FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL                 12/14/01

NFL TUESDAYS:
PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR DAYS OFF

 

NFL Players around the league on Tuesday, December 18 will be nourishing the bodies and souls of people in their communities in honor of the holiday season.

Members of the Browns, including OT ROMAN OBEN and LB WALI RAINER, are “adopting” families from the University Settlement Program in Cleveland and providing gifts and food to them for the holidays.   Raiders RB TYRONE WHEATLY will attend the Safeway and ABC 7 “Share Your Holiday” food drive in Oakland.  In Denver, CB JIMMY SPENCER will host a dinner for 15 homeless families at the Denver Rescue Mission and provide gifts for the children.   

The New York Jets, including DE SHAUN ELLIS, and the New York Giants, including TE JOE JUREVICIUS, will be teaming with Foot Locker for the “On Our Feet” black-tie charity event to raise money for the victims of the World Trade Center attacks.   Corporate sponsors, such as REEBOK, will join with other members of the sports industry to raise $1,000,000 for the relief fund. 

“For years, NFL players and coaches have been working extensively in their communities on their day off,” says NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.  “While many of us use our two-day weekend to relax, countless NFL players and coaches use their one day off during the season to give back to their communities.  It’s time players received more credit for that.” 

Every week, the NFL gathers information from its clubs about player and coach activities scheduled for the upcoming Tuesday.   

Following are some of the activities players and coaches will be participating in Tuesday, December 18 (for a complete list, log on to NFL.com): 

Team

Player

Brief Description of Activity

Arizona Cardinals

Ron McKinnon,

Scott Player,

Russell Davis,

Fred Wakefield,

Michael Pittman,

Thomas Jones,

Anthony Clement,

Frank Sanders,

David Boston,

Johnny Rutledge,

Trey Junkin,

Pete Kendall,

Dave Brown,

Jake Plummer,

Michael Stone,

MarTay Jenkins,

Kwamie Lassiter,

Corey Chavous &

Tywan Mitchell

Participating in a toy drive day with local radio station KDKB.  From 6:00 AM until 6:00 PM, KDKB will be on the air.  The Cardinals players will collect the toys and will also sign autographs.  The Cardinals Cheerleaders and “Big Red” will also be in attendance. 

Atlanta Falcons

Michael Thompson,

Shawn Jefferson & Ed Jasper

Presenting a check in the amount of $1,620 along with clothing and shoes to HeavenSent, an organization that helps at-risk youth and their families.

Buffalo Bills

Alex Van Pelt,
Scot Osborne,
Brian Moorman,
Jonas Jennings,
Jeremy McDaniel,
Tony Driver &
John Fina

Attending the Annual Bills Holiday Party for Kids in the Jim Kelly Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  Children ages 5 – 12 years old from United Way and Salvation Army youth programs are invited to attend.  All children receive presents, visit with Santa and have a pizza party with the players. 

Carolina Panthers

Team Event

Making Christmas dreams come true for dozens of Carolina families this holiday season through the Adopt-A-Family program.  Team members will exchange gifts with their adopted families and each adopted family will receive toys for the children and clothes for each family member.

Chicago Bears

David Terrell

Attending a holiday party and toy give-away for approximately 500 children from the Chicago Housing Authority developments. 

Cleveland Browns

Courtney Brown,
Brad Bedell,
Mark Campbell,

Roger Chanoine,

Devone Claybrooks,

Felipe Claybrooks,

Benjamin Gay,

Ryan Kuehl,

Earl Little,

James Jackson,

Kevin Johnson,

Jeremy McKinney,

Earthwind Moreland,

Rodrick Monroe,

Quincy Morgan,

Roman Oben,

Shaun O'Hara,

Wali Rainer, 

Dwayne Rudd &

Tarek Saleh

 

Attending the Holiday Toy Celebration at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for

Rehabilitation. Children were asked to write a Christmas wish list and players will

arrive with gifts in hand. 

Denver Broncos

Jimmy Spencer

Attending a holiday party sponsored by himself and the Broncos for the Denver Rescue Mission to serve dinner to 15 homeless families and providing Christmas presents for 40 children. Jimmy will be on hand to distribute gifts and spend the evening with the families.

Detroit Lions

Ron Rice

Speaking to youth at Mae E. Jeminson Elementary in Detroit as part of the Lions School Assembly Program

Green Bay Packers

Bill Schroeder  Ryan Longwell   Josh Bidwell & Doug Pederson

Reading to students at the Dickinson School.

Indianapolis Colts

Offensive line

Adopting two families for the holidays and will personally deliver gifts and food.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Donovin Darius, Fernando Bryant, Jason Craft, Kiwaukee Thomas, Chris Hanson, Aaron Koch, Seth Payne, Ryan Prince, Paul Spicer & Eric Westmoreland

Signing autographs for blood donors at the Jaguars annual Gift of Life Blood Drive at the Avenues Mall.

Kansas City Chiefs

Larry Atkins

Concluding his weekly visits to local Boys & Girls Clubs when he visits the Banneker Center.

Miami Dolphins

Sam Madison

and several teammates

Hosting his second annual Madison Avenue for Kids Holiday Shopping Spree for 100 members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County at the Sports Authority in Pembroke Pines. Several of his teammates will be on hand to help each child spend $150, courtesy of Madison and the Sports Authority.

Minnesota Vikings

Daunte Culpepper and teammates Byron Chamberlain, Kenny Clark & Spergon Wynn

Hosting his 3rd annual Holiday Party for families of the African American Adoption and Permanency Planning Agency at the Vikings Winter Park Training Facility.  Kids will take part in interactive games, tour the facility and get autographs from Daunte and his teammates.

New York Jets

James Dearth, John Hall, Kevin Swayne & Jerald Sowell

Attending a holiday party at the Westbury Salvation Army after school

program.  The evening will feature a pizza party, gifts purchased for the children by

Robert Chevrolet employees, autographs and gifts from Jets players, music and a

visit from Santa.

New York Giants

Team Event

Hosting families at practice from Cantor Fitzgerald and the FDNY who lost loved ones on 9/11.

Philadelphia Eagles

Doug Brzezinski, Brian Mitchell, Duce Staley & Barry Gardner

Participating in the Philadelphia Eagles Premium Services Holiday Party.

Oakland Raiders

Rich Gannon

Signing autographs at the “Toys for Tot’s” drive at the Raider Image store in Concord, CA.

San Francisco 49ers

Team event

Visiting families at a homeless shelter to serve dinner.

Seattle Seahawks

Marcus Robertson

Hosting a holiday party for students at First Place, an elementary school for homeless children.

Washington Redskins

Darrell Green, Stephen Alexander, Shawn Barber, Stephen Davis, Rod Gardner, Kenard Lang, Eddie Mason, Cory Raymer, Fred Smoot & Dan Wilkinson

Hosting the Darrell Green Youth Life Foundation Christmas Experience for 140 needy children.  It is an evening of food and entertainment and presents for all the children.