FORT BRAGG, N.C. - With the current lockout taking place in the National Football League and the possibility of not having professional football in the upcoming season, Fort Bragg residents were able to have their say as several of the league’s major players paid a visit to the post Friday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Carolina Panther head coach Ron Rivera and former Panthers great Mike Rucker came to Fort Bragg to show appreciation to the Soldiers, while visiting several of the post’s key locations. Also traveling with the trio were Sir Purr, the Carolina Panthers’ mascot and Candice and Stephanie, two of the team’s cheerleaders.
The group arrived at Fort Bragg early Friday morning and immediately took time to sign autographs and take photos with Soldiers in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team’s dining facility. They later visited and enjoyed lunch with fellow paratroopers at the division’s combat aviation brigade.
After lunch, Goodell, Rivera and crew had an opportunity to visit the post’s pack shed, where thousands of parachutes are packed for use by Fort Bragg’s paratroopers and they also spent time in the location that houses the post’s weapons simulators.
Their trip culminated with a visit to SportsUSA, where nearly 100 loyal NFL fans awaited their arrival. Goodell and Rivera also answered various questions from concerned fans about the status of the upcoming season. Rucker also added his comments, but from the standpoint of a retired player.
Goodell said he is confident that the NFL season will begin on time, despite the fact that a court hearing in St. Louis that day ended in a stalemate.
“That was all expected,” Goodell said about the hearings. “I hope the next step is negotiations. We’ve had some discussions this past week and that’s how this is going to get resolved " not in the courts, not in front of judges in a courtroom " it going to get resolved through negotiations and that’s the way it should be resolved.
“We are going to be talking again and hopefully it will lead to an agreement that will bring back the game we all know and love,” he added.
Rucker said this particular time is hard for the league’s players because many of them are used to being able to use team facilities to maintain their required level of fitness. The lockout prevents them from doing so. Rucker added that it’s important for players to take the initiative to find other sources to accomplish those requirements.
“From a psychological standpoint, they need to get themselves ready. So if tomorrow or next month when the green light comes and it’s time to play ball, they need to be in a position where they’re ready,” said Rucker, former defensive end for the Charlotte, N.C.-based Panthers. “They need to get in shape as soon as possible because we know that there are injuries when you’re not prepared.
“Each man has to take care of himself because normally, they would’ve been doing something back in March. Now they have all of this free time and it’s up to them to be a true professional and take care of their bodies. Each player should be thinking about how he can prepare himself for when the curtain does drop and they’re ready to roll,” he said.
Rivera, a former member of the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl team, was named Panthers head coach earlier this year. This is his first head-coaching job and he inherits a team that finished at the bottom of the league last season.
He said it’s important that he is able to get to work soon, but feel no need for panic as many of his players are returning veterans, who know what to do in the off-season.
“We do have a lot of work to do and I’ve always said that we will prepare when we’re ready,” he said. “When we get the opportunity, we’ll go. The thing that I’m really proud of is just this past Tuesday, our players organized their own practice and workouts and they’ve done a great job. I’m very proud of the fact that there is leadership. The guys have stepped up and at one point, we’ve had more of our guys working out together than most teams in the league,” Rivera said.
Adding that as far as his coaching staff is concerned, they would continue to do their work to get the team ready.
“We’re going to do our best to prepare and get ready so that when we do have the green light, we’ll hit the ground running,” Rivera said.
SportsUSA was the last stop on the group’s tour and Rucker explained why it’s important to show appreciation to the troops of Fort Bragg.
“They are the reason we’re able to do what we do,” he said. “None of us would be able to go out and play a game that we love so much if it were not for the military members. It is because of them that we are able to enjoy our lives and it’s very important that we take advantage of every opportunity to show our gratitude,” Rucker said.
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