My Giant Opportunity

Time to go to work. It’s my first week of training camp with the New York Giants. I’ve settled into my new place in Jersey, just across the Hudson from the city. There are a couple other players in the building. It’s a nice, walkable neighborhood and an easy commute to practice. As I look out at the skyline of Manhattan, I feel blessed to be here. For a dorky, asthmatic, overweight kid from Forest, Va., it’s almost like a dream.

I’m looking forward to sharing this adventure through these blog posts. I’ve written here before, but I feel like I’m starting fresh. I enjoy sharing the things I’m passionate about, whether it’s my focus on improving physically, spiritually and intellectually, or just my observations on life and how we live it. Hopefully we can have some smiles together and challenge ourselves to think.

If you know me, you know that I’m all about learning, constantly improving and doing all I can to lead by example. If there’s something that will help me a little, I want a lot of it. I love the challenge of making the right decision both on and off the field. Life is the result of the decisions we make and the promises we keep. Football has given me the opportunity to have an influence. Maybe there’s a kid like me out there that I can inspire.

A couple weeks ago I was at Camp 180, the football camp run by my charitable foundation in Lynchburg. It was our first camp. I was overwhelmed by the spirit of all the volunteers, from fellow NFL players to family members and friends in the community, who stepped up to make it such a positive and memorable experience for 200 youngsters.

I was already humbled by it all when a woman approached me and told me about her son. She said he had been depressed and even talked about suicide. Then he heard about the pudgy young man with asthma and glasses that rode the bench and struggled in school, until someone believed in him and held him accountable. And how that kid earned a scholarship to college and dedicated himself to being a running back in the NFL. That story, she said, turned her son’s life around. So now I’m inspired by him. It doesn’t get much better than that.

I always enjoy going home before training camp starts. Helps me stay grounded. I visit my elementary school playground, my middle school janitors and high school teachers. Mrs. Clark, nearly 100 years old, will be on her front porch like always, and we talk a while. I’ll walk through the stadium at Liberty. Mainly, I spend time with my family – Mom and Dad and my two older brothers, Butch and Bryan. We’re on this journey together. I want them to know how much I love them, and how grateful I am for their support.

I’d also like to thank the Giants organization and coaching staff, especially Coach Coughlin, for the opportunity to prove what I can do. After five years in the league, I feel like I’ve finally arrived in the NFL. I’m not the fastest or most naturally gifted running back out there. But no one has worked or prepared harder, and no one will. That’s a promise to myself that I keep every day.

As I look over at the greatest city in the world, I’m excited about getting started. I’ll blow the physical conditioning test out of the water. Then it’s time for the pads. Time to get to work. For me, this job started a long time ago.