Heroes

At a recent event honoring Jonathan Ogden, the Baltimore Ravens’ first Hall of Fame member, Ogden was described as a hero for his accomplishments on and off the field. His football career speaks for itself – first draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, 11 Pro Bowls in his 12-year career, a Super Bowl victory, among other honors. And through the Jonathan Ogden Foundation, he has been a source of support and encouragement to many underprivileged and underrepresented in Maryland.

During the event, I was reminded that the word “hero” is used frequently – perhaps too frequently – in reference to athletes and athletics. With no disrespect to Jonathan Ogden – or, for that matter, to any of us who’ve been described as heroes for our achievements in sports – I’d argue there are others who are far more deserving of the word “hero”.

On November 16, for example, I had the privilege of participating in a football game between former NFL players and the Wounded Warrior Amputee football team. The team comprises veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who’ve lost a limb and who are determined that the loss will not curtail their athletic careers. Brian Mitchell quarterbacked a team of former NFL players – Roy Jefferson, Garo Yepremian, Mike Bass, Larry Brown, Mack Alston, Pat Fischer, Eric Hipple, Ron Saul, among others – and I’ve got to tell you, the WWAF team was a formidable opponent.

Beyond the football field, though, these young men – and hundreds of thousands of others – have accomplished even greater feats. They volunteered for military service at a time when our nation was involved in two wars, in theaters far from home. They were deployed time and time again, engaging an enemy that was often unseen and enduring some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. And, like generations before them, they gave life and limb for our nation.

Heroes.

Pro football has its share of heroes. They’re men like Pat Tillman, Roger Staubach, Rocky Bleier, Art Donovan, Ralph Heywood and a host of others who delayed or interrupted their football careers to serve in World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and other military engagements. In this month of November, when we celebrate both Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, let’s remember these heroes and the many others who serve in harm’s way, and give thanks for them.

Have a safe and secure Thanksgiving Day.

Bruce Laird
President, Fourth & Goal
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983

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A Culture of Bullying?

A Culture of Bullying?

The recent turmoil surrounding the Miami Dolphins has triggered discussions about bullying among teammates, criticism of what some believe is a culture rampant in the NFL, even questions about what it means to be a man. The NFL’s investigation into Jonathan Martin’s abrupt departure from the Dolphins, alleged bullying of Martin by Richie Incognito, and Incognito’s suspension will no doubt be thorough. Until the findings are released, we won’t know much more about the interaction between Incognito and Martin or about the culture in the Dolphins’ organization.

For myself, the allegations of bullying caused me to look back on my own years as a member of the Baltimore Colts. Ted Marchibroda’s mantra was a simple one – “What have you done today to help Colt Football win?” – but it conveyed the message that each player mattered. It didn’t matter whether you were a starter or a backup; whether you came from a football powerhouse or a school with a struggling football program; whether your background was privileged or underprivileged; whether your playing style was cerebral, freelance or scrappy; whether you were an introvert or an extrovert; whether you were black or white; whether you were Catholic or Protestant, agnostic or atheist; whether you grew up in Pascagoula, Mississippi; Enid, Oklahoma; Stinson Beach, California; or Scituate, Massachusetts – you were an integral part of the team and had an important role to play.

That’s not to say there weren’t disagreements. Any time you have a group of folks from diverse backgrounds, with different personalities, there are bound to be conflicts. But those conflicts – whether blown plays and missed assignments on the field or the occasional transgression off the field – were dealt with through humor, with “Bonehead of the Week” Awards. You knew you let your teammates down, you knew you let yourself down, but you weren’t torn down, harassed or humiliated. We worked together, we lived together, we played together and we won together.

I’ve been around the NFL for more than 40 years – as a player, a player rep, an officer of the NFLPA’s former player organization, a member of NFL Alumni, a member of the media covering the Baltimore Ravens, and as president of Fourth & Goal, the first organization dedicated to raising money and advocating for retired players. I’ve seen the game grow beyond what I ever could have imagined.

In my day, the Colts held training camp at a local college, practiced in a temporary practice facility – for several years, a Catholic seminary – before moving into Memorial Stadium once the Baltimore Orioles’ season ended. Lunch was brought in by a locker room volunteer or a secretary, typically from a local deli or KFC. Our locker room was equipped with one amenity – foosball. Yet the coaches were in touch with the players. (My defensive coordinator Maxie Baughan even hosted a chili supper for the defense every season.) They knew when a player had an issue or was struggling and they addressed it in a humane manner. One example – when a defensive teammate of mine was struggling, Coach Marchibroda dispatched me and another teammate to visit with the troubled player to see what we could do to help him.

Today’s NFL teams are largely self-contained. Training camp is often held at the team’s year-round practice facility. An in-house cafeteria provides meals, often under the supervision of a nutritionist. Given that physical set-up, coaches and players interact even more closely every day than we did. So it’s difficult for me to comprehend how a modern-era coach, trainer, or club official could be unaware of bullying or harassment of a player or players.

If what we’ve heard about the culture in the Dolphins’ locker room is true, there’s work to be done – even if that culture is confined to one team and one organization. The NFL has been committed to player safety on the field. Here’s an opportunity for the league to extend that commitment to the locker room, to ensure a safe environment there. My teammate Joe Ehrmann, dubbed “The Greatest Coach in America” by Parade Magazine, is already involved with numerous teams and there are other former players and coaches, like Tony Dungy, who are doing what they can to mentor young players. Still, I believe there’s room for – and a need for – many more of us to be involved. I encourage the NFL to do just that – bring more of us into the fold. As I’ve said for years, retired players are an asset to the league.

Bruce Laird
President, Fourth & Goal
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983

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