2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Practices

Story by L.T.Willis

2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl National Team head coach
Dick Vermeil. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

The 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl practices the first two days got off to a great start, as the National Team head coach Dick Vermeil taken a stroll across the turf football field provided by Astro Turf Company at The Home Depot Center in Carson California. His counter part American Team head coach Herm Edwards to follow after their practice.

Players from across the country being grateful for being invited to play in the 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game, and for the players from the colder regions, they were in heaven being in sunny California, and giving a chance to impress NFL scouts, hoping to be invited to a NFL tryout or being drafted in the 2013 NFL draft.

Having two great former NFL coaches and former NFL players sharing with them about the life in the NFL, the hard work on the field, but growing up to be men off the field was even more important, which is the main reason for this bowl game being form by the NFLPA, to help prepare young men for life after football.

2013 NFLPA American Team head coach
Herm Edwards.Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

Fort Valley #84 Christopher Slaughter and
former Washington Redskins Art Monk.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The coaching staff of former players such as Isaac Bruce, Erick Hicks, Priest Holmes, Bill Bradley, Bob Saunders,Terry Shea, Art Monk. Darryl Green, Tony Wagge, Martin Bayless, John Embree are just a few names of former players taken the time to give back. Several players on the rosters grew up right her in California, Brad Sorensen quarterback from Southern Utah Grand Terrace Ca, Jordan Rodgers quarterback from Vanderbilt Chico CA, James Nelson offensive tackle from University of Texas Ventura Ca, and UCLA's David Allen running back from South Pasadena just to name a few.

During the practices players are doing agility drills, offensive linemen and defensive linemen working on blocking and pass rushing schemes, and several inner squad scrimmages to get players ready for game day. Also did i mention a lot of friendly conversations among players from opposing teams, kept the spirits of practices very high and emotional, as players were getting ready for battle with less than two days away.

University of Wyoming #70 Mike Purcell and  South Carolina #77 Byron Jerideau.
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

So many of young players will now have a better chance to make int in the NFL because of what the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl really stands for, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and his staff are doing something that has been needed for a very long time, a mentor program to help these players have a fruitful life after professional football, to become future business men in their communities, better husbands, better fathers, better men and to not forgetting to come back to become mentors as well.

Their greatest challenge is knowing that they will have to compete at a higher level, practice against players that are just as big and faster, they already have slight edge on the other players who are playing in other senior bowl games, They can talked face to face with with the president of the NFLPA, a Super Bowl Champion coach Dick Vermeil from the St. Louis Rams, former Kansas City Chiefs coach Herm Edwards and other former players, and get straight answer on what it takes to be a man in the NFL.

UCLA's #26 David Allen. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Whatever the outcome of the game on Saturday in the 2013 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game their will be no losers, but only winners on both sides, to get first hand knowledge on the life in the NFL, to have former players coach you for three fun days of practices, to meet young men from other regions of the country is priceless. For more photos from the practices go to www.tgsportstv.com, click on Photo Gallery and scroll down to 2013 NFLPA practices. All Photos were by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.