I remember personally, draft day. My name during that long weekend never got called. While sitting on my parents' couch in Greensboro, North Carolina, I wanted so badly for the commissioner to call my name, but that never happened. While driving back to school, James Harris, Director of Personnel, called and offered me a free agent contract. Later on that week I signed a contract to join the Baltimore Ravens, with no signing bonus. I remember leaving for camp and taking everything I owned because I knew I was not coming home. Through 2 ACL surgeries and NFL Europe, nine years later I am still somewhat waiting for someone to recognize my talent, and we are a pretty good team that has some growing pains. I think Bryant Young said it the best a couple days ago, "There are no moral victories in football". We are supposed to play hard, be on time, and give 100% everyday. When I am on the field, I love playing against guys who were drafted, the big time All-Americans, and other celebrity athletes. At the end of the game, what is more important to me than any paycheck, endorsement deal, and any television camera, is the respect I get from other players; the look I get from coaches when they want to see whose face is under the helmet. The stare from your compettion when you're warming up before the game because they know I play with every ounce of passion in my body. I play hard because players like Willie Roaf and John Ogden made me play that way in practice everyday. I play for the coaches who work 70 plus hours a week. I play for Athletes from smaller schools because I want to pave the way for them, for those fans who can not afford a ticket to the game. I also play for those former athletes who are no longer in the NFL. I remember sitting and watching old NFL highlight films, on VHS tapes at Howard University, listening to John Randle, L.T., Reggie White and others talk about the game. I always thought about what could I do to make it, and be successful. Those thoughts made me realize that I had to be "true to the game", I could not cheat it. I was going to have to come early and stay late, study my compettion, and take advantage of every mistake made by the offense on Sunday. Nine years later I still play for all those reasons. I have a family now, so that means the list only grows, but so does my passion on the field.