MarquesDouglas's Blog

09
Jan
Only One Team Wins

I remember growing up as child my parents teaching me the importance of telling the truth and never giving anything but my best. Many times as a child I had to struggle just to show I was worthy of being in a regular class, let alone the football field. As I flashed back and recalled memories of staying up late at night for exams in college, I used to think to myself, what if I were to really give my best by applying myself, I would be inferior to no one. I remember not always knowing what it meant to be mature. I thought when I arrived in San Francisco, it was all about me, and little did I know I would be humbled by the presence of Bryant Young and Larry Allen, two potential Hall of Famers. I had to work hard in college to redeem myself from all the excuses I had used my freshmen year. In order for me to have a chance at redemption first in the classroom, and on the field it came at a price. The price of studying and maturing taught me a lot. And as I am still in the process of maturing today, I have realized that after arguably one of my best seasons in the NFL, I would trade in my personal success any day just so my team would have a crack at success. One of the loneliest feelings a player can have is sitting at home watching the NFL's elite teams battle for the ultimate crown. No matter how much money you have in the bank, or cars in the garage, and diamonds around your neck, you still can't buy your way into the playoffs, nobody's watching what you're driving or wearing because you're not playing. Herman Edwards said it so passionately "We Play to Win the Game" nothing less. Nobody respects those teams that don't make it to the playoffs. For those teams that came up short, they will be drastically changed next year. There will be some team later on this year who will make that change. Some team will close the gap, some group of men will band together and learn that it is not about personal goals, it is all about their team. I could never feel at peace with myself after my team finished at 5-11. Eleven Sundays we as a team did not get it done. I remember when there was a time where I was just happy to be in the NFL, wanting to just make a team and have a good start on in life. Now I want to become the best player that my team needs on game day. Whether that is stoping the run or getting pressure on the quaterback, I am at that point where I have learned that the NFL is no place for indivduals; it's all about the team. Yes, many people will go to the Pro Bowl and rightfully so, but only one team will win in Arizona. Who cares how many tackles or sacks you had if your team looses. There is no doubt in my mind I know the guys in Santa Clara (49ers) want to win, and I hope I'm there to show them I want to win also.
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22
Dec
Being Thankful

Many people are currently spending time at their local shopping malls or online, trying to finish up some last minute shopping, so I'll be brief. I've too had my share of standing in line trying to find that one last gift. If there is one thing I love, and that's surprising someone on the 25th with a gift they have always wanted. After spending so many years growing up in a sound household with parents who instilled in me the real meaning of Christmas, it took me along time to really understand. Understand that God has blessed my family and I to be a light for others. While several spend time trying to serenade others with expensive gifts and other objects, most only want the one thing we as athletes have a hard time giving and that's "time". I've always thought that it was easy just to "Write the Check", just tell me how much, and I would try to meet your need. I have lost out big, not taken the chance to understand their true needs, and it has taken me a while to understand that money never really fixes the problem, it just disguise it. But as I've grown, I've learned how to give something much more than just a cash, I've learned how to give them my time. In time, I can try to teach and indoctrinate them like my mother and father taught my brothers and I. I'm no longer engrossed in their "Today", I want others to start thinking about their tomorrow. Because tomorrow will come, whether you are prepared or not. Tomorrow, will have it's own set of challenges. Tomorrow is also where you have to "Man Up"; it's where you can make amends. I've meet so many fans that live and die with our wins and losses, and they don't realize that it's just a game, but what's really important is how you play the game. While our record that stands at 4 wins and 10 losses might not be superlative, but for many of us who cross those white lines on Sunday, we're playing the game with every once of God given talent we have, talent that if you were a true fan you would see. Please don't look at what others say, let's role the film, and you will see the eyes of an veteran that is as dominate in defending the run as "Prime Time" was in stopping pass. I have statistics, but I also have a heart. I'm not going to sell out others for the price of fame. I can't be concerned with what others may say about the 49ers, instead I press toward the "Mark". The mark, as it's pertains to football is the Super Bowl or Pro Bowl, but in life it's being the man that is
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14
Dec
The Game Has Changed?

I am sorry for not cutting the grass in my yard early, but I have shown up today to make sure that by the the time I am done it will be well manicured. The respect we seek as professional athletes is not always given. Just like in life, the best things in life come to those who work hard for them. In the NFL sometimes the best athletes go unnoticed. Instead fans are told who they should cheer for, instead of taking the step to really research who they are actually applauding. For example, a D-Lineman I know of in the League, who is currently tied for 2nd when is comes to tackles, 1st in the category of Tackles for Loss, and among the top in total plays by any D-Lineman. But his local fan base still regards him as just an okay player. Where have the real fans gone? No longer are we interested in someone's "production" we like to hear about his "potential". Just because someone can run fast and jump high doesn't make him a candidate for the Pro-Bowl. A good player should be judged by not one statistical category, but by what he totally brings to the game. Many people don't realize a sack is just a tackle for loss on the quarterback. No longer are the days of glorifying the run stoppers, we would rather interview the "prima madonna's". Fans used to be so protective over their teams, they treated their team athletes like family. Fans used to adhere to the code of not wearing anything but their team's color, cheering for their teams in losses or in victory, and players felt safe in their presence. Loyalty has changed in the NFL. Nowadays coaches leave the jobs just as fast as players. Productive players who want to stay and make their teams a winner are sometimes shown the door, because of the "potential" of others. We are taught to give back to our communities and support them at all cost, but what happens when that support is not reciprocated. Once in a while I come across some real fans, who care more about supporting their teams than their fantasy football rating, fans who can not afford to go to the games so they listen on the radio. Fans who will shake your hand and look you in the eyes. Fans who appreciate where you come from (undrafted) and what you bring to the game. The Game has not only changed on the field, but off as well.
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05
Dec
My Good Friend.

I have been writing over the past few weeks about topics that have been really important to me. Today I would like to tell everyone about a "Good Friend". I first meet my friend at a very early age. At first I thought I was to young to play with him. I remember watching him on Friday nights at my brother's high school. To hang with him, you had to be pretty brave, because the places and friends he hung around with, were "Bad". I always looked up to my brothers and others, because they had a chance to hang around with him. I would look at him, in distances, and always knew I would one day get my chance to meet him face to face. Before I knew him others had informed me of the price they paid just to befriend him. As I grew up I would see him mostly during the winter. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to pay that price that so many others had paid before me. It wasn't until I was in High School I finally start making the transition to paying that price. I remember staying after school with one of my firends and his father and he taught us "his" version of how to lift weights. I did not know that paying the price would mean working so hard just to get a chance at being his friend. Later on I realized that by just knowing him a little, it would give me a chance to go on to further my education and attend Howard University. While still keeping him close, he guided me while I was in school to work hard and position myself to get invited to an NFL team as an undrafted free agent. After college he tried his best to go his seperate way, but I insisted that he stay around for a while. He stayed but the cost once again proved to be high. After 2 ACL surgeries on both my knees, a dislocated elbow, and a host of other issuses, he is still around. And as long as I remain loyal to him I will have to pay. The cost of having him around is costly. He just doesn't tolerate being around average people. There are only 1600 people worldwide who activley spend time with him weekly. We fight at times, he humbles me daily, my friend is not shy at all -- you can watch him on Sundays, Mondays, and occassionally Thurdays. After all he's not only my friend, he might be yours also.
4 Comments
28
Nov
The NFL's Loss

I remember returning a little sore to San Jose on Sunday after a long awaited victory over the Cardinals. As I woke up on Monday, to what is known as a "Win" Monday, it soon became clear that the win was short lived. The news hit the locker room that Sean Taylor had been shot. I immediately said a prayer and thought about his family, teammates, and coaches. As I came into work on Tuesday the news spread through the weight room. Sean Taylor had passed and a feeling of disbelief came across my face. I didn't know him, but when your in the NFL you feel like you know everyone. His death made me remember the hot preseason game in August 2005 against the Broncos. In 2005, the 49er family lost a player in the locker room right after the game. It is customary that all teams, win or lose, say the Lord's prayer after the game. As we sat on our knees, clinching one another's hands, one of our teammates never got up. It is a vision I can see still to this day. As I watched the medical staff attend to Thomas I knew he'd get up, but he didn't. The very site of doctors giving CPR to him and trying to revive him seemed, at the time, unreal. There was a moment when the doctors paused, looked at each other, and decided to move him to the hospital. At that point I knew he was dead. That night, the plane ride was emotional, to say the least. I remember trying to hide my face as the coaches came around to check on us because the tears were just falling. I barely knew Thomas. I had only small conversations with him but still I felt like I lost a brother. I also recalled sitting in my townhome in Maryland, and learing of the death of Pat Tillman. I surfed the TV stations to find out more. The more I learned about his untimely death the more the hurt and the emotion took over. I sat on the floor of my basement and once again had to hide my face. Thomas Herion, Sean Taylor, Pat Tillman, Marquis Hill, Darrent Williams, Derrick Thomas, Reggie White and others are gone too early. Someone has to tell their stories. What made these men great were not their skills on Sunday, but how they lived there life Monday through Saturday. These men were fathers, one was a solider, minister, hall of famers, brothers, colleagues, graduates, trail blazers, christians, friends to some, and husbands to their wives. Their position on their former teams have been filled, fans no longer cheer them on, but what can never be forgotten is what made them great off the field to the people that knew them as family. Rest In Peace
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Only One Team Wins

Being Thankful

The Game Has Changed?

My Good Friend.

The NFL's Loss

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