One Giant Step

The New York Football Giants signed Mark Herzlich, an undrafted rookie linebacker out of Boston College, to a contract today.  This probably didn't even register on the radar of most football fans but it should have.  Not because the Giants are the best team in the world, this is a biased opinion, but because of Herzlich's story.  If you don't know it, which if you are a sports fan you should, you are about to hear it.

Two seasons ago as a junior Herzlich was the ACC defensive player of the year and was expected to be a first round pick in the NFL draft.  He decided to return to school for his senior year.  Shortly after making the decision he noticed that something just wasn't quite right with his health.  He was soon diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.  He sat out the 2009 football season to have treatment and surgery to have a rod placed in his femur.  He also served as a student assistant coach and inspiration to his teammates.

Mark returned to the field for the 2010 season and despite missing a year of football had a successful season recording 65 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 4 interceptions.  He was expected to be taken in the later rounds of this years NFL draft.  And though he was one of about 30 players invited to attend the event he went undrafted.  Being the 1st free agent signed by the Giants after the lockout was ended now means that he will still get to live out his NFL dream.

Herzlich will play with a chip on his shoulder because he was not drafted and an inspiration that few of us could ever imagine having had football and nearly his life taken from him.  I will be rooting for Herzlich to succeed not because I am Giants fan but because I'm a human fan.  Tough not to cheer for someone who's overcome so much to do the thing that he loves.