FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL                  12/7/01

NFL TUESDAYS:
PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR DAYS OFF

Players Help Santa Deliver Holiday Joy

 

Santa Claus may be coming to town a few weeks early this year.

Around the NFL Tuesday, December 11, players are teaming with kids in their community for holiday shopping expeditions.  In Arizona, Cardinals QB JAKE PLUMMER, along with RB MARCEL SHIPP and WR ARNOLD JACKSON, will take 25 children from Homeward Bound holiday shopping through his “Jake’s Annual Christmas Extravaganza” program.  LB KENYATTA WRIGHT will join RB SAMMY MORRIS and S KEION CARPENTER and other members of the Buffalo Bills in “Shop with a Jock.”  Children from Buffalo-area Salvation Army youth programs will have a holiday pizza party with the players before heading off to Gaylan’s to purchase gifts.  Chiefs LB DONNIE EDWARDS will also host his second annual “Shop With a Jock” event for 70 Kansas City children through his “The Best Defense Foundation.”

In Philadelphia, QB DONOVAN McNABB will trade in his Eagles uniform for a white beard and red suit to deliver presents to children at the Temple University Children’s Medical Center.  Falcons rookie QB MICHAEL VICK will also deliver toys to kids at Hughes Spalding Hospital for the Empty Stocking 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.  The information then will be distributed to media and fans.

Following are some of the activities players and coaches will be participating in this Tuesday, December 11 (for a complete list, log on to NFL.com):

Team

Player

Brief Description of Activity

Arizona Cardinals

Mike Gruttadauria, Mario Fatafehi,

Michael Pittman,

Jake Plummer,

Andy Bowers,

Tywan Mitchell,

Fred Wakefield,

Frank Sanders,

Steve Bush,

Russell Davis,

Coach Dave McGinnis,

Chris Greisen &

Kwamie Lassiter

Participating in the annual Teddy Bear Express Ride to 3 local hospitals to take toys to the children.  The wives of the players and coaches will also make the visit. 

Atlanta Falcons

Chris Draft

Delivering food for 11Alive’s Can-A-Thon, a 19 year Atlanta tradition.  Chris will meet and greet guests and make a personal donation to the charity.

Carolina Panthers

Steve Smith

Speaking to students about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle at Weddington Hills Elementary School in Concord, NC.

Buffalo Bills

Bryce Fisher

Sheldon Jackson

Attending art class with the middle school students at School #53.  They have all been working on an art project together and their paintings will be displayed at area Target stores after the holidays.

Buffalo Bills

Jerry Ostroski,

Jay Riemersma,

Rob Johnson,

Alex Van Pelt,

Travis Brown,

Bill Conaty,

Mo Unutoa,

Craig Heimburger,

Corey Hulsey,

Jon Carman,

John Fina,

Jonas Jennings &

Marques Sullivan

Attending the holiday party for the Center for Handicapped Children.  The players will meet the kids, sign autographs and give presents to the approximately 75 children expected to attend.  This is the second year the quarterbacks and offensive line have done this as a group during the holidays.

Detroit Lions

Cory Schlesinger

Attending the weekly Detroit Lions Quarterback Club meeting to speak to the kids who were awarded the Student of the Month by the Boys and Girls Club of Pontiac and Providence Youth Outreach.  Cory was selected by the Quarterback Club as the Player of the Month for November.

Green Bay Packers

Chris Gall

Reading to kindergarteners through fourth graders at the Martin School.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tony Boselli, Mark Brunell, Jimmy Smith, Keenan McCardell, Mike Hollis, Chris Hanson, Todd Fordham, Brad Meester, Zach Wiegert, Aaron Koch, & Fred Taylor

Attending the Boselli Foundation’s “Shop with a Jock” holiday program for 115 disadvantaged youth.

Kansas City Chiefs

Donnie Edwards and 30 teammates

Hosting his second annual “Shop With a Jock” event where he and 30 of his teammates make the holiday season special for local underprivileged youth. Following a dinner with the 70 children, Edwards and the other Chiefs present will shop for gifts with the kids.  Edwards’ foundation “The Best Defense Foundation” will give each youth $100 to shop with.

Miami Dolphins

Twan Russell

Working with kids after school at the Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation, which helps promote literacy in elementary, middle school and high school children in Ft. Lauderdale.

Minnesota Vikings

Head Coach Dennis Green

Speaking at Maranatha Academy as part of the Staples Coach of the Week program in recognition of the Vikings Monday night win over the Giants three weeks ago.

New York Jets

Shaun Ellis & John Abraham

Hosting a Christmas Party for 40 children from the Children's Aid Society's Dunlevy Milbank and East Harlem centers.  The party will take place at Brother Jimmy's BBQ in Manhattan.  Each child will enjoy a buffet dinner, story time and will receive a bag of holiday goodies from Ellis and Abraham.

Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb

Dressing up like Santa and delivering gifts to kids at the Temple University Children’s Medical Center.

Oakland Raiders

Barrett Robbins and other Raider players

Visiting the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland.

St. Louis Rams

Ernie Conwell

Visiting Ballwin Elementary to speak about dealing with peer pressure.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Mike Alstott & Dave Moore

Hosting their fifth annual holiday visit to the Joshua House.  At the event, Alstott and Moore meet the residents, sign autographs and run the Gatorade Youth Football Clinic.

Washington Redskins

Rod Gardner, Justin Skaggs, Walter Rasby, Zeron Flemister, Darnerien McCants, Chris Samuels, Eddie Mason

Visiting patients at the Children's National Medical Center.  Children and players will make holiday cards and ornaments together for US troops overseas