Blue White Illustrated

ended up meeting the fledgling players in a park and putting on an impromptu clinic in the snow. "It was so pure," Drayton said. "And humbling in a sense. These were people who spoke a different language, and there we were in the middle of all of it teaching them something that we're all passionate about." When they were asked, several months later, if they wanted to travel to Afghanistan, neither hesitated. This trip, into a war zone, required more preparation. McDuffie and Dray- ton took an online anti-terrorism course, a test that took a couple of hours, so they knew what to do if something went wrong. They had to get certain vaccinations. And they had to get fitted for equipment, in- cluding bulletproof vests. That wasn't easy; most soldiers aren't the size of former NFL players, partic- ularly former tight ends. Said McDuffie, "I was OK, but they had to dig really deep for one for Troy." The danger was real. One of the bases they visited had been attacked by 15 insurgents just two weeks before. On a different tour, at a different for- ward operating base, a comedian's show was interrupted by an attack. "The frightening thing is, we went only to the FOBs that were safe to go to, and we still had one bomb," Mc- Duffie said. Internet reports joked that the former players were there to be bodyguards for the cheerleaders, and McDuffie confirmed that the women were a big hit on the bases. And not just among the male American soldiers. "I tell you what, a lot of Afghan na- O.J. McDUFFIE "We just wanted to lighten the mood. They call it Groundhog Day – each day is the same, over and over and over – so we wanted to break up the monotony." SHOW OF SUPPORT Drayton and McDuffie posed for photos, played card games and dominos and talked football with soldiers. The former players came away with a greater appre- ciation for the sacri- fices that military members make for their country. "I've gotta tell you," Dray- ton said, "it was life- changing." Photo courtesy of O.J. McDuffie

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