The NFL has more than 1,600 players, and i we looked at everything objectively we'd find that Ray Rice, Greg Hardy and Adrian Peterson are seriously outnumbered by a lot of good people in the sport.
"There is a lot of negativity out right now in the league, but I hang my hat on every day knowing there are a lot of good guys in this game, too," Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel told reporters. "There's a lot of guys that do the right thing, that act the right way, that are living productive and charitable lives."
So thank you, Cincinnati Bengals, for caring about Devon Still's little girl more than the bottom line.
The Bengals kept Still on their practice squad after cutting him so he could get medical insurance and a paycheck. His 4-year-old daughter, Leah, is fighting Stage 4 cancer. Her care could exceed $1 million.
"They could have just washed their hands completely of it," Still said of the Bengals. "Say we don't care what's going on in his personal life, we just want people who can care 100 percent on football, that's what they pay us to do."
Thank you, St. Louis Rams, for recognizing the heartbreak in your state. The Rams provided 75 free tickets to a preseason game for coaches and children in Ferguson, Mo., where violence erupted after police fatally shot Michael Brown.
Thank you, Peyton Manning for being Peyton Manning.
The Denver Broncos' record-setting quarterback met with a South Carolina mom who wrote in a blog why Manning is an undisputed role model. Laurie Volkmann and her family flew in on their own dime to meet Manning at the team hotel last Sunday hours before the Kansas City game.
"Even though it's 10 minutes, it's an important time getting ready before a game. To make that extra time was amazing and speaks to everything he's about," she posted on Facebook.
Thank you, Anquan Boldin, for lending your valuable hands for more than catching passes. The San Francisco receiver paid for a $10,000 college scholarship and has worked with Wounded Warriors and the United Way.
Thank you, Christine Michael, for taking Taylor Kirkwood to her high school prom in Baytown, Texas. Kirkwood suffers from autism, but the Seattle Seahawks running back and former Texas A&M star made her night as her escort.
Thank you, Drew Brees, for everything. In addition to his tireless work in helping New Orleans rebound from Hurricane Katrina, The Brees Dream Foundation website lists a dozen charitable causes. No wonder Sports Illustrated described Brees as "an athlete as adored and appreciated as any in an American city today."
Thank you, Robbie Gould. The Chicago Bears kicker headed to Coal City, Ill., to comfort and serve meals to tornado victims.
Thank you, Wes Welker. The Broncos receiver's foundation helped rebuild barren, dirt athletic fields at a middle school in Oklahoma.
Thank you, Troy Polamalu. The Pittsburgh Steelers safety had his long trademark locks trimmed in a charity auction last Veteran's Day, with proceeds going to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Thank you, Josh Scobee. The Jacksonville Jaguars kicker tweeted this last year: "Saw a homeless guy wearing a Jags hat w/a sign that said 'just hungry.' I stopped and gave him a signed ball & $100. He was in shock."
Thank you, Phil Taylor. When the Cleveland Browns defensive tackle heard about an explosion at a fertilizer plant in West Texas that killed 15 people, the former Baylor star had "We Are West, Texas" T-shirts made, with 100 percent of the money going to families of the victims.
Thank you, Charles Tillman. The Bears cornerback helped build a school in Cambodia.
Thank you, Jason Witten. Growing up with an abusive father, the Dallas Cowboys tight end's foundation addresses domestic violence.
Thank you, Sean Payton. The New Orleans Saints coach doesn't know Devon Still or Leah Still, but he heard about the story of the little girl fighting cancer. The Bengals are selling Devon Still jerseys for $100 apiece, with the proceeds going to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Payton bought 100 of them.
Sports on 09/17/2014