Paralyzed Eric LeGrand Inspires New Tampa Bay Buccaneers Teammates

The Tampa Bay Buccaneer players heard from him first-hand on Tuesday. They heard from a young man that Greg Schiano refers to as "a true hero, a true inspiration"—No. 52, Eric LeGrand.

LeGrand flew in to Tampa for a special visit. He spent time with his team, spoke to them and delivered a preseason message of hope and motivation. He wore his No. 52 jersey, which can now be purchased on Buccaneers.com.

He has started the Eric LeGrand Foundation, which will be involved in spinal cord research. It will help those who sustain those awful injuries but have no insurance. Now that's a jersey worth wearing.

"My next goal is to get back on my feet, and that will happen," LeGrand said at his Buccaneer press conference, every bit the optimist, every bit the inspiration, every bit the positive human being that his coach proclaims him to be.

Compared to LeGrand, these 90 candidates for the 2012 Buccaneer roster have it easy. LeGrand labors each day with the hope of movement. Talk about perspective.

"It made the guys appreciate what they have," LeGrand observed. He told them to be appreciative and to not take things for granted.

Words we should all live by.

"I'll try and be here one or two more times this summer, and I'll be here for the opening game," LeGrand said.

He'll be on the radio again this season in New Jersey, handling commentary for Rutgers football games.

In the meantime, he left them with great words: "Go hard on every play," he told his teammates.

Words to live and play by from No. 52.