Local Sports

By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer

East Texans acclimated to driving more than an hour west for professional football saved gas and received a rare treat as some of the biggest names in the game passed through.

A half-dozen National Football Leaguers tutored youths on the art of throwing and catching during the Sixth Annual McCown Passing Camp Friday at Tyler Junior College’s Pat Hartley Field.

The brother trio headlined the field again: Josh McCown of the Miami Dolphins, Luke McCown of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Randy McCown, formerly of Texas A&M.

The McCown brothers received a big hand — literally — from a few well-known wideouts, including Anquan Boldin of the Arizona Cardinals, Michael Clayton of the Baltimore Ravens, Kellen Winslow II of the Cleveland Browns, and Keith Heinrich, a free agent tight end who played in four games with Tampa Bay in 2007.

Larry Fitzgerald, also an Arizona receiver, missed Friday’s action but is expected to be in attendance when the camp concludes today with a final session from 8 a.m.-noon.

An estimated 165 boys in grades 6-12 showed up on the first day, which featured basic, fundamental drills such as accuracy, dropping back, sprinting out and throwing the ball.

“We had a great turnout,” said Randy, the eldest brother, who left college in 1999 ranked fifth on the all-time Texas A&M passing list, and with the second-best single season in school history. “We moved it to Tyler because we wanted a little more exposure. And hopefully in the future we can turn it into an overnight deal. This is an opportunity to do something you don’t get to everyday. It’s about trying to give these kids opportunities we never had growing up.”

Sharing with an area that bred them also means a great deal to the middle of the three brothers.

“It’s important for us to give back to the community that gave to us,” said Josh, who back in March inked a free-agent deal with Miami. In nine starts last year with the Oakland Raiders, Josh completed 111 of 190 passes (58.4 percent) for 1,151 yards, 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. “We started in Jacksonville and moved to Tyler. We want it to continue to grow. We felt like being a part of East Texas is what made us who we are. We’re excited about the (caliber of) guys. We appreciate their efforts.”

Boldin, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, returned to the camp a second straight year, reuniting him with a former teammate in Josh McCown.

“I’m real good friends with Josh,” said Boldin, who played with McCown in Arizona from 2003-05. “He comes up and participates in events I have and I’m more than happy to do the same for him.”

To be successful at anything, Boldin believes, boils down to effort.

“You get out of life what you put in it,” said Boldin, who in only five seasons has piled up 413 catches for 5,458 yards and 29 TDs. “If you work hard and dedicate yourself to something, you’re only going to see positive results. On the opposite end, if you go out half-hearted, you’re going to reap that also. Whatever your dream is, make sure you give your all.”

John Tyler receiver De’Trich Morgan took what Boldin wanted to impart to heart.

“I came to try and get better and work harder for this season we have coming up,” said Morgan, who last season caught five passes for 48 yards. Morgan and his teammates plan to dedicate the upcoming season to Caleb Black, a football player who recently passed away after finishing the ninth grade. “They’re very inspirational guys, down to earth. They teach us hard work pays off. Without struggle, there’s no progress.”

The two players responsible for getting the ball to Morgan joined him at the camp — Billy “Papa” Thompkins and Jeremy “Toka” Johnson.

“I came last year and I thought it would help me be a better athlete this year,” said Thompkins, a multi-position player who last year totaled 800 yards of offense and eight TDs while starting all 10 games at quarterback for the Lions. “It’s hard to stay focused because you have all these superstars out here. They’re already where you want to be. What they’re telling you is good stuff to hear since they’ve been there, done that.”

The player expected to take over the QB reigns for Thompkins as he moves to wideout and the secondary viewed the experience as another practice — a serious one.

“I came to work on technique and mechanics,” said Johnson, who completed four of six passes for 59 yards and a TD in relief duty of an injured Thompkins in JT’s season finale nearly a year ago. “It was hot, but it was good. To me, they’re like any other people telling us what to do.”

While the athletes appreciated the lessons learned during the first of two four-hour sessions, one pro in particular enjoyed the teaching aspect of it. More than 30 minutes after the camp ended, Winslow and Morgan engaged in a lengthy one-on-one conversation, in which the second-generation NFL tight end offered the JT senior-to-be tips on everything from personal advice to moving his hips correctly.

“Just working with these kids, seeing the look on their faces after you teach them something and then applying it, it makes you proud,” said Winslow, who ranked third among all tight ends in the NFL last season with 82 receptions for 1,106 yards.

“(Coaching) might be what I want to do after football — seeing them get better in football and life.”

Kellen Winslow II, a tight end with the Cleveland Browns, does push-ups with Grayson McFarlin during a punt return drill on Friday at Tyler Junior College’s Pat Hartley Field.
(Staff Photo By Mark Roberts)