THE REAL WINNERS: NFL 2008

I was all set to write the typical next day NFL draft story – who won and who lost. If you’re looking for that, you can check out Mel Kiper, Jr. at ESPN. It’s like you’re back in high school – Mel grades everyone from F to A.

What happened was I took a look at Monday’s New York Times and read Greg Bishop’s inspiring report on Dwight Lowery, the cornerback from San Jose State the Jets drafted on Sunday.

Dwight Lowery – Photo: Michael Conroy/AP

It’s easy to get numbed by the sheer numbers of football players and stats and opinions that roll over past as you watch the draft. Running backs and quarterbacks and linebackers merge one into the other. And, of course, the analysts are paid to pass judgment in a matter of minutes.

Bishop’s story brought back the underlying human story – the real story – of NFL football. Dwight Lowery’s mom is a single mom. More and more, that’s the story of young athletes, young Americans. Just 18 with a kid, Tracy Rivers ended up working two sometimes three jobs. Lowery’s younger sister, Aujanae, was born with a defective heart.

Lowery was the best of brothers, making sure he was there for Aujanae when his mom had to go off and work. And all the while working hard at football at Cabrillo College, and becoming good enough to attract the notice of Dick Tomey at San Jose. Thanks to his mom Lowery has a deepseated understanding of, and commitment to hard work.

Dwight Lowery makes the tackle – Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

Bishop spoke to Tomey:

I’m not sure I’ve ever been around a player who meant so much,” Tomey said in a telephone interview. “From the minute he stepped on the field for us, he changed the attitude. He brought a sense of purpose that was lacking.

Lowery, it turns out, had a habit of writing notes to his Mom while she was out working. One of those she kept said: “Watch out for me in the 2008 draft.”

In the same issue of the Times, you can find Mike Ogle’s piece, “Giants See Potential and Take a Chance.” It’s the story of Mario Manningham – the Michigan wide receiver the New York Giants took with their last pick of the third round. A lot of teams, while appreciating Manningham’s talents decided to pass, considering his Manningham’s past a potential problem.

Last April Manningham was detained, though not convicted, of possession of Vicodin and has admitted smoking pot.

“The past is the past,” Manningham said after the Giants picked him.

Mario Manningham – Photo: Tony Ding/AP

The Giants know something about the difference between the past and the present, and the past and the future. They won a similar gamble last year when they took the running back Ahmad Bradshaw from Marshall. If you remember, Bradshaw had left Virginia after being caught drinking under the age and resisting arrest. Bradshaw’s past turned into a sparkling present when his determined running helped the G-men to the Super Bowl.

Ahmad Bradshaw

So this year New Yorkers – green and blue – will have a chance to closely watch the human drama that is football. A humble workingclass hero hoping to find his way into the Jets secondary; and a flawed human who hopes to be on the receiving end of an Eli Manning bomb. This is the kind of football New Yorkers love.

Football for the underdog.

For every fortunate guy or gal relaxing up in the luxury boxes, there are a thousand of us sitting in the cold and rain and snow. We have a bit of Dwight Lowery in us and if truth be told, we have a bit of Mario Manningham in us.

So I thank both Greg Bishop and Mike Ogle for reminding me about what’s important.

And for one day, I don’t care about the paper ratings. I’m rooting for two different guys who have made it to the NFL, to play the game I love. The real winners today! And I am hoping with all my heart that both the Jets and the Giants made the right choice.

Tags: Ahmad Bradshaw, Dwight Lowery, Greg Bishop, Mario Manningham, Mel Kiper, Mike Ogle, New York Giants, New York Jets