Bijan Robinson's grandmother delivers on her promise to turn her broken possessions into a piece of art now that her grandson is in the NFL. A corner locker is not a bad thing to have, usually reserved for a key player or a veteran with some status. In this corner is the newcomer with the most experience.
To understand the influence Calais Campbell has had on the Falcons, at age 37, in his 16th NFL season, all one needs to do is listen to year-old cornerback A. Terrell and the rest of the Falcons defense. Campbell uses that corner locker to provide an education. Campbell didn't know when he came to Atlanta if he'd be viewed as a has-been -- he was released by the Baltimore Ravens on March 13 -- or appreciated.
He tries to be impactful -- admitting he can be "annoying sometimes" -- but he never knows how his messages are received. In Atlanta, they have been well-received. Over the years, Campbell has received so many questions that he jokes he should start writing down his advice and suggestions.
He's seen a lot. He's lived through good seasons and bad, personally and as a team. He's been with four franchises -- Arizona Cardinals , Jacksonville Jaguars , Baltimore and now Atlanta -- and played in at least 12 games every season. It would save time, but also eliminate one thing which he believes has helped him with teammates more than others in his long career. It was on a Thursday night, and it was optional. Life happens. Especially in a metropolitan sprawl like Atlanta, where players live far away from one another.
Carter said they had some dinners last year. Attendance was OK. The past two Thursdays, with Campbell pushing the importance of bonding as people and friends more than in just a work setting, attendance boomed. Campbell picked up the tab and said he budgets for up four or five dinners per year. Everyone has a Campbell story, a piece of advice gathered or insight gleaned from a practice or film session.
