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Do IT this week: Layering
He delivers message, goods to high schoolers
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Aug 15, 2008
BEREA: Steve Sanders could have been catching balls after practice like he does every other day. After all, there's a chance he could start Monday night against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
But on Thursday afternoon, football came second. His guys were waiting.
About 25 players from Sanders' alma mater, Cleveland East High School, sat in the bleachers beside the field. Flanked by fellow Browns receivers Joshua Cribbs, Syndric Steptoe, Travis Wilson and Paul Hubbard, Sanders addressed the group, trying to convince the young men they could escape the dangers of gangs and drugs
and make something of themselves.
''There's no such thing as circumstances,'' Sanders told them. ''You can have a better future, if you decide to up here,'' he said, pointing to his head. ''It can't be me telling you, you have to believe it yourself.''
A woman waiting to get a few items signed for hospitalized children hung on Sanders' every word.
''I was very moved by your talk,'' she told Sanders afterward. ''We have such trouble in this city. To hear a kid from the city talk like that was really something.''
Sanders, who grew up in the crime-ridden neighborhood of East 79th Street and Superior Avenue, set up a foundation, My H.O.O.D., which stands for Helping Others Organize Dreams. Through it, he runs mentoring and athletic training programs.
After he and Cribbs spoke, Sanders opened a huge box filled with workout shoes, cleats and gloves from his teammates. One by one he tossed them out, shouting ''Who wears size 15?'' when he got to quarterback Derek Anderson's. They were snapped up, the owner still bragging as he waited for the bus on Lou Groza Blvd. Sanders tried to make sure every kid received gloves and shoes, then autographed most of them.
''When I was at East High, (former Browns cornerback) Corey Fuller came out and gave us a box of gloves and cleats,'' Sanders said. ''They were orange and brown and our colors were blue and gold, but we didn't care. He didn't have to do that and I promised myself that I'd give back once I made it.''
Just before the group left, Sanders told East High football coach Marzell Pink: ''It's not about football, it's about making a difference. Like you always say, 'We're trying to grow men, not grow football players.' ''
Even though Sanders did the same thing for his old team last year, he said it still brought tears to his eyes.
''To see these guys come out here and to know when they leave they've got to deal with the situations they're in . . . ''
Sanders has given the players his cell phone number and said they call frequently.
''Sometimes they use it for silly stuff, but there's been a few situations where kids have needed my help, whether it was financially or just a ride home because it wasn't safe to walk home,'' Sanders said.
After a special afternoon, which Sanders hopes to make an annual event, Pink walked away marveling over the impact it will have.
''People think it's just a big football thing, but it's not,'' Pink said. ''We have some guys who come from some horror-pressed situations who have to face some things I never had to face. Their big thing is, 'I just want to play football.' It empowers them. They're like, 'Hey, this guy from the NFL gave me a pair of cleats.' It's an inspiration to them.''
Another inspiration was Sanders getting his degree from Bowling Green.
''For our kids, that's everything,'' Pink said. ''They've got a big NFL dream and that's wonderful, but it's the school thing that's most important for my guys to see.''
Cribbs jokes that Sanders will be mayor of Cleveland one day.
''It's one of my goals. I graduated in political science,'' Sanders said. ''I look forward to doing a lot of things for this city. I see myself trying to change some things.
''Mayor [Frank] Jackson is doing a great job now, so we'll let him have his turn. When I'm done with football, I'll give him a run for his money.''
This week, Sanders has taken snaps with the first team as Braylon Edwards recuperates from a cut on his foot that required stitches.
Coach Romeo Crennel might announce the starter for the Giants' game today. Sanders hopes to be his choice after he spent last season on the practice squad.
''A guy moving my furniture started talking about you,'' Pink told Sanders. ''You've got the whole city of Cleveland pulling for you.''
Break it up
With 10 days between preseason games, tempers have flared a few times in practice this week. Thursday, tight end Brad Cieslak and rookie linebacker Alex Hall mixed it up in individual drills, with Hall throwing a punch. When Hall didn't back down, Crennel stepped in.
Crennel said the last time he did that was four or five years ago with the New England Patriots.
''I almost got hit, then I decided it's not the place for me,'' Crennel said.
So was he feeling brave this time?
''I can get in between a young rookie,'' Crennel said. ''He's probably not going to hit the coach.''
Brownies
Crennel said rookie tight end Martin Rucker underwent successful arthroscopic knee surgery. . . . Offensive lineman Cliff Louis was waived, and offensive lineman Jonathan Palmer, 6-foot-4 and 336 pounds, was signed. An Auburn product waived by the Giants on Monday, Palmer has also been with the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders. . . . Today's practice is from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/.
BEREA: Steve Sanders could have been catching balls after practice like he does every other day. After all, there's a chance he could start Monday night against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
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