NFL HEALTH UPDATE -- JUNE 18, 2014
MIAMI DOLPHINS ROOKIE CLASS AND GENERAL MANAGER DENNIS HICKEY TAKE PART IN SPECIAL OLYMPICS EVENT
The Dolphins rookie class, along with General Manager Dennis Hickey, coached and refereed at a fitness circuit for 45 Special Olympics athletes at University School's Gloria Dei field on Monday.
"I think the athletes are having as much fun as the (Special Olympics athletes) out here," said Hickey. "It's been an emphasis for the Dolphins to be giving back to our community and making an impact. Our guys have done a great job with that this offseason and we look forward to continuing that."
All 31 rookies helped coach the Special Olympics athletes in a game of flag football.
Dolphins first-round draft pick Ja'Wuan James spoke on his experience saying, "This was my first time working with the Special Olympics group-seeing the smiles on everyone's faces, being excited and us celebrating with them -- it was pretty cool."
BEARS HELP TORNADO RECOVERY EFFORT
More than 100 members of the Bears organization traveled to Washington, Illinois recently to help the community's continuing recovery efforts following tornadoes that ripped through the area last November. The group included Bears owner George H. McCaskey, team president and CEO Ted Phillips, the team's rookie class and staff from Rust-Oleum Corporation.
Following a flag raising ceremony at the Washington Town Square with Mayor Gary Manier, the team traveled to Bethany Community Church, where they took part in debris removal.
The Chicago Bears and Bears Care, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bears, provided support to Central Illinois shortly after the tornadoes struck last November through hands-on volunteerism, a monetary donation and personal visits. Rust-Oleum, new partner of the Chicago Bears, had its Rust-Oleum truck filled with primers, paint, stains and aerosols in Washington to assist the community.
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CHRIS DRAFT HONORED BY MASSACHUSSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL CANCER CENTER
NFL veteran Chris Draft was recognized by the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center last week for his efforts to raise awareness and funds for lung cancer research. Draft was saluted, along with other honorees, at the 'one hundred' event sponsored in part by the NFL Foundation. Jonathan and Patti Kraft have led the event for the past four years as committee chairs. Their mother Myra Kraft, a 'one hundred' honoree and wife of New England Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft, passed away from ovarian cancer in 2011. Robert Kraft spoke at the event as well.
"It's an honor to be recognized as part of this event," said Draft. "Amazing things are happening here and Mass General has been on the front lines. And I'm honored to be a part of that."
Through Team Draft, part of the Chris Draft Family Foundation, Draft honors his late wife, Keasha, a non-smoker who was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer in December 2010 passed away the following year.
To learn more about Team Draft, click here. To learn more about the event, click here.
GIANTS HOST FIRST MOMS CLINIC
The Giants hosted their first Moms Clinic on Friday. Attendees learned about heat and hydration precautions, equipment fitting, concussion awareness and proper tackling as part of USA Football's Heads Up Football program.
Gwen Reese, wife of Giants General Manager Jerry Reese, Kate Snee, wife of Giants Offensive Lineman Chris Snee and daughter of Head Coach Tom Coughlin, participated in a panel discussion with Giants safety Stevie Brown and 'football mom' Chris Golic. The conversation focused on the importance of parental engagement in their children's sports, their experiences as 'football moms', and discussion on how football has positively affected their families.
"As a mom you go to the practices, you go to the games, and you don't really know if they are doing the right techniques, if they are doing the right fundamentals," said Reese. "I think a program like this to help train the moms to have that eye, to watch their sons in practice, to make sure they are doing things right, makes everyone more comfortable."
"Most of the youth coaches are volunteer parents, just trying to give their time to the kids, and to the team," Reese said. "So to know that they have to be trained and certified (through Heads Up Football) is awesome."
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS PARTICIPATE IN MEDICINE AND MIRACLES CELEBRITY DINNER
Children's Miracle Network Hospitals recently hosted the 13th Annual Medicine and Miracles Celebrity Dinner in partnership with the Jaguars. Hosted by Jaguars General Manager David Caldwell, the event raised $100,000 to support the pediatric programs at Wolfson Children's Hospital and University of Florida Health Jacksonville.
Celebrity waiters for the evening included Jaguars coaches Gus Bradley, Jedd Fisch, Bob Babich, along with players including linebacker Paul Posluszny, wide receiver Cecil Shorts, defensive back Will Blackmon, defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, kicker Josh Scobee, quarterback Blake Bortles, and guard Zane Beadles.
To watch a video of the event, click here.
REDSKINS LAUNCH ROOKIE COMMUNITY CLUB
Washington Redskins rookies visited a Ronald McDonald House this week as part of their Rookie Community Club, delivering goody bags and spending time with children recovering from surgery and serious illness. The Redskins' Rookie Community Club was launched this offseason through the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and with the support of coach Jay Gruden and his staff.
All Rookie Community Club events are specifically designed to highlight signature programs of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation. Past events have included a day of reading at a local elementary school, a PLAY 60 Mini-Combine at a Washington D.C. Boys & Girls Club and a barbeque for wounded and active duty military.
ST. LOUIS RAMS HOST PLAYER SAFETY COACH CLINIC
The Rams recently hosted a Heads Up Football Player Safety Coaches Clinic at the Rams Training Academy for more than 40 youth and high school football coaches in the St. Louis area. Coaches spent time listening to presentations in the classroom and heard from Rams COO and EVP of Football Operations Kevin Demoff about the importance of promoting safe play at the youth level. The clinic included instruction on proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting, concussion awareness and Heads Up Tackling.
NFLPS MEMBERS NAMED IN LIST OF TOP 28 NORTH AMERICAN SPORTS KNEE SURGEONS OF 2014
Orthopedics This Week named the Top 28 North American Sports Knee Surgeons of 2014. The group includes five NFL Physicians Society (NFLPS) members including:
- Matthew J. Matava, M.D., President of the NFLPS and team physician for the St. Louis Rams
- James R. Andrews, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon for the Washington Redskins
- Matthew T. Provencher, M.D., C.D.R., M.C., U.S.N.R., Orthopedic Medical Director for the New England Patriots
- Scott A. Rodeo, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon for the New York Giants
- Russell F. Warren, M.D., Head Team Physician for the New York Giants
"I congratulate my NFLPS colleagues on their impressive accomplishment. It's a great honor to have them as part of the NFLPS team," said Panthers' team doctor, Robert A. Heyer, M.D., who is the incoming NFLPS President in 2015.
The list includes "the finest sports knee physicians, teachers, investigators and administrators in the country." According to Orthopedics This Week, "the information was obtained via a telephone survey of thought leaders in the field."
The full article can be found here.
-- NFL Communications