From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.

(09-24-2017 08:53 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.

And I bet he stood for the National Anthem.

I'm officially done with the nfl

(09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  I'm officially done with the nfl

I was done last year. This year is even worse.

(09-24-2017 09:07 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 08:53 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  From West Point where he played for Army to being undrafted, to Afghanistan 3 times to playing in the NFL today. This man is why it's so important to give Army, Navy and Air Force players credit for what they have to go through to play the he sport we all love. What an American story. I'm so proud to say he played at Army.

And I bet he stood for the National Anthem.

Didn't say one word about that nor will I. Today's game his team didn't enter the field until after. He walked out to the edge of the tunnel.
I'm glad that because of this, his story will be told. His story isn't well known. Now it will be. He's 1 of 3 NFL players who served in the military. He played football at Army. He's a great man. It's sad that his story and service will now only be told because of this, but his story is very interesting to some of us. I thought the Navy poster on here would like this tribute.

I like the Villanueva story.
He was actually still a rough, unfinished product as a football player while at Army West Point - came to the game late, moved from TE to D-Line to O-Line back to TE/WR - or he might have been more of a factor in college. He still got attention for being a 6'10" athlete with diverse skills as a former rugby/soccer standout.

Anyway, his story of serving and THEN returning to his athletic dreams is the right story the service academies should want. I group him with Billy Hurley III Mitch Harris in recent memory in doing the full obligation, with the addition, that, yeah, he kind of kicked ass as an Army Ranger.

I'm a little surprised you say his story is not well known, because it seems like it's been force fed, but maybe I have different filters set.

Again, I'm a fan and I prefer this type of storyline slightly to a David Robinson esque 2 years, but both are preferable to 0 active all reserve.

Edited to add: He really seems like a genuinely good dude, too. I mean Hurley, Reynolds, Cardona, Greenspan, etc all seem to be too, but I didn't want to lose that, either. Seems like a guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.

(09-24-2017 09:22 PM)sfink16 Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  I'm officially done with the nfl

I was done last year. This year is even worse.

The only way to stop the entitled football players is to completely ignore the nfl and not buy from their sponsors.

These protests were all but over. Had to stoke the friggin flame again.

NFL sucks. Just like the NBA. Whiney entitled crybabies

He is in a USAA commercial that airs pretty frequently

(09-24-2017 09:10 PM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  I'm officially done with the nfl

Yep, me too.

(09-24-2017 09:45 PM)slhNavy91 Wrote:  I like the Villanueva story.
He was actually still a rough, unfinished product as a football player while at Army West Point - came to the game late, moved from TE to D-Line to O-Line back to TE/WR - or he might have been more of a factor in college. He still got attention for being a 6'10" athlete with diverse skills as a former rugby/soccer standout.

Anyway, his story of serving and THEN returning to his athletic dreams is the right story the service academies should want. I group him with Billy Hurley III Mitch Harris in recent memory in doing the full obligation, with the addition, that, yeah, he kind of kicked ass as an Army Ranger.

I'm a little surprised you say his story is not well known, because it seems like it's been force fed, but maybe I have different filters set.

Again, I'm a fan and I prefer this type of storyline slightly to a David Robinson esque 2 years, but both are preferable to 0 active all reserve.

Edited to add: He really seems like a genuinely good dude, too. I mean Hurley, Reynolds, Cardona, Greenspan, etc all seem to be too, but I didn't want to lose that, either. Seems like a guy with whom I'd love to have a beer.

Nice post. As a Navy vet, I appreciate stories like this. Much more fun to discuss such, as opposed to the juvenile garbage that takes center stage so often here.

(09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.

(09-25-2017 07:25 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.

That's ridiculous.

(09-25-2017 07:28 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(09-25-2017 07:25 AM)KNIGHTTIME Wrote:  

(09-24-2017 09:35 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

Looks like he is now in trouble with the Steelers coach. Amazing world we live in now to get in trouble for standing for the pledge.

That's ridiculous.

Pittsburgh Kneeler coach believes you have the right to kneel like an idiot, but not stand and honor the flag?

I’d call that proving President Trump right. Wow.

My .02 cents: I remember sitting at my Joint Security Station in the middle of a small town in Iraq in the Fall of 2008. We had just gotten back from a Raid, and I was "winding down" watching Armed Forces Network with my Iraqi interpreter. We were watching the news cover the Presidential Election. My interpreter looked at me and said "Why don't people in America realize how lucky they are? They live in the greatest country in the history of the world, yet they are always complaining." I had no answer for him. I just smiled and said "I don't know," then I went to bed.

(09-25-2017 07:50 AM)fanhood Wrote:  My .02 cents: I remember sitting at my Joint Security Station in the middle of a small town in Iraq in the Fall of 2008. We had just gotten back from a Raid, and I was "winding down" watching Armed Forces Network with my Iraqi interpreter. We were watching the news cover the Presidential Election. My interpreter looked at me and said "Why don't people in America realize how lucky they are? They live in the greatest country in the history of the world, yet they are always complaining." I had no answer for him. I just smiled and said "I don't know," then I went to bed.

Adversity makes men, prosperity makes monsters.

and of course, espn has an article about him kinda in a negative light. some of his teammates thought he was gonna be with them inside, james harrison specifically mentioned this. sad sad times....people want the right to do things, but they don't like when others go against what they want to do.

(09-25-2017 08:07 AM)NTTHOR Wrote:  and of course, espn has an article about him kinda in a negative light. some of his teammates thought he was gonna be with them inside, james harrison specifically mentioned this. sad sad times....people want the right to do things, but they don't like when others go against what they want to do.

Of course the media tries to spin it as something negative. I hope he does it again next week.