Yes, Decency Still Exists In The NFL – An Ode To Devin Hester And All That Is Still Good In The Game

Since we last spoke a week ago, well, things really haven’t much improved in the NFL. There seems to have been a snowball effect with regards to fickle decision-making. Roger Goodell is still MIA. Beer companies are on their high horses and also apparently mean more to the NFL than the fans. OUR PETS’ HEADS ARE FALLING OFF![1]

But then, something magical last night happened. A couple of my dearest friends came over to watch Thursday Night Football. It appeared to be an immediate blowout, so given that we hadn’t seen each other in a while, and Julio Jones had already garnered around 28 points for my friend’s fantasy team, we headed outside to drink some wine like the classy ladies we are (cough). I know, typical female sports columnist, right?! The game was still on the T.V., of course, and we’d peaked over to determine whether or not there should have been a mercy rule applied. But somehow we missed the really really really important thing that happened during the game.

I walked back inside and I was trying to figure out why the hell Devin Hester and Deion Sanders were crying during a post-game interview. WHAT IS HAPPENING? Thank the football gods for constant graphics and updates; I quickly learned Mr. Hester broke Deion’s record for all-time career touchdown returns. Under his banner, and in his house for that matter!

I frequently mention relationship between “traditional” masculinity and the NFL and how that impacts management, coaches, the players, and how the fans perceive the sports altogether. Aside from the over-mic’ed fans yelling “DEVIN HESTER” over and over, this moment between these two men (two very masculine, athletic, celebrity men) was one of the most endearingly raw, affectionate things the NFL has seen in a long time that didn’t already come with some sort of political overtone baggage. And it may have saved the NFL (at least for one day) from its self-imposed media meltdown.

You guys, this is a dark time in one of our most beloved sports. Addressing domestic violence was clearly long overdue, but there are wonderful people in these organizations that deserve to be celebrated in moments of glory like this. Did you know that Hester overcame depression following his mother’s severe injury in a car accident and his father’s death from cancer – both of which occurred before he was a teenager? Here in the Pacific Northwest, we are well aware of the inherent goodness in our players. Russell Wilson (frequently with other Hawks in tow) takes a trip to Seattle Children’s Hospital every Tuesday to visit several mini-12s. Both Richard Sherman and Marshawn Lynch run their own foundations to benefit inner city youth of color, statistically more at-risk to end up in prison due to socio-economic issues that continue to plague their communities. Christine Michael took a girl who bravely battled through high school with autism to prom. Derrick Coleman overcame deafness to win a Super Bowl ring.

I don’t mention these examples of charity to diminish the transgressions of the NFL. I am a firm believer that instances of violence and abuse need to be mitigated through better access to mental health counseling and support from the organizations (i.e. Brandon Marshall, anyone?). However, if we are to continue our support of the NFL, our best hope is to focus on the players themselves. They are the ones that work tirelessly to entertain us every weekend. They inspire us through their own hard work, unique pasts, and personal quirks to put their names on our backs. Let’s just hope there’s an overhaul on everything else so I don’t have to waste away on Sundays watching reruns of True Detective to finally understand what future Matthew McConaughey is saying in an act of protest.