Football Update

Well, I haven't mentioned much about football all year.  There's a reason for that.  There really isn't a whole lot to tell.  After the season, Ben really did some soul searching about whether or not he even wanted to play another year, but in the end decided he wanted one more season to "smell the roses," one more time to enjoy training camp, one more time to go to dinners with the guys, one more time to run through tunnels, to hear the crowd, one more time to take in all that has been for the last ten years.  He became a free agent in March.  The Panthers did offer him a contract, but to be honest, with Ben contemplating returning at all, and what they were offering, it just wasn't worth it at the time.  What they were offering was something he could get in August from any other team, so we decided it would be better to see if there were other teams that would be interested and possibly offer a more secure contract throughout the summer.  In May he had a workout with the Patriots.  It went well and he was happy to have a good workout.  Nothing came of it at the time.  There really wasn't anything going on during the summer.  He was supposedly on lots of teams "short lists," but nothing came about.  Towards the end of July, just after training camp opened up, it looked like the Patriots were going to sign him.  They called and we were working out details, but when they were supposed to call us back on a Sunday, they never did, and wouldn't return calls until the following Wednesday and basically said the didn't want him.  Ups and downs.  Always with the NFL.  A couple weeks later, they called back and this time we agreed to terms although we were very skeptical.  The deal was sketchy and so were all our times interacting with them.  Our hope was he would go, have a good camp, get some game film out there showing that this old guy could still play and contribute, even if the Pats did cut him.  So, last Sunday he flew up to Boston to join training camp.  These girls had mixed emotions about their daddy leaving.  We have had a wonderful spring and summer with him around and getting to do things that he normally isn't around to do.  So even though it was a good thing for him to be going, they didn't want their daddy gone.

Unbeknownst to us, when he got there they were signing two other tight ends as well.  Did I say we were skeptical of this deal from the get go?

Admittedly, he wasn't mistake free, but he felt good about his efforts even though he felt like things weren't going his way.  The other guy was getting more reps, more "atta-boys" from the coaches.  Then, just like that, the turk was waiting for him yesterday morning on the way into the facility.  The day before a preseason game, his chance to show he could still play, but such was not the plan.  He was home that night.  We, of course, were so happy to see him!  He was disappointed, but not down.  I'm so proud of his attitude about it all and thankful that he has such a peace about whatever happens.  He obviously wants to play, but we are excited about the next chapter of life too.  More waiting around.  I think that's going to be happening a lot this season.