April 28, 2008

A Special Story: Caleb Campbell Comes to Detroit with a Love for Football and for Serving His Country : The Lions final choice in this year’s draft may have drawn as much attention as their first. Detroit selected safety Caleb Campbell out of Army as their second of two seventh-round picks, creating a stir at the site of the NFL Draft: Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

read story | posted by BornIcon to Football at 6:32 AM CDT (10 comments total)

Finally, an NFL player who can kill or be in the presence of killers and not be punished, so long as he ices Iraqis. Pacman missed his calling.

posted by afl-aba at 8:47 AM CDT on April 28

That's such a good story BornIcon. Thanks for posting this. Glad to see someone who has his head and heart in the right place get rewarded.

posted by smithnyiu at 9:38 AM CDT on April 28

It's interesting to see how West Point (and presumably the other service academies') take on that "service" thing has apparently changed to give individuals like Campbell an option to play in the NFL. Like they say, good PR, I guess.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:27 AM CDT on April 28

lbb:
I was listening to ESPN the other day, and they said that Army is the only branch to grant a professional sports exemption. Any other branch, and he would have to serve the mandatory two years first and then he could play. (I don't have any facts to actually back up those claims besides what I heard. And we all know how impeccable ESPN's info is).

posted by jmd82 at 11:27 AM CDT on April 28

ESPN's draft coverage yesterday reaffirmed that this was an Army-only thing too.

This was just after they completely butchered any sentiment I could have mustered about the kid with the most tortuous introduction I've heard in a very long time.

Something along the lines of "Caleb Campbell wanted to do his part for your safety, but because of his talent as another type of Safety, he may yet get to take on the role of Safety, just not the national safety that he expected."

Yes ESPN, I see what you did there, despite your uncanny nack for subtlety.

posted by Mr Bismarck at 12:18 PM CDT on April 28

So, I assume that his "recruiting" position is contingent on him making the Lions roster, and that if he gets cut, he will head over to serve the Army and our nation in a more traditional military role? How's that for some incentive to work your ass off and make the team? It got to be scary as hell watching a 250lb man running at you full speed with his head down, but nothing compared to the fear that's available to those serving in Iraq and Afganistan. Good luck, kid, no matter what happens.

posted by tahoemoj at 1:13 PM CDT on April 28

How's that for some incentive to work your ass off and make the team?

Well, he would have entered the academy in the fall of 2004...back when, I suppose, someone (or at least an 18 year old yutz) might have been excused for buying the "Mission Accomplished" line and thinking he'd have a good chance of not graduating to the sound of shots fired in anger. I have a hard time imagining entering a service academy (or entering the military on any level) and believing that you wouldn't come into harm's way, but apparently people do it all the time.

posted by lil_brown_bat at 3:03 PM CDT on April 28

I have a hard time imagining entering a service academy (or entering the military on any level) and believing that you wouldn't come into harm's way, but apparently people do it all the time.

Actually, I remember way back when I was choosing colleges, and the service academies had a pretty nice sell (obviously, it was pre-war and all that). They focused a lot on affordability. Anyway, 18 year olds are not all that savvy in asking what is going to happen four years from now questions.

posted by bperk at 3:36 PM CDT on April 28

I'm not convinced this is good thing for the army to have. It's more or less a double standard. But hey, the country needs it's bullshit, so, run Caleb, run.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 6:45 PM CDT on April 28

Seems like decent kid, but service ALWAYS come first....that's the difference between Academy and Infantry! RAMPAGE! 3/64th

posted by jeffdom68 at 8:56 PM CDT on April 28

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