1999 – Draft day. Notoriously known for their love/hate relationship with star athletes, Eagles fans were none too happy with the team selecting the QB from Syracuse. The ribbing he took from on draft day was just the beginning. Even after leading the team to four consecutive NFC East division championships, five NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl, McNabb was still trying to win over the city.

Today McNabb returns to Philadelphia wearing a Washington Redskins jersey. He never asked to leave and gave everything that he had to the city. There are campaigns going around on how to react to his return. There is the standing “O” group and the boo bird group. The indifferent group is looking for members. That’s the thing with sports, you only show emotions for those who mattered most. If McNabb hears silence — then maybe he should be offended.

Will he be booed once again? Probably. Philadelphia fans have a reputation to protect after all.

McNabb: Highlight Package

But I’ve bookmarked one channel in particular. With the “Cap’n Crunch” song ringing through my ears (more on that later), I’ve decided the next Man Behind the Mask is tight end Martellus Bennett of the Dallas Cowboys.

I first watched Bennett (or Marty B. as he’s known in fan circles) going through his rookie struggles on HBO’s critically-acclaimed football series  ”Hard Knocks“. Bennett was a first-year footballer living in palatial digs with a sweet little puppy who decided to leave his owner a little surprise to clean up before heading off to training camp. Cute.

Bennett was a second-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. At only 22 years old (dear Lord…twenty-two! I was born in the 80s too…the EARLY 80s. I’ll leave it there) he still has a lot to learn as wears the legendary Cowboys uniform. While working hard to learn the team’s offense he was awarded a four-year contract.

Marty B. chronicles his off-the-field activities through YouTube. Through the online video channel, fans can check out his growing shoe collection, his attempt in culinary arts (check out the dog’s cameo), and watch him get his Motown swag on (a hilarious rendition of The Temptations’ “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”).

But here’s the one that has me singing along.

The Cap’n Crunch vid is one of his highlights. True 80s babies know the Super Mario theme. And Bennett decides to express his love for the popular cereal in a rhyme. Or several.

Knowing his love for the Cap’n, I told him via Twitter that his verbiage regarding the sweet breakfast treat led me to search for Berry variety. Unfortunately, they no longer carry it in Canada. Marty B. responded: “That blows.” Indeed, it does!

Bennett isn’t all play and no work. When he’s not encapsulating his life in a YouTube vid he’s hard at work helping others in his community with The Martellus Bennett Truly Blessed Foundation. It’s also great to see Bennett’s passion lies in not only football and his faith in God – but his family.

In an interview with DallasCowboys.com writer Nick Eatman, Bennett described his plans if he weren’t playing the great game of football: hip-hop star, acting or designing clothes.

Thanks to his marketable online presence, I can see Marty B. excelling in all three.

Maybe he’ll have the Cap’n do a cameo on a song.

You can follow Martellus Bennett on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Jupiters_crunch

Through it all, he’s kept a low profile, gained a mentor in one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time and is now a Philadelphia Eagle. Of course I’m speaking about Michael Vick.

Man Behind the Mask highlights the good players do off the field. Michael Vick is no exception. Hear me out. I’m a huge fan of dogs. As a former dog owner I know what it’s like to take care of the four-legged creature. They’re loyal, playful, intelligent beasts who are good for a laugh and a smile when you’ve had a rough day at work.

What Michael Vick did with his canine friends was wrong. Dog fighting is illegal – this we know. Vick was punished and he did his time – also another fact.

However, many are acting as if Vick committed a crime far worse against humanity. They act as if he was the cause for the Holocaust, slavery and Hiroshima all rolled into one. There are child molesters who have been released on ‘good behaviour’ (thanks to the revolving door mechanism that occurs in judiciary circles in both Canada and the U.S.) in less than two years. Yet Vick is seen as the Big Scary Black Man…coming to take your children! Lock ‘em away!

Michael Vick is still a man. A beleaguered man, no doubt – but one who continues to hold his head up in times of adversity. Flanked by Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy at a news conference on August 14, 2009, Vick was soft-spoken and appeared remorseful. He acknowledged his wrongdoings and appeared grateful to Mr. Goodell and the league for reinstating him. Both Mr. Reid and Mr. Dungy were confident in Vick’s ability to perform on the field – and remain a good citizen off the gridiron.

We know he’s a beast on the field. Come on…a quarterback who rushes? You can’t beat that. But Mr. Vick is a regular man who has made some unwise decisions (just like the rest of us). Mr. Vick has a family. He has mouths to feed and children to put through college. Did you think of that? He and his mother and brother established “The Vick Foundation” in 2006 for inner city youth in Atlanta. He’s also donated money to families of the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre in April 2007. Bet you didn’t know that, huh? I didn’t. But maybe you refuse to see the good this man has done and continue to focus on the bad – without all the facts. He’s just a monster to some of y’all.

We see PETA continue to bemoan his return to the National Football League. We see rabid animal lovers frothing at the mouth over a man who committed a crime – did the time – and just wants to live his life in peace. Will the ever let up? Furthermore – don’t they have jobs to go to? How many times will we see them camping outside stadiums and practice locations just to goad a former shining star?

I have full confidence that Michael Vick will come back as a dominant force this season – whatever Mr. Reid decides he will do for the Eagles. Let’s hope he’ll be Vick-torious (sorry, couldn’t help it) this season. Prove the naysayers and PETA wrong. Let him rip on the field…just not against the Colts, please and thanks.

KJ

1. I’m trying my hardest to learn more about the wonderful sport we call football (and no, I’m not referring to soccer for our European visitors). Yes, I’m reading “Football for Dummies” (laugh if you want, but Howie Long is the man! Thanks Howie!) and Holly Robinson Peete’s “Get Your Own Damn Beer…I’m Watching The Game!” (I remember Holly from “Hangin’ With Mr. Cooper” – she shares the same humour in this women’s guide to football).

2. I attempted to play Madden ’09 with my little brother and got creamed. He scored a touchdown. ON THE FIRST PLAY. True story. When he’s at work I think I’ll get some practice time in with Madden ’10 and beat him at his own game. Said little brother is very patient with me and my many questions when we watch football games together (“Why did they run that play?” “Man that guy is HUGE!” “Where the heck is the quarterback?” “Why are they blowing the whistle all the damn time?”) Thanks, Scotty.

3. I’m a Colts fan – partly because I love the city of Indianapolis (I’d give anything to live there after visiting a few years ago). Indianapolis reminded me very much of a small Canadian city by the name of Regina – a city I lived and worked in for almost two years. Regina is Canada’s number one football city – they’re home to the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders. I’m still a fan of the Green & White despite my relocation back to Toronto. Indianapolis was a sea of blue and white during my brief visit. It seemed everyone in the city packed into the Colts’ then-home, the RCA Dome. The fans were friendly and they loved their team. And they have good reason to!
I also became a Colts fan due to the work ethic and personal life of former coach Tony Dungy. Like Coach Dungy, I’m a believer in Christ. He also subscribes to good work ethic, solid morals, keeping calm in stressful situations and bringing out the best in others. I also like his no-shouting rule (read his book “Quiet Strength” to gain more insight on that). Another reason to love the Colts? Peyton Manning and Dwight Freeney. D-Free and I have similar backgrounds. I know Reggie White (RIP) was given the title “Minister of Defense” but that’s my nickname for D. Peyton is a strong QB who is a proven leader…and it doesn’t hurt he’s a member of a football dynasty.

4. I’m a television news producer and radio anchor based in Toronto, Ontario. News is extremely important to me – the delivery, the storytelling, the pictures and sound. It’s been an amazing journey so far and I’m looking forward to what’s in store.

5. The homegirl Nat and I met through Scott Carefoot’s Raptorblog. We’ve been to a few games together (thanks to her, I got the amazing opportunity to see Big Shaq when he was with the Heat) and she’s a great friend. She’s also amazing due to the fact that she still decides to talk to me even though I’ve fallen out of love with the Raptors (and the NBA). Ha!

6. I Twitter…not ferociously, but hey, I know how to chirp. Follow me @mskimjohnson

Have a suggestion on who should be featured on “Man Behind The Mask”? Leave a comment or send me a Tweet.

From September through January – Sunday is my HOLY DAY
I am glued to the couch, screening my phone calls and am forever apologetic to people who choose to host weddings/baby showers/birthdays on that day since I never attend.

When it comes to football, my allegiance lies with the Philadelphia Eagles. I lived 15 minutes from Gillette Stadium 10 years ago but never took a liking to the Patriots. The man in my life at the time turned my attention to the Eagles and it was pretty much love at first sight. Even though said man is no longer in the picture I remain loyal to the team that made me fall in love with the game.

Here at Heels in the Huddle, I will be ….

- Ranting and raving about my Eagles
- Doing fantasy football posts (which will reveal my love hate relationship with Jay Cutler)
- Telling you about my adventures in sports betting
- Recapping Games

You can follow me on Twitter @Nat77