NFL player McAfee a former vaulter
Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 2:57 pm
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs. ... 9/0/SPORTS
It is. [Fred] McAfee, 38, and hoping to play his 16th NFL season for the Saints, has an effervescence about him that is at once disarming and endearing. He's one of those rare people who makes everyone around him smile. That includes the fans, who line up for autographs and photos after every Saints practice. McAfee won't leave until all are satisfied. Same goes for sports writers.
One moment, he's calling Bush, "a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed rookie." The next moment he's calling himself "a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 16-year veteran."
And the next, McAfee is saying, "I describe my life as sort of Forrest Gump-ish. Every day is like opening a box of chocolates and you never know what you're going to get."
"Huh?" an interviewer asks.
"What I mean is, my life is full of surprises," McAfee says. "I never knew what a pole vault was, and then I went out for track in high school, the coach handed me one and I became a two-time state champion. I didn't play high school football until I was a senior and then here I am in the NFL for 16 years. Who would have thought that? I was a running back in high school and college, and never played a lick of defense. And now, for years, I've made a living tackling people on special teams.
"You know, I never meant to play this game this long, but I just love to play football. I can't explain how or why my body has allowed me to do it. I guess it's just good genes from my mama and daddy. I don't think I look 38 and I know I don't feel it."
It is. [Fred] McAfee, 38, and hoping to play his 16th NFL season for the Saints, has an effervescence about him that is at once disarming and endearing. He's one of those rare people who makes everyone around him smile. That includes the fans, who line up for autographs and photos after every Saints practice. McAfee won't leave until all are satisfied. Same goes for sports writers.
One moment, he's calling Bush, "a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed rookie." The next moment he's calling himself "a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 16-year veteran."
And the next, McAfee is saying, "I describe my life as sort of Forrest Gump-ish. Every day is like opening a box of chocolates and you never know what you're going to get."
"Huh?" an interviewer asks.
"What I mean is, my life is full of surprises," McAfee says. "I never knew what a pole vault was, and then I went out for track in high school, the coach handed me one and I became a two-time state champion. I didn't play high school football until I was a senior and then here I am in the NFL for 16 years. Who would have thought that? I was a running back in high school and college, and never played a lick of defense. And now, for years, I've made a living tackling people on special teams.
"You know, I never meant to play this game this long, but I just love to play football. I can't explain how or why my body has allowed me to do it. I guess it's just good genes from my mama and daddy. I don't think I look 38 and I know I don't feel it."
