Episode Transcript
Speaker 1 00:00:10 All right. Welcome back to eliminate the gap. It's hard to believe, but Delbar, and I are in the same location again, but this time he made it all the way to Indianapolis. Um, and so we're excited about that and you can see, we have been joined, uh, by our guests. Uh, today it is Devon Moore. He is the president of the Indy chapter of the NFL PA, um, and former player clearly. And we're very excited to have him so welcome Devin. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 2 00:00:42 Thanks for having me today.
Speaker 1 00:00:43 Oh, you bet. You bet. Um, so let's just jump right in. So I think some folks might know the NFL PA, um, maybe, or has heard the term, um, so help us just understand what that organization is and what its function is for players.
Speaker 2 00:01:01 Absolutely. Uh, so at NFL PA is basically our, our former players association, uh, we're union. And, uh, it's, it's basically the better wellbeing for our players once we retire, uh, it's providing resources, uh, helping to transition into life after football and be a little bit easier and a little bit more smoother for, for guys when they come out. So very appreciative of the NFL PA and all is doing for, uh, its players. Yeah,
Speaker 1 00:01:28 For sure. And there's just a, I mean, any of us transitioning, I couldn't imagine having a transition in a really big way, you know, going from playing a sport at that level to doing regular work, like, you know, we all do. Um, and so, um, I'm, I'm sure it's an important function. Um, I know that it seems like every local chapter has the ability to take on issues that it cares about not only with the players, but within the community itself. Tell us a little bit about what your kind of goals are as the kind of a newer president coming in to head this chapter.
Speaker 2 00:02:07 Yeah, absolutely. Uh, so we do have the privilege of being able to kind of take on, uh, what's most important to us in the community and our, our particular region. Um, but we, we kinda follow the, the ultimate goal of one. We want to make sure that the better well-being of our players is, is first and foremost. Uh, make sure it guys again, are, are transitioning well, health and wellness is good and those resources as far as for their benefits and that information is given to them, uh, and mainly in a timely basis. Uh, I know that, uh, the NFL PA has done a real, the national NFL PA has done a real good job on just creating different, uh, resource outlets for us. Uh, more particularly, uh, one of the apps that we have, uh, available to us. I allows us to be able to tap in almost instantaneously and, uh, find out things, uh, that's going on in the area, uh, find out things that's going on nationally as well.
Speaker 2 00:03:04 Um, it's been a huge, huge, uh, success and that's my personal opinion, uh, but in doing so, uh, as the president, I'm able to not only use that as a guideline, uh, to direct our guys, uh, on how to, you know, better transition themselves, but I can also, uh, use it as a platform to be able to contact our guys and make sure that certain initiatives that we have going on in the, in the community, uh, or, or available to them as well. And they can donate their time and, and be involved in the community, uh, show that they're, they're upstanding citizens, uh, similar to what they were doing when they were playing the game of football. Uh, now that I think you alluded to it, we're in the real life now, real, real world these days, uh, things change, things change. So, you know, everything's not really kind of laid out, um, on a silver platter for us, uh, right away, uh, it's, uh, be able to tap into the community.
Speaker 2 00:04:01 Uh, so my, my goal is to make sure that guys have the opportunity to have local resources, uh, available to all kind of at the, at the touch of a dime just as the national office has provided the, the, uh, kind of national wide nationwide resources to us at the touch of a dime. So, uh, hopefully we can continue to work past it and work, work hard and work through it. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention, uh, my fellow board members, uh, who were doing a great job, a better job than me. So they, they, they make me look good when we're doing things right. And up to this point, we haven't done much of anything wrong. Um, guy seemed to be happy, uh, and we want to make sure that that remains, uh, that way. Yup.
Speaker 1 00:04:47 For sure. And it, I know, uh, for you personally, you care a lot about young people and in the community and in the region. Um, and I believe that, uh, scholarships and some other initiatives that you're hoping, you know, to, to engage some of the guys in as well related to young people, tell us a little bit about some of, kind of the youth areas that you're hoping to get in.
Speaker 2 00:05:11 Absolutely. And thank you for bringing it up. Uh, so right now we're actually on underway as far as, uh, providing, uh, is narrowed down to two scholarships, a $2,500 to, uh, to, you know, lucky participants that, uh, go through an application process, uh, and they're headed into college or whatnot, uh, and looking to play sports in college, as well as it's not absolutely necessary that they have to play sports. But, uh, I mean, it's a plus if they do, uh, we love the fact that, you know, sports is a team building type of, uh, uh, activity and it gets you prepared for again, the real world as we kinda worded it that way. Uh, but, uh, that initiative is, is great because it's happening nationwide. So it's not just a local initiative. It's more, every chapter in our organization is absolutely doing the same thing.
Speaker 2 00:06:05 And, uh, to be able to come together and know that we're going to supply, I don't know, maybe, uh, I'd say about 62 to 64 different scholarships of $2,500 a piece that is a huge, huge initiative. And it goes on say it that, uh, it, it's not just us on a local level, again, that's a national thing. And for them to have, um, the ability one, but also the thought and presence of mind to be able to, uh, gear up and reach out, especially coming through COVID, uh, make sure that some of these young kids are being, uh, being kinda catered to if you will, and, and, and recognized for their efforts in school, uh, and on the field or basketball swim. I was just reading an application. We had a swimmer for one and a track star and a cheerleader. I mean, so it's, it's, it's different individuals coming from all walks of life, uh, having the opportunity to be able to, to go after this scholarship. And if they don't win, they still have the opportunity to, to get it out there, uh, compete for this particular scholarship, and then hopefully utilize some of those resources and tools in which they did for this particular application and go after other applications is where
Speaker 1 00:07:20 Sure, cool. You haven't speak to the young people. Uh, who was it for you when you were growing up that had that impact on you? And, uh, can you tell us just a little bit about that and how they impacted your life?
Speaker 2 00:07:35 Well, absolutely. I I'll definitely say it's, it's it's I have to mention, uh, my mother first and foremost, right. My mother was, was very instrumental in my life, uh, all through my life and still is, um, and, and, and, and in place right now. And I still, I would have to say my wife as well, even though it was you talking about growing up, I've known her since my seventh grade year of, of, uh, high school, want, I say eighth grade, I've known her. And, and, uh, you know, we started early on as far as, uh, our, uh, liking of one another. We started on dating if you will, in, in freshman year, in high school. So, uh, I still consider that the growing up stage, I want to mention them for sure, but, uh, but growing up, it's, it's always been, uh, my father, he passed away when I was 12 years old.
Speaker 2 00:08:30 And, uh, you know, I, I had a short bit of time is what I'll say a short bit of time with them. Uh, but enough time to learn what it, it, what it meant to be a real man and, uh, growing up, he, you know, he always made sure he, uh, you know, he showed us to, uh, pull my mom's share out when we would go to dinner, uh, you know, not to sit down until she sat down and, um, make sure we always get the door for a lady. And yes, ma'am no, sir. You know, he, he definitely instilled, you know, certain, um, morals and values in us that, that carry on with me today. Um, my brothers as well, uh, so I have to give all the credit, uh, to him most of the credit to him, but if it does, you know, come out and my mom happens to see this, they can say they can hear that. I gave them some credit as well, but, um, my father was, was very instrumental in my life. And, um, I still long to be just like them.
Speaker 1 00:09:34 Oh, well. So one of the things that, uh, we've asked everybody, this kind of question, and we get wonderful responses like yours. Um, one of the things that we like to focus on is that usually that person that meant the most as we sit here as an adult, um, wasn't necessarily the person that, um, you know, maybe it was our friend or, you know, but they challenged us. Right. They, they, they really brought out pieces in us that we didn't necessarily know we had and in these kinds of, but they were always there. Right. And there were consistent
Speaker 2 00:10:09 The money story, funny story, since you bring it and bring that up, uh, reminds me, I had, when I was growing up, I've been in Catholic school system pretty much my whole life coming in and coming through school. And when I, uh, was in seventh grade, I went from seventh grade to 12th grade in the same school. And we had this one in particular nun by the name of sister Rita, uh, who was, I mean, she didn't play when I tell you she meant business. She went business. So when you're young, do you think that, oh man, the teacher's being mean to me, uh, she's just always on my case, but as you grow older, you, you tend to find out and, and recognize that they meant well for you. And, um, and I'd have to say she played a, a pretty intricate part of my life as well. Um, and, and, uh, you know, she passed away not too long ago. Uh, I wasn't able to ever get back to really thank her and tell her that I recognize, uh, the commitment that she played in, in roles that she played and not just my life, but, but kids' lives all throughout that school and probably all throughout the city of Indianapolis. Um, I, I really, I really did appreciate it. And it's funny that you brought that up because it does hit home with me.
Speaker 1 00:11:29 Well, Delmarva, that gives you some hope
Speaker 2 00:11:36 Oh yeah, yeah. The leave it or not. You, you will. I mean, there are a few teachers I can name off for sure. But that one in particular, just kind of, you know, riding on the story that you were just given there, Eric, I think that will really, really, it still resonates with me.
Speaker 1 00:11:52 Sure, absolutely. Yeah. That's, that's good. That's very good stuff. Uh, so coming off of that and talking about hitting, you know, we, we, I would be remiss if I didn't ask you this question there. And as a former football player myself, uh, typically will football, whether you, if you play football at any point in time, you go through a phase where, you know, you start to question whether the game is for you and it might be a big hit, or it might just be, you just have a terrible practice or it could be you're out there at a hundred degrees and you're like, everybody else is sitting in the AC, but I'd like for you to just share, you know, what are those moments for you and how you overcame that adversity?
Speaker 2 00:12:40 Absolutely. Um, I guess the first story that comes to mind is when I first started to play football, um, I was cut from the team. Um, I believe it or not, we had a lot of kids willing to go out and play and, and the team, uh, I believe the, uh, the center is what it was rec center, uh, only has so much equipment, so they could only have so many people on the team. Um, and it was a great group of guys out there kind of, you know, re you know, kind of thinking back and thinking about how many guys went to high school and did well in high school. It was, it was a pretty good group. Um, and I was young. I was young. So when I was cut, funny story, when I was cut my, uh, my mom and dad, they wanted to go up there and, you know, give them a piece of their mind.
Speaker 2 00:13:36 I'll just say it that way. And, um, but the thing was my, my brother, uh, he was still able to make the team and if he wanted to play, uh, but I don't think he, he did. And, um, we decided not to, and my father decided to allow me to play on another team, but before doing so, uh, we went right out in front of our house and we were on this, it's a small median of grass in the front of our home. Uh, and, and I don't know why we actually chose that because we actually had enough lot space to be able to play football or throw the football around in the yard. But I just remembered this. Uh, we went right out in front and he would throw the ball up almost in the punt type of position in the ball with, you know, spiral kind of up and down, or, you know, upward and downward or whatnot.
Speaker 2 00:14:33 And, and he would make sure I would catch it. And I remember him stating and saying, we're going to start with kick return. First is the way he asked the funny part, right. Because I ended up making the NFL and it's based off of return punt return. And, um, that's a, that's a funny story that I've never actually said out loud, but it it's, it's something that, that lives with me. And, and it's probably the only time I've really, you know, face adversity to the point where I said I wanted to quit. Other than that, after that, uh, there have been times that, yeah, it, it, it was tough. It was, it was a rough sport, you know? Um, never have I ever been hit hard enough to want to quit playing the game, but I have gone through, you know, two a days. Um, Hey, three days when I was, you know, playing for Vegas, a team, you know, I've gone through situations where, you know, you, you make the statement like, Hey, um, I'm probably done with football, but, uh, no, I I've never wanted to really be done with the game of football in some capacity.
Speaker 2 00:15:50 I always wanted to be in touch with football. Uh, but I will say that once I was released the last time, and, uh, I was told I could possibly go over to play a Canadian football. I, I did like the fact that I still had my, or I had my, from, at that time, I'd already started my company. I like the fact that I was choosing to end on my own terms. Um, it really, I don't know. It just made me feel a little better. And, uh, it, it rested a little better with me, you know, and then, you know, it was easier for me to, to kind of transition my family as well, because most individuals don't understand that when you are facing that adversity, it's not just you facing, you know, the different adversity issues that you're going through. It's your family as well.
Speaker 2 00:16:41 Uh, when you're on the field is your team, your teammates. Uh, and then when you come home and everything that went wrong on the field, you have to remember the why for, uh, whomever. It is the significant other is it was watching the same game, had to sit with the same, you know, crowd, uh, and, and teammates, uh, family or whatnot, and, uh, go through the same thing you had to go through. So the scolding and things of that nature, uh, my wife had to experience any, any in, in all of it as well. So, um, having to deal with that and figure that out, um, is rough, but never, never, ever wanted to quit playing football
Speaker 1 00:17:23 Well, that's, that's, you know, and then that's not surprising knowing you that that was in fact, the case. I can tell you, um, in, Delmar's never asked me this question. Um, I, uh, I, it was the second day of practice and I was like in fifth grade and we were only in helmets, that's it? And my dad had just bought a helmet for me that night, uh, the night before. And I was going out, you running routes and catching passes, and I broke my finger and I knew it, but what I really knew was we were putting on pads the next day. And I wanted no part of that. And I use the broken finger is the reason why I never played football again.
Speaker 2 00:18:05 And that sounds official that that really does help. I'll tell you what, if I would've went out on my first, go around and broke my finger or broke a bone or something. I probably would have been in the same boat.
Speaker 1 00:18:17 Thank you for the coverage there. That is not at all.
Speaker 2 00:18:21 Now you can't be the only one, not say a story. Now you've got to give us the story. What about you? You're at varsity story.
Speaker 1 00:18:26 Oh, man. Uh, to be honest with you, probably it's probably similar. Like when I first late, uh, I was, uh, I was, I was like this, you know, mom's a little tiny dude. And we had this guy, real muscular guy that was out there and he looked like a growed bad man. He's two years older than me, but you know, that's not a lie, but you may, it, it was a world of a difference. This is like junior high school with offers. We gated blade organize. And man, I remember I got hit by him the very first time in light elated Doobie. And I was like, oh man, I can't be happy. This happened on a regular basis.
Speaker 2 00:19:14 I will tell you anytime I had the opportunity. And I was, I was kinda like a twig as well when I was growing up. But anytime I had an opportunity to, um, and it was, it was complete opposite of what it should be. Anytime I had the opportunity to go against one of the bigger guys I made sure I did. So I would jump to the front of the line because I knew that they would just think that I was just a small, tiny guy. Wouldn't bring any, any, any power behind me or whatnot. And I love surprising the individuals that I would go against. I just love. And plus if it was a, it was kind of a win-win situation. I was going to win regardless because I was brave enough to go up against the largest guy. No one wanted to, there was always that one guy nobody wanted to mess with. And then two, I was going to win because even if I lost, I showed heart, which the coach, every coach loves heart on the football field regardless. So it was one of those deals where yeah, no, I was complete ops. I wanted to go against that guy. And, um, it came back to bite me, I guess, when I made it to the NFL, but sure enough, I was doing the same thing and, you know, have fun while, but eventually the, the body wears out and, uh, you know, life take its course.
Speaker 1 00:20:39 Absolutely. Um, well this has been a lot of fun, uh, having a chance to chat a little bit about not only what the NFL PA, uh, in the local chapters up to. Um, but also then to hear a little bit more about just you reflecting on your own path, um, and how you got there. And I love the fact that, that, and we didn't point it out at the time, but you talked about through Delmar's question, your father giving you this vision that we didn't even know right. Way back then, and for you to, to, for that, to kind of be fulfilled manifested as the kids say today now,
Speaker 2 00:21:17 Right. And then that manifestation to carry over now. And it's, it's actually, you know, I'm, I'm doing, um, exactly what he was doing when he was, you know, a professional, uh, you know, as far as in the bonding field, right. It's, it's crazy how things kind of work out. And again, I I'm, I'm thankful for the opportunities that I've been given in life. Um, I'm thankful for every, uh, every brick wall that I ran into every road bump that I've crossed over to fast and, and probably bumped my head and knocked me up. I I'm thankful for all of it. Uh, but I'm also most thankful for when I did get my shot into the NFL, um, what the NFL has done for his guys after we've gotten out the game. Right. Uh, I think it it's, it's not talked about enough, all the resources, all the things that the, the owners and, and, uh, just the teams in general are trying to do.
Speaker 2 00:22:17 And then again, the NFL PA, um, are, are doing to make sure that the guys are doing well outside of the game of football. Uh, I'm very appreciative and I hope to, you know, continue to be able to try to make an impact myself, uh, any way that I can, but I know what the teammates that I have as far as on NFL PA, um, Andy chapter team, uh, and the national office. And then I I'd be remiss without saying some where community partners. Uh, I know that we'll, we'll make a difference in some young person's lives, uh, and, and, um, you know, we'll change some things for them and allow them to one, go to college, to, you know, feed their families and in three, be upstanding citizens and in the community.
Speaker 1 00:23:00 Yeah, absolutely. Well, again, Devin, thanks again for the time we greatly appreciate it. Um, and we look forward to connecting with you down the road. Congratulations on all your endeavors, man. That's good stuff.
Speaker 2 00:23:15 I appreciate it. We still have a long way to go, but we'll get there.
Speaker 1 00:23:19 Excellent. Thanks so much.
