> @DC408Dxtr / @DC408DxNow
On the same day that we saw the start of this last phase of this Rivals season - the fifth major pro sport, the one sign that fall is coming came at various cities across the country when NFL Training Camp began in the heat of the summer. As we wrote here last year when we looked at NFL Films in our sports series, we're into that time where one sport will grab our attention and never let go until February... that is, with perhaps the exception of this year when 28 sports will do that starting Wednesday when women's group soccer matches begin the Rio Olympics before the Rivals finale. And as we present this post to you, this is the last weekend that there isn't an NFL game to look forward to, as the Hall of Fame Game between Green Bay and Indianapolis takes place next week.
It's with this in mind that we'd like to look at those times when the Trifecta gets to intersect with those who are, no doubt, the leaders of that offensive platoon and where teams' fortunes can hang by a thread just by what he does guiding teams late in the 4th. Of course, we are talking about the quarterback of an NFL team. And we'd like to share with you three instances of these sightings.
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| From: TW @EricBanks |
● AARON RODGERS w/ BIG EASY: Last year, the biggest play of the 2015 NFL season was what happened in Detroit on Thursday Night Football in December. Just two days before our fellow Challenge friend Theresa Gonzalez would give birth to her new baby, her fiance, TJ Jones, was playing for the Lions, and the team from the state she grew up in, the Packers were given new life by a Detroit defensive penalty and gave them one more shot to steal a win after trailing the whole game. A 61-yard heave downfield from their own 35-yard line found Green Bay TE Richard Rodgers in the end zone, and is emblematic of the kind of play that can break the internet and break hearts when one goes deep in the final seconds and wins at the final gun.
The Super Bowl XLV MVP has been longtime friends with one of The Challenge's
Eric Banks and they often hang out with one another during the NFL offseason, most especially for his home state's biggest party in as The Kentucky Derby, as you see on your right from when American Pharoah began his run to glory at the 2015 race. It's been ten years since we first saw Big Easy on Fresh Meat I, and it's because of his role of one of the Trifecta's most-infamous moments -- him gassing out and being medically evacuated from the Guantlet III final and costing his packed Veteran team a win -- that inspired him to get fit and healthy, and made great strides in losing 70 lbs. from where he was at 310 when he began. It's also why when players are given that call to be a Challenge, they must get in tip-top shape for everything that awaits them. And as we told you here, Eric now does travel in helping students to Spring Break right each March.
● ROBERT GRIFFIN III w/ AYTO's WES: Second, if you're reading this post from Cleveland, then you no doubt have had the summer of your life in the afterglow of the Cavaliers' NBA championship and LeBron James becoming a legend in your Northeast Ohio neck of the woods. Over the NFL offseason and three months before that curse was lifted, the Browns - who've endured heartache themselves since winning the city's last title in 1964 - made a splash when they acquired Robert Griffin III off the waiver wire. After a strong rookie season, a injury-riddled next three seasons would slow his seemingly inevitable ride to become one of the league's top QB's, and was released by the maroon & gold after four seasons. Now, RG3 is looking forward to a fresh start in the Dawg Pound as they look forward to a new start after the end to the merciful era that was Johnny Football.
It was the day after his Are You The One? cast had their million dollar moment in March 2014 that a member of those Originals - Wes Buckles - got to meet RG3 in his then-Phoenix hometown and was among the first to get congratulated on their win. He posted on Instagram, "Looking like a damn crest commercial 😁 Had the pleasure of meeting that dude Robert Griffin (RGIII) yesterday 🙌 He's a fan of #areyoutheone.. Who knew? Lol Real cool dude tho. Much love and support from the west coast bruh." And when news of Griffin's move to Ohio came, Wes reposted, "#TBT to that one time I got to meet and talk it up with that guy @rgiii. It's been a rocky road but you're gonna do some amazing things in the #dawgpound! Blessings on blessings." Similar to what may happen in the season's homestretch, Wes was in a love triangle with Kayla and Ryan during his season and the group voted them in consecutive weeks to determine their fate, which in the end saw Wes and the now local news anchor become their third Truth Booth match.
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IG: @Dean_BP (Kaepernick
wearing NY hat to Dean's left) |
● COLIN KAEPERNICK w/ DEAN: Finally, those people like me who are Bay Area sports fans have showed concern the past couple seasons with how the San Francisco 49ers would at one moment be a top NFL team and were just yards short from a Super Bowl title, and are now also-ran's in what is the NFL's toughest division of the NFC West. The attention has been on Colin Kaepernick, who became the starting quarterback after struggles by Alex Smith, and Kaep began to rise to become a top quarterback. The Niners would capitalize by signing him to a long-term deal while he was at the height of his powers, and stayed strong during the 2013 season but ended in Richard Sherman's arms. And then, poor play in 2014 would ultimately see him hold the clipboards as a backup, where he still is as he now battles Blaine Gabbert for the starting job for the red & gold.
Well, one person has had the chance to become friends with Kaep - and that would be Dean from the most recent Real World season, Go Big or Go Home in Las Vegas earlier this year. In a screencap of a IG picture from Dean's hub I took before he deleted it to keep the number of pics there to just a minimum, you see Dean hanging out with Kaep and fellow friends during the offseason after their run to New Orleans and SB XLVII. The QB isn't the only well-known person Dean got to hang out with before he made his way to the Gold Spike in DTLV - Downtown Las Vegas if you don't know: he also got to do a cameo part on the FOX comedy Anger Management with that show's star Charlie Sheen, all as aspects of the comedian's personal life has been put out in the public eye of abuse and him contracting the HIV virus. Of course, Dean got divorced before going to Sin City, then saw him go in drag, celebrate being single and being more likable than most of the house.
Starting pitching in baseball, a power forward in hoops, a goalkeeper in hockey and soccer...they all hold keys to their teams' success in their various sports. But no one holds the fate of any football team - pro, college, high school - than a quarterback. He controls the offense when they have the ball, provides leadership to the team, and can be the one who is given the most praise or the biggest blame if they win or lose. All three of the quarterbacks we've profiled here have all made their marks in the NFL, and now as we look forward to the new season, Rodgers looks to lead his Packers to the top of the league, while RG3 looks forward to starting anew in what's become a sports capital of late, and Kaepernick will be anxious to prove himself when the ball falls into his hands.
- I AM DC
