I love to watch professional football. I lived about 8 miles from the Patriot’s stadium for about 35 years. I will admit that I am a JETS fan, but I still like the Patriots. Like any other profession, football is made up of some people with class and some people without class. It is also made up of players who have worked hard to get where they are and understand the value of hard work. You don’t become an NFL linebacker without a lot of hard work. Talent helps, but without hard work, it won’t get you where you want to go.

ESPN posted an article today about James Harrison, an outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems that Mr. Harrison totally understands the value of a work ethic.

The article reports:

Not everyone gets a trophy in James Harrison‘s house, as the Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker wrote on Instagram on Saturday. Harrison is taking away his kids’ participation trophies because he wants them to “EARN a real trophy.”

Explaining his position, Harrison said he’s proud of his two sons and will always encourage them. But the “2015 Best of the Batch Next Level Athletics Student-Athlete Awards” are going back.

This ought to get the attention of a few parents out there. Parenting styles aside, Harrison’s football background might provide insight into why he feels this way. Harrison was a Kent State walk-on who went undrafted in 2002, played a season in NFL Europe and was cut by the Baltimore Ravens before latching on with the Steelers and becoming a force. That all drove him to “do better.”

I hope he becomes a high school coach when he retires from football. I love his attitude.