Four NFL players team up to coach at ninth annual 'Family Football Clinic'

BY RYAN METZ

Times Correspondent

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS | Fred McCrary typically doesn't like to wear the ring he won in Super Bowl XXXVIII as a fullback for the New England Patriots.

But when his former teammate Rodney Harrison asked him to help with his ninth annual "Family Football Clinic" on Saturday at Hillcrest High School, McCrary thought it might be a good idea to take out the flashy piece of jewelry.

"Whichever kid hustled the most during the drill, I let them put it on and take a picture with it," McCrary said. "They can put the picture on their dresser and have something to shoot for."

Harrison and McCrary teamed up with NFL players Jason Avant (Eagles) and Marquice Cole (Jets) to coach more than 250 participants.

"Nine years ago we started with 33 kids," said the two-time Super Bowl champion Harrison, who graduated from Marian Catholic. "Now with the help of everyone here, we have over 250 kids. We interact and let the kids know that we're human. We grew up just like they did. If they focus and keep their priorities in order, they can achieve good things.

"I'm preaching education because you're probably not going to the NFL. You're probably not going to shoot 3-pointers for the Cleveland Cavaliers, so you better get your education and you better respect people."

Drills were taught by the NFL players in stations, with each camper getting a chance to learn the basics.

"We come out here to teach basic drills and fundamentals that hopefully that these kids can take away some of the basic stuff with drills used in the NFL," said Hillcrest coach Earnest Sutton, who grew up with Harrison in Markham.

"They told me I just got to work on my grades and keep doing good in school," said Dallvin Echols, 13, of Sauk Village.

"It helps the community tremendously," McCrary said. "You always hear about all the negative stuff, but there are so many positive football players. Ninety-nine percent of them are doing positive things. It's just there are a couple rotten apples in the barrel, but it gives the NFL a bad name."

Published in the Northwest Indiana Times on June 28, 2009.