NFL Players Team Up With Special Olympians

Many of the league's most respected players were in Washington, DC, on Friday to be honored at the 2008 NFL Players Gala featuring the JB Awards. Hosted by CBS' James Brown and former Steelers head coach turned CBS analyst Bill Cowher, the event is an annual awards presentation benefiting Special Olympics District of Columbia.

A group of the players being honored at the evening's award show spent the morning at Catholic University playing football with 75 or so local Special Olympic Athletes. Players involved on Friday morning included Marques Douglas, Chris Draft, Warrick Dunn, Braylon Edwards, Israel Idonije, Kassim Osgood, Mack Strong, James Thrash and Brian Waters.

With guys like Chris Henry and Matt Leinert in the news for questionable decisions lately, I think it's important to recognize many of the league's good people. DC was lucky enough to be full of them on Friday.I spent a few hours watching the football-style games the NFL guys played with the Special Olympic athletes and there was one thing that was blatantly clear throughout the day. From the kids to the volunteers to the NFL players, every single person in the gym was having an absolute blast. I can't recall the last time I've seen so many smiles in one place.

James Thrash, a player known on the field for his punt return skills, seemed to be having more fun than anyone all day long. When I asked him what it was like for him to spend the day with the kids, Thrash was glowing. "When you see the fun these kids are having, you can't help but smile."

It really is true. The smiles in the gym were contagious.

Another athlete having a blast was Cleveland Browns star receiver Braylon Edwards. Thrash and Edwards were teamed up in a drill that led the children through an obstacle course and once completed they had the chance to make a pass to Braylon. The kids put Edwards' impressive hands to the test but he didn't disappoint. After each catch, he danced as if he'd just caught a TD in the Super Bowl.

Two other players of note at the event were Chris Draft of the Rams (first photo above) and Warrick Dunn of the Bucs. Draft was having so much fun running around with the kids he looked as if he had just run a marathon. NFL players must sweat more than the average person.

Warrick Dunn played the role of quarterback in a hand off drill. While many of the NFL players were giants, Dunn looked like one of the kids. I was amazed that a man of his size can thrive and actually be incredibly effective in the NFL.

I had the chance to ask Warrick how he felt about returning to the Tampa Bay Bucs after years in Atlanta. Dunn, quite soft spoken said he believes it will be a "good situation" for him in Tampa.

It was an inspiring day watching some of the NFL's brightest stars get a chance to make the days of a gym full of kids who likely don't get this kind of opportunity every day.

As mentioned earlier, the fun and games at Catholic University was part of the NFL Players Awards that took place later in the evening. Read more on that with photos of Dan Marino, Adrian Peterson, and many others here.