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Helmets off to Caleb Campbell

Image details: Detroit Lions Rookie Camp served by picapp.com

Patriotism seems to have taken over in the United States of America. In a strange way, for those of us that lived through the Viet Nam era.

Patriotism during World War II was absolutely necessary, because every man and women was needed to pull off a victory. Go back and look at some of the death totals or read about the needed supplies of men and machines.

Patriotism during Viet Nam changed, because that war dragged on and the USA did not try to win that war. How do you defeat an enemy that lives in a jungle and might not be wearing a uniform? It was sad the way soldiers were treated upon return to the U.S. The public was worn out and failed to appreciate their sacrifice.

Now we have begun to once again see how difficult serving your country can be and how much the soldiers deserve our very best attention.

But what has this to do with Caleb Campbell? Is it more than fans of Navy getting jealous? Is Caleb trying to get out of going to Iraq?

But Campbell, 23, vehemently denies he is trying to get out of going to Iraq or Afghanistan. “They’re saying, ‘Hey, you’re not going to Iraq,’ ” he explains. “It’s like I was on a plane, headed to Iraq, and they pulled me off the plane and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to play NFL football.’ See, what people don’t understand is I’m going to still be commissioned as a second lieutenant, I’m still on active duty. I’m still serving my country, I’m just doing it in a different way. It’s not like I’m the only recruiter in the whole United States Army. I’m part of a recruiting unit. I came to the academy at a time of war. I thought I would be in the middle of it. But I have been given this extraordinary opportunity.”

It seems everyone has an opinion on his career plan. “The worst was a handwritten letter,” says Campbell, a native of Perryton, Texas. “It said, ‘Please don’t do this. How can you look your classmates in the eyes when they are serving their country and going to Iraq and you’re taking the easier way out?’ That hit me . . . But I’d be a fool not to take advantage of this opportunity.”

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The support from those overseas Read more

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Caleb Campbell 13, will get a shot at linebacker with the Detroit Lions

Image details: Army v Navy served by picapp.com

There has been a lot of controversy on Caleb Campbell the Army grad to be, now Detroit Lions draftee. The Army has a policy allowing Army grads to join pro sports with certain conditions and commitments.

Some say he is letting down his fellow grads by not following them to Iraq.

It is a valid argument, but you have to also allow for the fact that he can be good for Army morale as well. E-mails from soldiers in Iraq poured in at the draft and after the draft all being fired up about Caleb Campbell being a potential draft pick and finally a Detroit Lions draft pick.

How about the Tuesday’s he will spend recruiting? Tell me, if you are 18 years old and a Detroit Lions player tells you the Army is a great place to be, wouldn’t that sway your opinion? Isn’t it about time that there was a real role model in the pro ranks?

Isn’t this a win win for the Army, the NFL, and for the Detroit Lions?

So what does Coach Marinelli of the Detroit Lions think?

“I don’t have a whole lot of sentimental,” Marinelli said. “That’s just me. I like guys who run, hit and tackle, and if he does that, then I’m pretty sentimental.”

Marinelli served in the Army in Vietnam. President Matt Millen’s son Marcus was a teammate of Campbell’s at West Point. Campbell is the first Army player drafted by the NFL in more than a decade.

But to say the Lions have Campbell here for anything but football would devalue him as a player and go against what Marinelli has preached.

“He was a draft-eligible player,” Marinelli said. “My job is to find guys who can play football, and if he’s draft-eligible, you would expect me to find him.”
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NFL Football special comment Not a lot of 7th rounders have made the Lions roster. Campbell will be tried at linebacker, a position he did not play, but a position the Lions are not very deep.

Be sure to check out my companion blog at NBA Obsessed.

As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.

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NFL Football at its best. NFL Football at its craziest.
The crowd at the draft was going crazy. The shouts of Caaaaaa-leb Caaaaaampbell were repeated by individuals wearing all different team uniforms. Soldiers are popular these days and they should be.

It does not matter what you think of the war in Iraq, it takes a brave and dedicated individual to represent and defend their country. Caleb Campbell is that kind of man and Coach Rod Marinelli recognized his character and his ability to play football.

Campbell is the first Army football player to benefit from a new policy allowing athletes with a chance to play professionally to complete their service by serving as recruiters and in the reserves.

Campbell will still be on active duty. He’ll serve as a recruiter, spending his Tuesday off days from the Lions visiting high schools and working. If his career lasts more than two seasons, he will have the option of buying out the last three years of his active-duty commitment in exchange for six years in the reserves.

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Not only was Caleb on the TV long before he was drafted, with an interview, but they brought him back for another interview after he was drafted in the 7th round by the Detroit Lions.

During the second interview, Coach Rod Marinelli of the Lions was brought on TV as well. Marinelli is a Vietnam vet and that was what all of us thought he would talk about, but he did not. All Marinelli wanted to talk about was Caleb’s football ability.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli, who served a tour in Vietnam, said on TV that picking the 6-foot-2, 229-pound Campbell was no flyer, and that the former Black Knights defensive back would be used as a linebacker, at least initially. The son of GM Matt Millen is a cadet at West Point.

Campbell “embodies what the academy is all about, and that’s what everyone in this country should be trying to be,” Millen said. “He’s got skills, he’s got desire and he’s going to get a great opportunity.”

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Caleb was a safety at Army and will be a linebacker for the Detroit Lions and he was excited by all the fans!

“This is incredible,” Campbell said. “It gives me goosebumps. It’s awesome.”

NFL Football special comment This was definitely the highlight of day two of the draft.

Be sure to check out my companion blog at NBA Obsessed.

As always, any NFL Football related comments are welcome.

More blogs about football.