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Contact: Lori Hamamoto

NFL-51              9/12/03

 

(212) 450-2435
 
NFL TUESDAYS:
PLAYERS IN THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR DAYS OFF
 
COLTS' MANNING KICKS OFF PROGRAM TO AID TEACHERS; VIKINGS HOST VOLUNTEERS TO "THEIR HOUSE"; TAMPA BAY'S MCCARDELL HELPS TACKLE PROSTATE CANCER AND THE BROWNS HELP THE MILITARY
 
This Tuesday, PEYTON MANNING of the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS will kick off the Vectren Foundation's Bright Ideas program,which offers grants to teachers for assistance with programming expenses for creative and educational classroom projects.

Head Coach MIKE TICE, his wife Diane, and several MINNESOTA VIKINGS players welcome volunteers of the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday for a Volunteer Appreciation party at the Vikings' Winter Park Training Facility.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS wide receiver KEENAN MCCARDELL will team with the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) and University Community Hospital to help tackle prostate cancer. He will sign autographs for people waiting to be screened. In addition, twelve lucky men who get screened at University Community Hospital will win two tickets each to the October 12, 2003 Buccaneers game against the Indianapolis Colts.

CLEVELAND BROWNS players will visit the home of Shirley King, Ohio Army National Guard 372nd Maintenance Company in Cleveland to assist in home repairs. King, a single mother with three young adopted children, had been serving in the Middle East with her Army National Guard Unit. Browns players will join Ohio Navy volunteers and Rebuilding Together volunteers to work on home repairs at the King residence as part of the Browns ‘Hats Off to Our Heroes’ program. The Browns have teamed with Rebuilding Together for this Project Homefront Event, a national program to provide safety, security and home rehabilitation services to military families with loved ones serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

These are just a few of the many community service activities taking place as part of "NFL Tuesdays."

Tuesday is the traditional day off for NFL players during the season. It is the day players escape the rigors of pro football and get reacquainted with rest and relaxation. But many players also use their day off to "go to work" in their communities.

The NFL highlights these day-off community endeavors with a program entitled "NFL Tuesdays." The program is designed to raise awareness, both locally and nationally, about the day-off charitable work of NFL players and coaches.

"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."

Some other "NFL Tuesday" activities this week:
 

Team Player(s) Scheduled To Appear Brief Description of Activity
Arizona Cardinals CB Jacoby Rhinehart Rhinehart will spend the afternoon reading to a group of children at Basha Elementary School as the Arizona Cardinals kick off their 2003 season for their Milk & Cookies reading program.
Arizona Cardinals WR Bryant Johnson Johnson and Big Red will interact with more than 100 Palomino elementary school students during the Gatorade Junior Training Camp.
Atlanta Falcons DE Patrick Kerney Kerney will speak to a group of 75 United Way "team leaders" at the team's practice facility. In his first appearance as the team's United Way spokesman, Kerney will address the group on the importance of voluteering in the community and share personal experiences.
Atlanta Falcons Falcons' Players Players travel throughout the city of Atlanta to "Thank the Fans" for their support and to get them fired up for the season opener. The players will surprise unsuspecting fans in selected loctions in and around Atlanta, including local restaurants, food courts, office buildings, schools and a military base.
Atlanta Falcons K Jay Feely; WR Brian Finneran; LB Artie Ulmer; C Todd McClure; RB Woodrow Dantzler Players will visit Hughes Spalding Childrens Hospital in downtown Atlanta. They will visit the patients and will participate in the StarBright computer system to talk to other children in hospitals around the country.
Baltimore Ravens P Dave Zastudil; LB Edgerton Hartwell; DE Marques Douglas; T Ma'ake Kemoeatu Players will coach at the Ravens Gatorade Jr. Training Camp at Randallstown High School.
Baltimore Ravens LB Adalius Thomas Thomas will host an advance screening of Secondhand Lion at Valley Center Movies for his mentees.
Baltimore Ravens G Edwin Mulitalo Mulitalo will hold press conference with Mayor O'Malley today to discuss his partnership with the Baltimore school system. He will also promote his Luau fundraiser on September 29.
Baltimore Ravens S Ed Reed Reed will announce his partnership with UPS and Booker T. Washington Middle School in Baltimore City today.
Baltimore Ravens LB Terrell Suggs Suggs will visit with students at Living Classrooms.
Buffalo Bills WR Sam Aiken; G Ben Sobieski; RB Willis McGahee; QB Brandon Doman; C Jon Dorenbos; LB Mario Haggan; DT Lauvale Sape; CB Terrence McGee; LB Angelo Crowell The Tops Rookie Club Kickoff begins its second season of community service by hosting 100 4th grade students from Martin Luther King, Jr. School at the Buffalo Historical Society. As part of the field trip the kids will enjoy an assembly with the players and Historical Society staff and then spend more time as the kids and players tour the facilities together.
Carolina Panthers TE Kris Mangum; LB Will Witherspoon; QB Chris Weinke; WR Eugene Baker; LB Greg Favors; S Jarrod Cooper; DE Kemp Rasmussen; S Mike Minter; RB Rod Smart; WR Ricky Proehl; WR Steve Smith; CB Reggie Howard; DT Shane Burton Panthers players will participate in the 10th Annual Carolina Panthers/StorageTek Charity Golf Classic in which proceeds will benefit the Carolina Panthers Courage House, a safe haven for boys whose families and lives are in crisis.
Chicago Bears RB Anthony Thomas Thomas will partner with Chicago area Barnes and Noble Booksellers to host a 50 day "Back to School Essay Contest" which encourages children to read and write. At the conclusion of the contest, Thomas will appear at the elementary/middle school that submits the highest tally of essay entries.
Cleveland Browns   Cleveland Browns players will visit the home of Shirley King, Ohio Army National Guard 372nd Maintenance Company in Cleveland to assist in home repairs. King, a single mother with three young adopted children had been serving in the Middle East with her Army National Guard Unit. Browns players will join Ohio Navy volunteers and Rebuilding Together volunteers to work on home repairs at the King residence as part of the Browns ‘Hats Off to Our Heroes’ program. The Browns have teamed with Rebuilding Together for this Project Homefront Event, a national program to provide safety, security and home rehabilitation services to military families with loved ones serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Cleveland Browns   Browns' players and members of the Cleveland area Coast Guard will visit Garrett Morgan Elementary School to talk with sixth and seventh grade students regarding leadership and community involvement. They will also discuss what qualities and attributes make up a hero.
Dallas Cowboys S Roy Williams Williams, the 2003 Cowboys NFL/United Way spokesperson, will attend The United Way of Metropolitan Dallas African American Leaders Society event on Tuesday, September 16th. He will be introduced by Gary Godsey, President of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas followed by a viewing of the new public service announcement which features Williams.
Houston Texans Houston Texans; Houston Texans cheerleaders; Team mascot TORO The Houston Texans and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center will join together for the Second Annual Houston Texans Blood Drive at Reliant Stadium. Houston Texans players, cheerleaders and team mascot TORO will be on hand to meet and greet donors throughout the day. Donors will receive Houston Texans Blood Drive baseball caps and be entered for a chance to win two tickets to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Houston Texans Houston Texans players; Houston Texans staff Players and staff will be a part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's media exhibit of the "First Down Houston: The Birth of an NFL Franchise". The book features 85 photographs documenting the inaugural year of the Houston Texans.
Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts' players Colts' players participate in the Indy Grill Out by serving as celebrity judges for a barbecue contest that benefits the Humane Society of Hamilton County, Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, and Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership.
Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning Manning, along with Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed and Vectren VP Niel Ellerbrook will kick off the Vectren Foundation's Bright Ideas program in the cities of Terre Haute and Evansville, Indiana. The program offers $500 grants to teachers for assistance with programming expenses for creative and educational classroom projects.
Miami Dolphins DE Adewale Ogunleye Ogunleye will visit students in Broward County Public Schools Deaf/Hard of Hearing program.
Minnesota Vikings WR D'Wayne Bates; S Corey Chavous; CB Eric Kelly; C Brody Liddiard; Head Coach Mike Tice The volunteers of the Ronald McDonald House will be get to visit the Vikings' house when Head Coach Mike Tice,his wife Diane and Vikings' players host a Volunteer Apprecation Party for the Ronald McDonald House at the Vikings' Winter Park Training Facility.
Minnesota Vikings QB Shaun Hill; QB Gus Frerotte The players will participate in the Leo Lewis Golf Classic.
New Orleans Saints T Jon Stinchcomb Stinchcomb will speak to Riverdale High School students.
New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints' team The Saints' players will meet and sign autographs for young boys from the Lighthouse Program sponsored by Volunteers of America on Saturday, September 13. The volunteers assist the boys - who also participate in the Lighthouse Boys Choir - in academic tutoring, character building and different sports activities.
New Orleans Saints T Spencer Folau Folau will co-host the Saints' community affairs show, "Outside The Huddle." He will talk about his role, his teammates' role and the expectations for the football season.
New Orleans Saints WR Derrick Lewis Lewis, will make a radio appearance at 102.9 FM Old School to discuss the Saints and Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
New York Giants T Ian Allen; WR David Tyree Allen and Tyree will speak to Newark youth about community involvement, including anti-violence and political awareness, at Rutgers University. The event, "Good Sport and Citizenship Night," is put on by Newark Student Voices Project in honor of National Citizenship Day.
New York Giants LB Dhani Jones; RB Tiki Barber; WR Amani Toomer The players, along with other celebrities, will be at Manhattan's Saks Fifth Avenue for The Big Bam Foundation's "Key to the Cure" fundraiser to help eliminate breast cancer.
New York Jets FB Jerald Sowell; LB Kenyatta Wright Young children will attend Jets home games as members of the press as part of the Star Ledger Kid Reporter of the Week program. They watch the game from the press box and immediately following the game they will interview a player. The story from this interview is written up and appears on the Jets Football Fanfare page in the Star Ledger.
New York Jets G Dave Szott; K Doug Brien; S Jon McGraw; T Kareem McKenzie; LB Kenyatta Wright; S Sam Garnes; S Tyrone Carter ESPN Radio and the Jets will host a dinner cruise around New York City to benefit the Jets afterschool initiaive, Jets Academy. The night will also include autographs by players and an auction for Jets memorabilia.
New York Jets CB Aaron Beasley Beasley will host children from the Variety Boys & Girls Club in Queens at the Jets home opener on Sunday, September 14th. The children will also receive lunch. He has purchased 23 season tickets for children to attend games during the 2003 season.
New York Jets LB Marvin Jones Through the Marvin Jones Charitable Foundation, Jones has purchased 25 season tickets for children to attend home games. At the home opener on Sunday, September 14, he will host children from the Boys & Girls Cub of Union County New Jersey. The children will also receive lunch at the game.
New York Jets TE Anthony Becht; CB Ray Mickens Becht and Mickens will attend a Community Safety program, in partnership with the Hempstead Police Department and the New York State Police. Bicycle helmet safety, child restraint seat demos and seat belt use will be the discussed and promoted at the event. Children in attendance will also receive a free bicycle helmet.
Philadelphia Eagles WR James Thrash; QB A.J. Feeley; C Alonzo Ephraim; SWOOP Eagles' players and SWOOP, the team's mascot, will visit the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to help brighten the spirits of some of the patients.
Pittsburgh Steelers CB DeWayne Washington Washington, the Steelers United Way Spokesman, will speak at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's United Way Kickoff event. He will visit several companies each year to promote giving to the United Way's annual campaign.
San Diego Chargers WR Kassim Osgood; K MacKenzie Hoambrecker The players will participate in the Junior Charger Gatorade Camp, a project of the Chargers Rookie Club, Grace Lutheran Church and School in Escondido.
San Francisco 49ers T Scott Gragg Gragg will speak at the Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County. The 5th annual conference will focus on "Fathers and Early Development." Gragg will speak about the essential role his father played in his life. As a father of two, Gragg will also speak about the importance of being involved in his children's lives.
St. Louis Rams P Sean Landeta; S Adam Archuleta; TE Brandon Manumaleuna; DE Bryce Fisher; QB Marc Bulger; LB Tommy Polley; DT Damione Lewis The players will participate in the Rams' Football University.
St. Louis Rams DE Grant Wistrom; T Kyle Turley Winstrom and Turley will participate in the Quarterback Club "Meet the Rams" luncheon.
St. Louis Rams LB Robert Thomas Thomas will visit patients and the Children's Hospital.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers T Anthony McFarland McFarland will speak to students at Franklin and Van Buren Middle Schools about making educated decisions on issues that can have an important impact on their lives.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Keenan McCardell McCardell will team with the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC) and University Community Hospital to help tackle prostate cancer – the second leading cause of cancer death in American men.
Tennessee Titans G Benji Olson; QB Billy Volek The players will visit students at local middle schools to speak on the importance of making good choices. Along with the program, the players will meet with a select group of students who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in school.
Tennessee Titans CB Andre Woolfolk; S Lamont Thompson; DE Kevin Carter; DE Juqua Thomas The players will visit patients at a local hospital to sign autographs and offer inspiration.