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It’s easy to write about NFL players who have thrown away their talents with poor decisions, a la Michael Vick, and I will admit that I personally love reading and writing about it...

The All-NFL "Good Guys" Team: Offense

by Greg Haefner (Columnist)

22

1,632 reads

Rankings/List

August 23, 2008


It’s easy to write about NFL players who have thrown away their talents with poor decisions, a la Michael Vick, and I will admit that I personally love reading and writing about it.

But what about the NFL players that do the exact opposite? I’m talking about the guys who help out in the community and selflessly give, despite the fact that their actions will probably never be publicized nationally.

The time has come for that to change.

Onterrio Smith getting more publicity for his Whizzinator incident than Warrick Dunn got for founding his two charities is criminal.

So, which active players make the list for my “Good Guys” Team?

Let’s start with the offense.

Here’s a list of my starters with their team, and a link to their respective foundations, if they have a website (they deserve some free publicity).

*Note: some players may be placed out of position (OG vs. OT), due to the fact that they are still undeniably deserving to make this list.*

 

QB: Jeff Garcia (Tampa Bay Bucs) — Pass It On Foundation

In addition to being a great NFL QB (four-time Pro Bowler), Jeff Garcia is a great person.

He and his wife, Carmella, founded the “Pass It On Foundation” in May of 2007 and have already made generous donations to:

  • Giving Hope Through Faith Foundation
  • Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
  • Special Olympics Northern California
  • American Cancer Society (Scholarship Program and California Division)
  • Laci and Conner Search and Rescue Fund

 

RB: Warrick Dunn (Tampa Bay Bucs) — Warrick Dunn Foundation

Almost anyone who follows football knows about Warrick Dunn on the field, but he may also be the all-around best guy the league has ever seen.

Dunn founded the Warrick Dunn Foundation, which gives money to various charities, and has raised over $5,000,000 in his efforts.

He also founded the Homes for the Holidays program, which helps single parents purchase homes. Since founding this program in 2004, Dunn has helped 45 single parents and over 120 children in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, and Tampa.

Three charities founded? You better believe it. In 2007, Dunn, along with Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Tony Hawk, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning, and Cal Ripken Jr. founded Athletes for Hope

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22 comments Last one added 10 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Andrew Mason 10 months ago

    very nice article. Thank you for pointing out that there are good NFL players who do good things and never receive any praise or credit.

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  2. michael szego 10 months ago

    Fabulous ! This is the variety of article the mainstream media oughta do more often.

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  3. Bruce Dickenson 10 months ago

    Chad Pennington, Wayne Chrebet, and Curtis Martin. All class acts.

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  4. russ autin 10 months ago

    good story ,i'm from baton rouge,dunn's home town .his mother was a police officer ,horribly killed in the line of duty,i think she would be proud.

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  5. Scott Harris 10 months ago

    What a great article. Pick of the day!

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  6. Oliver Ellis 10 months ago

    Great article.

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  7. MJ Kasprzak 10 months ago

    Perfect poster boy, too--he doesn't even want to answer questions on his charity work anymore because he doesn't want the attention. One of my favourite people in any sport.

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  8. David Arreola 10 months ago

    add an honorable mention
    The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation. one of the strongest in the mississippi area.

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  9. S M Napier 10 months ago

    Great article, gave you 5 Stars and POTD. Add Roberto Garza to your offense. Here's a few for the Defense John Lynch, Charles Tillman, Patrick Willis just to mention a few.

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  10. Jeremy Kaufman 10 months ago

    It's nice to see an article about the positive actions of pro- athletes in our society rather than the negative ones for once. Good job.

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  11. Chris Allen 10 months ago

    I totally agree wiith you. It is not right for Micheal Vick to be heard of for his bad off feildbehaviour but no credit given to atheletes who use their fame for the benifit of helping the less fortunate. Athletes who help in the community should be noticed and promoted more often. The only times I have ever heard about athletes in the community is the United Way commercials on the NFL network. Its great to know that athletes are trying to make their communities a better place.

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  12. Spenser T. Harrison 10 months ago

    If the NFL was made up of solely "good guys" its would be 102371283719857134 times less exciting and entertaining. Very good article though.

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    • L.J. Burgess 10 months ago

      I could agree with you if there were some bank robberies, jewel heists or le coup d'état in Central America type stuff.

      The shootings, strip club adventures and DUI/drug stuff is so common now it's...boooring.

      Gimme a helicopter chase for cripe's sake.

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    • Daniel Muth 10 months ago

      Well, there was the "Bronco" chase with helicopter coverage. Oh Juice were have the good times gone?

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  13. Team W 10 months ago

    Does anyone know the name of the NFL player who already had founded a charity for the rehabilitation of dog fighting dogs before the whole Vick thing? I think that guy should get some credit for tacking a problem before it was popular to do so.

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    • Greg Haefner 10 months ago

      Yes I do. His name is Jarrod Cooper and he is a safety (recently cut by the Oakland Raiders). He founded the Help Code 597 Foundation for animal abuse and neglect.

      He almost made my team for defense, but there are so many deserving players it's very difficult to choose.

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  14. Team W 10 months ago

    Thanks!

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  15. Joshua Joffrion 10 months ago

    I personally think that Drew Brees is a far better quarterback that Jeff Garcia and he is known as one of the friendliest guys in the NFL. Where is he? He has a foundaion called the Brees Dream Foundation (see drewbrees.com).

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    • Greg Haefner 10 months ago

      I agree that Brees is a great guy and one of the top QB's in the league, but there is only so much space on the roster, and I think that over his career Garcia has been more charitable and helpful in his community.

      Rest assured, Brees was #2, followed by Brett Favre at #3

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