ESPN The Magazine Presents Gripping Special Report in New Issue - NFL Players Open Up About Their Safety Off the Field in Cover Story âLiving Scaredâ
2008-11-20 23:43:04 -
www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5837295 - A year after Sean Taylor"s murder, NFL players feel more vulnerable then ever. Some have guns and some have bodyguards, no matter the type of protection they enlist, they just can't shake their fears and memories of the violence against NFL athletes. Clinton Portis, Ben Roethlisberger, featured on the covers, plus five other players and one team security chief open up in first person accounts to writer Dave Fleming, on why they are still Living Scared, in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine, on newsstands Friday, November 21.
The Players:
- Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins - on how the memory of Taylor is powering the best season of his career.
- Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers - on why he rarely makes public appearances without body guards.
- Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars - on why even having bought all the latest security equipment and a gun, he still doesn"t feel safe.
- Dunta Robinson, Houston Texans - speaking out for the first time in detail on being the victim of a home invasion.
- Branden Albert, Kansas City Chiefs - on how the first lesson every rookie must learn is to watch your back.
- Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - on why NFL players have to fight their football instincts to survive off the field.
- Kevin Mawae, Tennessee Titans & NFL Players Association President - on how much more security conscious NFL players are now versus 10 years ago.
- Dave Abrams, Denver security chief - on the next wave of threats facing NFL players
Quotes:
- Clinton Portis, "Out of fear your reaction is going to be totally different. If I don"t know you and you walk up on me too fast, do I shoot first and ask questions later" Because I"m living in fear" You could be running to tell me my car lights are on. It"s tricky, though. When you put on that uniform, you have to be fearless"and it"s hard to turn off."
- Ben Roethlisberger, "The one time I was scared the most, I didn"t have anybody with me. I don"t want to relive all the details, but this guy brandished a weapon in my face. I kept my cool and talked my way out of it. People showed up and helped get rid of the guy. That"s when I decided to have someone with me all the time."
- Dunta Robinson, talking about his home invasion: "It was a Saturday. I"m watching college football on my couch. I look up, and guys are barging into my house, pushing guns in my face. Laid down, duct-taped, arms and legs bound behind me on my living room floor, with my kids pushed into a closet. I saw them looking at my face, then back to the football pictures on the wall, then one of the guys was like, "You"re a good player, so I"m not going to kill you."
- Kevin Mawae, "If I had to guess about our locker room, I"d say it"s fifty-fifty when it comes to gun ownership. I don"t own a handgun. I have a hunting rifle. My job is to protect my family. If someone comes into my house" Game"s on.
- Dave Abrams: "What"s the next layer" Wives and children: a kid kidnapped for ransom, or some other kind of craziness. I"m scared to death that"s where criminals perceive the next vulnerability is for our players: their families."
Other features in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine include:
EXCHANGE STUDENT. Brandon Jennings is the first prep baller to skip college and take his game to Europe. After a rough start, he"s learning more in Italy that he might have in the classroom. Chris Broussard reports.
ONE STORY, FIVE WAYS TO TELL IT: THE NATIONAL FINALS RODEO. For 50 years, the world"s top cowboys have battled for bragging rights in one of the most grueling events in sports. They will do it once again Dec. 4-13 in Vegas. Morty Ain reports.
DISGUISE. DETECT. DESTROY. No player disrupts offenses like a safety. And no pair of safeties is as dangerous as USC"s Kevin Ellison and Taylor Mays. Bruce Feldman reports.
2008 GIFT GUIDE; HOW TO PASS FOR A PRO. You"re an amateur, but you don"t have to roll like one. The Magazine presents its 2008 Gift Guide " featuring the year"s best gear, all of it athlete tested and Mag approved.
WHAT GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER" Henrik and Daniel Sedin are identical twins on Vancouver"s top line. If the Canucks don"t renew their contracts, they"ll become identical free agents. Lindsay Berra reports.
Go to espnthemag.com to see video of Brandon Jennings, exclusive video including the latest Jock Chef with Dolphins linebacker Reggie Torbor, Lil Wayne"s new blog entry and more.
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