginning, which was amazing right? Oh, no, no question. But that was more like, intimate. It was more just for college kids. Now, when Facebook opened up to everybody, I was a little upset about it because I felt like that took away the special interaction that I had with people that were in college.
When I got to the pros, I turned off my Facebook at that point. Just because you were too busy or because people were harassing you on it or? Now, granted, at that point I was 20 years old. But, at that point, it was just for me, personally. Once you delete it, you have to start it back up again and do all those different things. And as a football player, especially now, you get a lot of endorsements and things because of the followers you have. A teammate of mine who now is doing acting in Hollywood.
I just want to play football. I wanna train, play football, have fun, chill. Trust me. I fell in love with Twitter. People know who I am. So a lot of Florida fans were upset with me; a lot of Bears fans were upset with me. It was all over the media. Everyone took it. At that point I think I had 20, followers, the next morning I woke up with , It was real.
And it was one of the first things that ever happened. Oh, always active on Twitter. I answer fantasy questions. I tweet at people sometimes. I always try to tweet out. I deal with a lot of coaches in that situation.
I always tweet out certain news sites or whatever it may be that I feel like is more on my side of thinking, obviously. I enjoy it because it gives you a platform to really express who you are. How do you deal with trolls? Again, those are people Most people are just talking. Or, another great example, I was with the Jags and a bunch of Raiders fans were like on my timeline talking crazy.
I live in the Bay Area in the off season. This is the bar I go to every time. Again, those are people expressing themselves. And so like after seeing it from the other side, I get it. People are passionate about their teams and their fan bases and so you always want to let them express themselves. As a father of three, how do you think about social or tech for your kids? When I told you I had three boys, one of them was my nephew. But again, you just have to educate them on it.
My kids are pretty different. They watch the news. Like the real news. They had their own voice. Not my voice, their own voice, and we would speak on it. Their views are their views. They should be able to hold an intellectual conversation with anyone at the age of 10 on anything. What do you feel about Because you can get hurt doing anything. This year, I coached 10U [youth football].
It cracks me up. One of our players got hurt. Broke his foot and sprained his ankle. It was jumping on a trampoline. Another kid got a concussion. You think it was at practice? No, he was riding a scooter without a helmet. None got hurt on the football field.
One got hurt playing tag at recess, ran into a pole. Another broke his arm skateboarding. The stuff that kids do. So how many concussions do kids get when they fall off something? Off a bike or they could fall off the swing set. I think, for me, this is my analogy I tell people. Do you want the guy fresh out of med school doing it? Or do you want the year pro doing it? Yes, it is a very dangerous sport but if you have a kid that is playing at the age of 5 or 6; both my boys played at 5 and 6.
They are learning how to protect themselves. Okay, I know how to protect myself. Then, instead of putting a kid at 12, who will then play against someone who has been playing for six years and their first year is at 12? Guess what? Now kids are lifting weights. And then you get hurt. I always tell people, when they come and they ask me for my opinion, I always say play early. Play as early as you can. He said he picked 32 because of all the teams which passed on him. Maybe Terry Cousins also really liked 21 and figured since the rookie asked he went ahead and set a ridiculous price for it.
As for MJD this is called negotiating. Maybe that was his way of telling Mojo that asking a guy with that much time in the league to give up his number is stepping out of line. He might not have been a great player, but he lasted much longer than most guys. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Not a member? Register now! This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
More crying from MJD.. Why does that picture make him look 2 feet tall? MJDwas also forced to sign with a franchise no one really wants to play for. Stop whining. Nevermind, I was thinking of name changes. Sounds like the number 21 was just testing the free agent market. Cool story bro. Man, this once likeable guy is becoming unlikeable very quickly. Hes going from one irrelevant team to another. Just collecting paychecks.
He missed 19 games in first four NFL seasons. Can Carson stay healthy in ? Gibson is another guy who jumped on the NFL scene as a rookie last season, highlighted by his Thanksgiving Day performance when he rushed for yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries in Washington's victory over Dallas.
Gibson showed he can be an every-down back and a mismatch on linebackers before a turf toe injury derailed his impressive campaign down the stretch. Jones had a career year in the regular season but Fournette flourished in the Bucs' postseason run. So, Fournette gets the nod here. When the former No. The question is: Can Fournette stay on track and keep hold of the position?
Swift's rookie season was a mixed bag with a few big performances but more subpar outings. The Lions can't afford for their rushing attack to have a lull that stretches on for a while. Swift, a talented and versatile weapon out of the backfield, must find consistency and make a major Year 2 leap in Anthony Lynn's offense.
Davis did a tremendous job with the opportunity he was given last year in Carolina, earning a well-deserved new deal with coach Arthur Smith down in Atlanta. Davis' downhill running style should provide some balance to the Falcons' offense but a lot of his success weighs on the offensive line. Gordon will likely emerge as the starter come Week 1, but he'll need to run well to keep the job.
He's improved as the game has slowed down for him over the last few years. Mostert has been outstanding in Kyle Shanahan's offense, averaging 5.
He exited after eight games in with an injury but all signs point to a healthy return in I realize the 49ers have about 1, running backs on the roster. OK, slight exaggeration. Can Mostert stay healthy? Will Jeff Wilson or rookie Trey Sermon earn some carries? Time will tell. Edmonds' carries were limited last season by Kenyan Drake 's presence in Arizona's backfield, but Edmonds got plenty of play in the passing game with 53 catches -- third-most receptions on the team behind DeAndre Hopkins and Larry Fitzgerald He's going to have to show he's durable and explosive enough to hold the RB1 spot.
I haven't seen him do that just yet but I believe he can. Sanders has shown flashes of being a really good player in both the run and pass games over his first two seasons.
He was more productive as a runner in , averaging 5. Sanders must show up and have a Saquon Barkley -esque impact on the offense to help alleviate pressure from second-year QB Jalen Hurts.
I'm looking for more consistency here. Coleman knows this offense so well, having been in Kyle Shanahan's system since their days in Atlanta. The veteran, who's played 16 games in only one of his six pro seasons, could end up taking a backseat to rookie Michael Carter if he can't stay healthy.
The Patriots' offense will be as good as its run game. While Sony Michel was efficient in 79 carries for rush yards -- 5. Harris has been productive at every level and should pick up where he left off as the Pats' starter. He could see his first 1,yard season if he wins the starting job outright, but the possibility that he splits carries with Michel, whose fifth-year option was declined, is what has him low on my list.
To keep Lindsay off the field I'm not actually convinced this will happen , Ingram needs to provide a physical, punishing run game for a Texans offense that has myriad question marks heading into training camp. Given Ingram's familiarity with David Culley, who coached Ingram in Baltimore, the veteran has a real opportunity to bounce back from a down performance and have one of his best seasons as a seasoned back who thrives at the goal line.
The Bills have had a real problem with their run game and they need a reliable player at the position. Devin Singletary and Zack Moss have each had their moments but neither player has shown any consistency.
Right now, Josh Allen is the best rusher on the team. That really bothers me as a former running back. The Bills' backfield really needs to step it up, and Singletary has the most experience.
The time is now. Gaskin was a solid back for the Dolphins last season, averaging 4. But I need to see more. He has a real opportunity to be the bell cow and help Tua Tagovailoa in his first season as the full-time starter. Miami's run game must be better than the 22nd-ranked outfit it was a year ago. It starts with Gaskin but that could change quickly if he can't handle the load. Follow Maurice Jones-Drew on Twitter. The Rams' acquisition of WR Odell Beckham came in somewhat stealth fashion, but has no doubt drawn the spotlight and will continue to do so.
With Beckham's addition to the Rams and the star-studded L.
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