Shutdown Corner - NFL

Shutdown Corner

Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:31 am EST

NFL players doing good: Former Bucs team to build houses

By Chris Chase

Between Plaxico Burress' gun charge, Michael Vick being back in court, suspensions for Pro Bowl players, players getting held up at gunpoint and the horror of watching that Lions game on Thanksgiving, it's been a rough week for the NFL. That's why, on this Wednesday morning, we thought it'd be nice to take a break from all that to focus on NFL players who aren't in trouble and actually do good work for their communities.

In Tampa yesterday, Buccaneer RB Warrick Dunn and ex-Bucs Shelton Quarles and former Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams kicked off Habitat for Humanity's SuperBuild program, which will construct six houses for needy families prior to the Super Bowl. One house will be built entirely on Super Bowl Sunday, with four others to be built during the week leading up to the game, which will be played at Raymond James Stadium.

Volunteers and donations are still needed. If you're inclined to use that money you had planned to spend on a Plaxico jersey, check out the program's website.

By the way, to all those who complain about the over-saturation of Plaxico coverage, take note: This post will get half the attention it would have had it been about the Burress case. As the incessant Plax updates get lapped up by an eager public, it becomes apparent that NFL fans are just as interested in celebrity gossip as the average US Weekly reader.

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34 Comments

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  1. Jamie Mottram
    1. Posted by Jamie Mottram Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:28 pm EDT

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    Doug Williams knows a thing or two about doing good on Super Bowl Sunday.
  2. First L
    2. Posted by First L Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:38 pm EDT

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    A worthy cause ,no doubt. It also decreases the chance of more Burress incidents.....
  3. domenick2x
    3. Posted by domenick2x Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    "This post will get half the attention it would have had it been about the Burress case."
    Yeah, because there's nothing to debate here. Find me someone who's AGAINST Habitat for Humanity, and is also able to run a computer and keyboard. THEN we'll pump this like nobody's business!
  4. Mark v
    4. Posted by Mark v Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    warrick dunn isn't just the classiest person in the nfl, he is one of the classiest people i've had the pleasure of reading about. i love stories like this where you don't hear about all the negative bs, but of course the author has to throw at least a little bit about that in there. why not instead of comparing these great guys with idiots like vick and burress, just give them their own article without bringing up anybody elses names. these 3 deserve the recognition and i am more than happy to support anything they do.
  5. Mark v
    5. Posted by Mark v Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    and Chris,
    please don't lump all NFL fans together saying they are the same as US Weekly readers. I love the game, and love stories like this but am sick and tired of the negative stories overtaking all sports sites. That is why I don't watch very much sports tv anymore and just go on the internet to pick and choose what I want to read.
    The casual NFL fan eats the crap up, the true fans care more about the game itself then all the BS surrounding it.
    All for ratings and page hits though huh?
  6. manorgod13
    6. Posted by manorgod13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:05 pm EDT

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    It's good to read about the good guys,,,,it's good to know that not all nfl players belong to the "" national felon league ""
    #5---that's whats up.....
  7. Will
    7. Posted by Will Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:25 pm EDT

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    On first and second glances, I thought Warrick was one of the kids in picture! He does do good work, though.
  8. Pat Riot
    8. Posted by Pat Riot Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

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    Hey Chris thanks for a breath of fresh air.....Plaxico Burasssss was funking the place up. The Giants should take some of that money that they will not be giving to moron of the year and donate it to this cause.
  9. Bucs_fan_since_78
    9. Posted by Bucs_fan_since_78 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    These are reasons why it's great to be a Buc fan even though we may not be in the Super Bowl mix every year.
    On the Bucs, character counts.
    Not to mention more than one "troublemaker" who has come to the Bucs and found redemption. The Bucs are a big part of and positive influence in the Tampa Bay community. If the Bucs ever move, we'll lose more than a football team.
  10. Bucs_fan_since_78
    10. Posted by Bucs_fan_since_78 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    Warrick may be small, but he casts a giant shadow with the good community work he does!
  11. ArchaeoNut
    11. Posted by ArchaeoNut Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    warrick dunn has been doing this work for over a dozen years and does it on down-low on purpose. he has never done it for the press, class A all the way.
    and why oh why did you have to waste the first paragraph of this to remind us of the chuckleheads that are already getting more than their fair share of the ink.
  12. Banzai Pipeline
    12. Posted by Banzai Pipeline Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:42 pm EDT

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    Just like in everday life, you come across good people and bad people.
    The problem is, the media and people watching/reading seemed to be fascinated with the train wreck stories. Violence, guns, drugs and sex sells ratings. It's nice to see a story like this, or shows like 'Extreme Makeover'. Maybe we should all look in the mirror once in a while, and do some good for someone.
  13. Scott E
    13. Posted by Scott E Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:34 pm EDT

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    Chris - I don't think a bunch of gossipy folks is at the root of the interest in the Burress incident. It merely begs the question: Why doesn't the English language have a word for schadenfreude?
  14. Permanent4
    14. Posted by Permanent4 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:38 pm EDT

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    "On the Bucs, character counts."
    This from a fan of the team that re-signed Jerramy Stevens? Really?
  15. carterlovepie
    15. Posted by carterlovepie Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

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    Just proud to be a buc fan!
  16. Chris C
    16. Posted by Chris C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:24 pm EDT

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    Yeah, I didn't mean to lump all NFL fans in with US Weekly readers (not that there's anything wrong with reading US Weekly), but there is a striking parallel between being fascinated with Plaxico and, say, Britney. The love of watching a train wreck, or something like that. I guess people are always interested in hearing about problems that are bigger than their own.
  17. Mark v
    17. Posted by Mark v Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:08 pm EDT

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    Chris,
    I understand that because obviously people love reading about and seeing all this negative BS, but being a true sports fan it makes me sick that someone getting a DWI, or whatever is bigger story then a last second win during a great game. I'm not going to lie, I read some of the stuff and even comment on a few things, but I can tell ya my day wouldn't be ruined if I didn't have to hear about off field issues for one day!!!
    Other than that keep up the good work and I think you should try to dedicate at least one post a week to a positive influence in the NFL, and maybe you could be considered a trendsetter in the blogging community.
  18. Ricardo M
    18. Posted by Ricardo M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:52 pm EDT

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    Chris is my God and I am his follower. Well put with the whole "this will get half the response..." comment. Actually...it didn't even make half haha. Which to me is even funnier. Anyways, good to know that NFL players are out doing good. They just need to work on the acting skills when they run all those Boys and Girls Club commericials.
  19. samzelver1
    19. Posted by samzelver1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

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    warrick dunn is an awesome human being.
  20. fairplay
    20. Posted by fairplay Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    It is a shame that the thugs get all of the headlines. Go Bucs.
    Ricardo M. is right. Acting lessons are needed.
  21. Dave P
    21. Posted by Dave P Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    finally an interesting article..even if you had to copy it from a real journalist
  22. xfgh g
    22. Posted by xfgh g Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:39 pm EDT

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    http://johsportsmecca.blogspot.com/
    Check out the blog, just starting it up...check it out...first time doing something like it but i hope to keep getting better and improving...
  23. Jerichon
    23. Posted by Jerichon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    Population control is the key. Too many children are being born into poverty.
  24. Shane
    24. Posted by Shane Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:16 pm EDT

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    Living in Baton Rouge, I have seen first hand the kindness of Warrick Dunn. The guy is a stand up man and supports a community that embraced his mother who was killed in the line of duty as a police officer. Maybe more of the multi-millionaire NFL players can take a page out of Warrick's book and do some good in their community instead of carrying concealed weapons or pimp slapping their girlfriends. Good job Warrick.
  25. Robert M
    25. Posted by Robert M Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:27 pm EDT

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    7 rules - yes they do.
    Warrick Dunn is just a classy individual as no matter where he goes he gives
    back to the community. His mother sure raised him right and would be very
    proud of the man he has become and is.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
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