As Season Kicks Off, NFL Stars Remember First Games

On Wednesday night, the Giants and Cowboys will kick off the National Football league season at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It will be the first time that an NFL game has been played on a Wednesday since 1948.  The NFL season isn’t the only thing that will kick off, as so will the careers of the rookies on the Giants and the Cowboys.

Pro Player Insiders caught up with a handful of NFL players about their first experience playing in an NFL regular season game.  While all their stories were different, each echoed the same thought, playing in the NFL is a privilege and an honor.  It’s an opportunity that should never be taken for granted.

Here are some of the stories and memories of NFL players lucky enough to have had that privilege and their advice for the rookies all over the NFL that will run through the stadium tunnel for the first time in the next ten days.

Kirk Morrison (Buffalo Bills)
NFL Debut: September 8, 2005
Opponent: New England Patriots

Kirk Morrison is from Oakland California, played his college football at San Diego State and was then drafted by the Raiders in 2005.  In 2010, he played one season in Jacksonville before leaving for Buffalo where he currently plays.

Morrison also hosts a radio show on Fox Sports Radio where he often teams up with former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Rob Dibble. For the Bills this season, Morrison should play LOLB and serve as Arthur Moats main back up.

Morrison spoke with Pro Player Insiders about his first NFL game:

“It was a Thursday night game against the Patriots. As a rookie it’s overwhelming with all the fanfare that goes with kickoff.  The game is crazy.  There was a band and at one point the lights went off and the Patriots Super Bowl banner was raised.”

“I played the whole game and had lots of tackles.  It gave me the confidence to know that I could play in the NFL.”

Von Miller (Denver Broncos)
NFL Debut: September 12, 2011
Opponent: Oakland Raiders

Von Miller is from Dallas, Texas, played his college football at Texas A&M and was drafted by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 draft (only Cam Newton was selected ahead of him). As a rookie, Miller was named to the Pro Bowl and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press.

He had 11.5 sacks as a rookie and also added 64 tackles. On his very first play from scrimmage as a rookie, Miller forced a fumble. He was fined three times during his rookie season and is going to have to find a balance between his aggressive style and the new rules implemented by the league to protect the players.

Miller spoke with Pro Player Insiders about his first NFL game:

“We played Monday night against the Raiders.  It was a pretty intense game. We always try and raise the intensity and our level of play against a division rival.  Our offense went out there and fumbled and we battled hard throughout the game.  We lost the opener but worked hard after to make a difference and improve our game.”

Miller gave some advice for rookies making their debut this weekend:

“My advice is just to relax. In college you don’t get preseason games.  So go out and do what you did in pre-season.  The biggest difference is that NFL games are more intense and faster.”

Charlie Batch (Pittsburgh Steelers)
NFL Debut: September 6, 1998
Opponent: Green Bay Packers

Charlie Batch was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, played his college football at Eastern Michigan, and was a second round pick of the Detroit Lions in 1998. He played a few years in Detroit, mostly as a starter, and led the team to the playoffs in 1999. When the team drafted Joey Harrington, Batch was viewed as expendable and was cut. In 2002, he signed with the Steelers where he has won two Super Bowls (XL, XLIII). Today, he is one of the most reliable back up QB’s in the league and has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 60 touchdowns.

Batch spoke with Pro Player Insiders about his first NFL game:

“My first game was at Green Bay and during the pregame I was looking around and all these great names were on the stadium wall and it felt great to be a part of history and tradition.”

Pro Player Insiders asked Batch about preparing for his 15th NFL kickoff:

“Kickoff for the season is always special. Whenever there is a flyover on the first game you know it’s special.  I always look forward to the kickoff game.”

Takeo Spikes (San Diego Chargers)
NFL Debut: September 8, 1998
Opponent: Tennessee Oilers

Takeo Spikes was born in Augusta, Georgia, played his college football at Auburn, and was drafted in the first round of the 1998 draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played four seasons with the Bengals where he was known mostly as the best player on a bad team. He signed as a restricted free agent with the Bills before the 2003 season and the Bengals decided not to match the offer.

Spikes has played in over 200 NFL games but has never had the chance to play in the playoffs. That is an NFL record. He has been named to the Pro Bowl two times and was twice named an NFL All-Pro. He has over 1,000 tackles, 28 sacks, and 19 interceptions in his career with the Bengals, Bills, Eagles, 49ers, and Chargers. Spikes is expected to start at LILB for the Chargers this season.

Spikes spoke with Pro Player Insiders about his first NFL game:

“I was with the Bengals and remember walking in the locker room and seeing the game pants out and the helmets that were polished up ready for us to wear.”

“The big thing for me was being the 13th pick [overall] is different than a first rounder, seconder rounder, and free agent. Have to tell yourself you are going to do it.”

Spikes told Pro Player Insiders what his advice would be for rookies debuting this weekend:

“My advice to the rookies is never let someone else ‘s opinion become your reality.”

Spikes’ thoughts on opening day:

“Being part of opening day is a privilege.  Opening day never gets old. Training camp gets old but not opening day.”

Domonique Foxworth (Retired Player, Current President of NFLPA)
NFL Debut: September 11, 2005
Opponent: Miami Dolphins

Domonique Foxworth was born in Oxford, England, played college football in Maryland, and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2005 draft. In Denver he was a versatile player and was used as a safety, corner, and on special teams. He was also instrumental in the development of the Darrent Williams Memorial Teen Center a tribute to the late Darrent Williams. He had brief stints with the Falcons and the Ravens before retiring in 2011. In his career, he had 266 tackles and 8 interceptions.

Foxworth spoke with Pro Player Insiders about his first NFL game:

“I was a 3rd round pick.  The coach and the fans didn’t’ expect a lot of me. But that’s not how athletes are, so I set my own expectations. At the start of that game, I was deep on the depth chart with four players ahead of me.  But by the 4th quarter, because of injuries, I was in the game.  Coaches always say be prepared because you never know when the opportunity will come.  My opportunity came that night playing by Champ Bailey and that’s where I played for most of my career.”

Foxworth also told Pro Player Insiders he will enjoy watching Bailey this season:

“I think he is reinvigorated with addition of Peyton Manning.  Champ is one of the best in the league. I don’t want to take away from any of the other great guys but Bailey is one of the best.”

-Scottie Graham contributed to this story.

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