Another Kind of History Lesson

Throughout the 2013 NFL season, I have had the privilege of penning a column called “History Lesson” each week for this site. The idea was to take a matchup on the schedule and go back and reminisce about the time the clubs squared off in the distant or not-so-distant past.

During the National Football League Player Association’s annual Super Bowl state of the union address, there were tributes to not only the past but the immediate future.

There’s no question that NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and his staff have the best interest of both today’s and yesteryear’s performers in mind. And the organization continues to move forward in both matters.

One of the highlights of the press conference was an entertaining video presentation featuring former NFL players defensive tackle Anthony “Spice” Adams, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and offensive lineman Chester Pitts and what the NFLPA is doing to help players transition from everyday football to everyday life. From a new profession to nutrition to a former player’s mental state, it’s an all-encompassing program with these men’s best interest in mind.

“The Trust,” formed back in November, is a program attempting to make life easier for those players and their families. This is far from breaking news but even the best of players have relatively short playing careers compared to what life has in store for them.

Still, even though Super Bowl XLVIII is foremost in most football fans and the media’s mind this week, there were still questions to be answered this afternoon. The subjects were familiar; from player safety and HGH testing to expanding the playoffs and the seemingly never-ending Jonathan Martin saga.

But the highlight on Thursday, at least in this writer’s eyes, was the announcement of the NFLPA’s commitment to and partnership with the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, a new addition to the fabled Smithsonian Institution reportedly scheduled to open in more than a year. There will be a yearly contribution by the NFLPA and this day, director Lonnie Bunch accepted a generous contribution from a few of this Sunday’s participants in Super Bowl XLVIII,

Both the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos saw two players from each of their teams (Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman and Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and outside linebacker Von Miller) donate jerseys to the museum. As has been the theme, recognizing the game’s past and its future is a very big component for this organization.

So as we look forward and back to Super Bowl Sunday and the seasons beyond, we were reminded by Smith that NFL free agency is now 20 years old. We were also reminded that if this game is continue to thrive and be as popular as it is, we have to take care of the most important entity when it comes to the game itself. And that includes those days where walking in and out of a locker room and running on and off a football field is no longer a daily ritual.