nabwong

Had me choked up a bit reading it. I love how our team is full of these guys that had to go against all odds. Translates to mental toughness.

New England Patriots lineman Nick McDonald makes a mother proud - ESPN

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Mike the Brit

That is one terrific story.

In the middle of all the mail-it-in "Why is Tom Brady so great"/"Tom Brady isn't everything he's cracked up to be" opinion pieces that are wasting our time this week, ESPN has had some outstanding background stories on lesser-known players.

Mike Reiss's "Football Journey" with Brian Ferentz is great too, since the assistant coaches almost never get a mention.

Football journey: Brian Ferentz - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

I didn't know that Ferentz had played for his father and had two seasons as an undrafted free agent trying to make it in the NFL. He sounds like a very solid guy whom the Patriots are lucky to have working for them.

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My prized possessions: Our family pictures; my dad and me getting doused by Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXIX [Shalize Manza Young Up Close with ... Bill Belichick]


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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

Gwedd

Now see, that's the sort of stories the press OUGHT to be writing this week. It's the sort of story that those who are even marginally interested in football OUGHT to hear about, because it speaks to who we really are as a nation.

We care about each other, and we CAN take care of each other, and rejoice in each other's success.

Thanks for the link, nabwong. I would've missed this otherwise.

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shmessy

Great story.

May Nick McDonald have a great, long NFL career.

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"They (Patriots) may be the greatest team ever" - Chris Mortenson, January 18, 2005 on espn.com

robertweathers

In the bank: Brian Ferentz will be an NFL HC someday.

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“I'm not really concerned about the other 31 teams,” - Bill Belichick

"If a player has talent and doesn't succeed, that means that they either don't want to be successful or I have failed as a coach." - Bill Belichick

Sciz

This picture needs to be posted here. It's Nick McDonald and his goddaughter:

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BigMike

Im rooting for this kid....what a story...my eyes are itchy, have to wipe them a bit now....

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It is what it is......

Mike the Brit

I won't bet against it.

What comes across most to me in that story is how much he loves football and how happy he is to be able to make it his career. Whatever the opposite is of "hard-bitten and cynical".

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My prized possessions: Our family pictures; my dad and me getting doused by Bruschi in Super Bowl XXXIX [Shalize Manza Young Up Close with ... Bill Belichick]


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They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Well, Pats fans should be invincible by now. [Fitzy, 16 November 2009]

Still here to learn

convertedpatsfan

Paging Sandra Bullock...

But what a great story. I also have a deep admiration for the selflessness this type of act requires. It's something we could use more of these days.

fair catch fryar

Good story on Ferentz. One thing that Reiss should've mentioned was Brian Ferentz's connection to New England. He lived in Maine as a kid while his father was head coach of the Black Bears for a few years.