Aaron Brooks: The Lone Survivor of Newport News

Aaron Brooks grew up in a dysfunctional family in the town of Newport News, Virginia.  His family didn't have much money, and he grew up buying food with food stamps.  He was born on March 24, 1976.  Aaron Brooks has two cousins who play football.  Their names are Michael and Marcus Vick.  Aaron Brooks was six years older than cousin Michael, and eight years older than Marcus.  Both of his cousins were arguably more athletically gifted than Aaron, but Aaron has had the most successful football career.  Michael and Marcus' careers have been bogged down by legal troubles.  Aaron has never had any kind of legal trouble, which is surprising in sports today; especially from a troubled family.

Michael Vick was supposed to change the way the quarterback position was played.  He did that to an extent, becoming the first quarterback to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.  He never developed into a great passer though, as he only passed for 71 touchdowns to 51 interceptions.  We all know how his career has ended, or at least delayed, by dogfighting charges.

Marcus Vick never really got the chance he may have deserved in the NFL.  He has no one to blame but himself though, as his various run-ins with the law have hurt his NFL career and ultimately ended his college career.  He's probably the best passer in his family and is definitely a more exciting runner than Aaron.  His career has never taken off, and he is currently a free agent after several short stints with the Miami Dolphins.

Aaron, on the other hand, has had no notable run-ins with the law.  He has no problem giving to the community, as he has his own charity organization called the Aaron Brooks Family Foundation.  His NFL career has notably been a lot better than his cousin's as he retired and was not booted out as both his cousins were.  He passed for 123 touchdowns and 92 interceptions, and finished his career with a quarterback rating of 78.5, three and a half points higher than Michael's.  Aaron, while not as athletic as his cousins, still had speed as he ran a 4.5 forty. Michael ran a 4.2, while Marcus ran a 4.4.

How did Aaron get out of Newport News, one of the historically poorer neighborhoods in the United States, without getting in trouble?  The answer is simple, he just makes better decisions.  Both on the football field and at home.  Aaron went to the University of Virginia, which has always had the reputation of having players with strong morals and good decision making abilities.

The Vicks, on the other hand, both attended Virginia Tech, which has a growing reputation of its players getting into trouble.  VT has had Michael and Marcus get into trouble, while DeAngelo Hall, Brandon Ore, Jimmy Williams, and Peter Rose have all gotten into trouble.  Marcus, Ore, Williams, and Rose have all been dismissed from the school.

Since they all grew up on the streets of Newport News, could it have been the college they attended that shaped who they were?  It is well known that the college you choose affects you for the rest of your life, not only in academics but it also changes your lifestyle.  I think if the Vicks had not attended VT, they would still be in the NFL.

Aaron has also always been a team oriented player.  He actually cares more about winning than personal accolades.  He would never flip off opposing crowds after a loss as Michael did, and he never stomped on opposing players arms as Marcus did.  Truly, Aaron is the only one in his family to survive the streets of Newport News.