Throwback Thursday: Pint-Sized Treasure

This little Flicker was originally posted on 6/6/11. It's about one of the most entertaining NFL players of this century's first decade, Maurice Jones-Drew.

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There are often players that everyone loves to watch play. It doesn't matter the team. Sometimes it's for their unbelievable talent. Sometimes it's for the great joy with which they play a game. For me, Maurice Jones-Drew brings a bit of both. It's hard not to like a tough football player of Jones-Drew's stature. A 5-7 210lb man is not actually a small man. A 5-7 football player is considered small, especially next to a 6-8 350lb lineman. Maurice Jones-Drew is a powerful runner and a blast to watch.

I have long been aware of the powerhouse that Bob Ladouceur has built at De La Salle High School in Concord, CA. The coach and the school have been hard to miss. From 1992-2004, the Spartans won 151 consecutive games, more than doubling the previous national record of 72. Maurice Drew, as he was then known, was a major factor in the latter part of that streak. On Oct. 6 2001, De La Salle played Long Beach Poly on national television. It was the first time that the #1 and #2 teams in the nation had ever played. It was a matchup that was further documented by the book "When the Game Stands Tall". Drew scored all four TDs in the 29-15 Spartans victory. Drew was rated the best all-purpose back in the nation. As a Cal alum, I always hope that the best Spartans decide to make the short commute to Berkeley. Unfortunately, very have few have made that decision. To insult even more, Drew chose to go to UCLA. As a sophomore, he gained 322 yards and scored 5 TDs against Washington. Another of his big games was a Flea Flicker tear jerker. Drew erased a decent Cal lead seemingly all by himself. He scored every way possible and, it felt like, every time he touched the ball. He led UCLA to a win. Drew was raised by his grandparents, Maurice and Christine Jones. At the height of Drew's UCLA career, his grandfather died of a heart attack while watching his grandson play at the Rose Bowl against Rice University. Head coach Karl Dorrell broke the news to Drew on the sidelines during the game. Drew left the game and raced to the hospital. To honor the man who raised him, Maurice Drew became Maurice Jones-Drew.

The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Jones-Drew with the 60th overall pick in the 2nd round. For the first few years of his pro career, he split carries with Fred Taylor. Together, they formed one of the best running duos in the league. In each of the last two years as the main man, Jones-Drew has eclipsed 1300 yards.

Maurice Jones-Drew is one of those football players that simply makes the NFL a better league. He's dynamite on and off the field. I feel fortunate to have followed his career since his high school days. I look forward to the rest of his excellent, entertaining career. Jones-Drew is a treat.