It is safe to say the National Football League has had better weeks. Even if you barely follow the league, you would have heard of the disturbing things going on in America’s favorite sport.
Since these events, I, more than most NFL fans, actually want to talk about football because of how well my Chicago Bears played against the San Francisco 49ers. I am also pretty tired of hearing all the negatives about the game I love so much.
Since before the season started and now two weeks in, the NFL has been plagued by a handful players being indicted on domestic abuse charges.
Now, because of these few players doing wrong, you probably had lost sight of the fact that the NFL consists of nearly 1,700 players, many of which are doing special things to help their communities.
Not everyone in this league is bad.
One of my favorites is Bears’ cornerback Charles “Peanut” Tillman. He is one of many that are not only great players but do great things off the field that make them better people.
Tillman, who recently tore his right triceps in the Bears’ 28-20 victory over the 49ers, is most likely out for the remainder of the season.
I read a tweet from ESPN NFL Live host Trey Wingo, who, in hearing of the news of Tillman’s injury said: “Worst part about @peanuttillman news? The league needs MORE guys like him right now…not less. #classact.”
In 2013, Tillman received the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year award, named after the Bears great known for not only his record numbers as a running back but also for his contributions to the Chicago community. Tillman has a laundry list of community achievements he and his wife have done for the Chicago community and places around the world.
His main charity, The Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation, provides services and resources to people who are in need, specifically families that are affected by the many expenses that come with pediatric care. When his own daughter was diagnosed in 2008 with a rare heart condition that required a transplant, Tillman felt called to start the foundation.
These accomplishments only scratch the surface how Tillman has helped over one million people in Chicago since 2005. He’s also just one player of the many who are proactive in their communities.
So I get it, there is a serious problem within the leadership of the NFL, and that it needs to be corrected immediately. But for the people bashing the NFL and all that it stands for, take a step back and look at some of the other things going on in the league. We tend to gravitate towards the negatives, especially when it comes to sports and the media.
But with the many negatives surrounding the sport, there’s no better time than now to find some positives.
