This is pretty damn cool. The kid is paralyzed and if he ever walks again is up in the air, but he still made it to the league. Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Eric to a free agent deal. He will not be paid, but a #52 jersey is being sent to him as well as a contract to sign.
The gesture was clearly made because LeGrand’s college coach, Greg Schiano, is now the head coach of the Bucs. Here is what Schiano had to say about signing LeGrand,
“Leading up to the draft, I couldn’t help but think that this should’ve been Eric’s draft class,” Schiano, entering his first season with the Buccaneers, said in a statement. “This small gesture is the least we could do to recognize his character, spirit and perseverance.”
Here is what LeGrand had to say about his contract,
“It was something I always dreamed about, going to the N.F.L. and retiring and becoming a sports broadcaster,” LeGrand said in a conference call with reporters. “Dreams do come true, if you believe. You do the right things in life, and good things happen to you.”
LeGrand will graduate next Fall from Rutgers and according to him, he will walk again soon. We’re rooting for you Eric!
That’s all I got,
Ricky Writer