Wide Receiver Joe Anderson’s Dream

Joe Anderson / Instagram
Joe Anderson / Instagram

Joe Anderson has a dream, and he has been relentless in trying to follow it. He is a wide receiver who went undrafted out of Texas Southern University in 2012 but was able to catch on for a little while over the past few years with the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles. But he’s now a free agent, unsigned, and he wants a job badly. His old wide receiver job. So he went to the Houston Texans’ facility with a cardboard sign that read, “Not homeless … but STARVING for success. Will run routes 4 food.”

He posted a photo of himself (top) on Instagram, and it got picked up and went viral. It’s a great story, with many inspiring elements as told by SB Nation:

Joe Anderson Is Following a Dream, and It Took Him to the Texans’ Doorstep

The Odds Against Antonio Dixon

Antonio Dixon
Former Washington Times colleague David Elfin has written a fabulous piece for AOL’s NFL Fanhouse about Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Antonio Dixon. This is a great football story that has as much if not more going for it than that of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher, as chronicled in the book and movie, “The Blind Side.”

A few excerpts from Elfin’s story about Dixon:
• Dixon’s father was sentenced to 25 years in prison while Dixon was only 3 years old
• Dixon and his four siblings spent years in homeless shelters while growing up
• He estimates he went to some 15 elementary schools and never learned to read

This is an inspirational story about perseverance and overcoming odds no child or teen should ever have to face. Read the full story here: Antonio Dixon Has Beaten Longest Odds.