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This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired NFL linebacker turned actor Stevie Baggs Jr.
In his interview with Easton Jr., Baggs Jr. discussed his partnership with Beyond the Game Health, which contributes to youth in the community. He also spoke about the challenges HBCU players face during the draft process and the changes aimed at improving their visibility.
"I went to a HBCU. I think that hurt me, and then there were 21 teams at my pro day. I had tweaked my hamstring training for the combine and my Pro Day, and my agent told me not to show up," said Baggs Jr. "In the 2004 draft, I was the strongest linebacker. 21 teams coming to an HBCU is unheard of; they were there to see me, and I didn't show up. That also hurt me, because it kind of blocked me a little bit with those organizations."
In college, playing at HBCU Bethune-Cookman University, Baggs Jr. was a three-time All-American, Mel Blount SBN Defensive Player of the Year, and the winner of the Ernie Davis award. He praises recent initiatives supporting HBCU players, such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl, which Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes annually supports.
"I love it. I'm glad that the young men are getting an opportunity to show what they can do and to really get the exposure that they deserve. I had two of my teammates get drafted in the second round. I know it had a lot to do with me coming off the edge," said Baggs Jr. "One was Rashean Mathis, he and I are the only two Three-time All-Americans in Bethune-Cookman history, and then Nick Collins, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. These guys were my two defensive backs. I was the main guy coming off the edge so that they could get the picks."
Baggs Jr. has shifted his focus to helping the next generation of young players develop the right mindset in challenging situations, especially when things don't go their way.
"I think that what you believe is rejection sometimes is your protection. The reason I say that is that all the things I learned, all the things I gained throughout that journey, have helped me become the man I am today, and help out in the community," said Baggs Jr. "Still, people who played with me on every level, whether it was NFL, CFL, Arena, or College, know what it was. Sometimes that's all that really matters: that the people who played against you know what you can do, and now we're making plays in another way by helping young people. That's the most beautiful thing you can do. I have another NFL, it's called New Found Life."
For more information, visit Beyond the Game Health, created by founder Shamekka Marty, which has created a comprehensive experience that equips young athletes with both athletic skills and the knowledge to save lives — their own and others'.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: HBCU players continue striving for more NFL opportunities
Continue reading...
In his interview with Easton Jr., Baggs Jr. discussed his partnership with Beyond the Game Health, which contributes to youth in the community. He also spoke about the challenges HBCU players face during the draft process and the changes aimed at improving their visibility.
"I went to a HBCU. I think that hurt me, and then there were 21 teams at my pro day. I had tweaked my hamstring training for the combine and my Pro Day, and my agent told me not to show up," said Baggs Jr. "In the 2004 draft, I was the strongest linebacker. 21 teams coming to an HBCU is unheard of; they were there to see me, and I didn't show up. That also hurt me, because it kind of blocked me a little bit with those organizations."
In college, playing at HBCU Bethune-Cookman University, Baggs Jr. was a three-time All-American, Mel Blount SBN Defensive Player of the Year, and the winner of the Ernie Davis award. He praises recent initiatives supporting HBCU players, such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl, which Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes annually supports.
"I love it. I'm glad that the young men are getting an opportunity to show what they can do and to really get the exposure that they deserve. I had two of my teammates get drafted in the second round. I know it had a lot to do with me coming off the edge," said Baggs Jr. "One was Rashean Mathis, he and I are the only two Three-time All-Americans in Bethune-Cookman history, and then Nick Collins, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. These guys were my two defensive backs. I was the main guy coming off the edge so that they could get the picks."
Baggs Jr. has shifted his focus to helping the next generation of young players develop the right mindset in challenging situations, especially when things don't go their way.
"I think that what you believe is rejection sometimes is your protection. The reason I say that is that all the things I learned, all the things I gained throughout that journey, have helped me become the man I am today, and help out in the community," said Baggs Jr. "Still, people who played with me on every level, whether it was NFL, CFL, Arena, or College, know what it was. Sometimes that's all that really matters: that the people who played against you know what you can do, and now we're making plays in another way by helping young people. That's the most beautiful thing you can do. I have another NFL, it's called New Found Life."
For more information, visit Beyond the Game Health, created by founder Shamekka Marty, which has created a comprehensive experience that equips young athletes with both athletic skills and the knowledge to save lives — their own and others'.
This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: HBCU players continue striving for more NFL opportunities
Continue reading...
